The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Penance or Confession) is the first of two sacraments of healing. It is the sacrament of spiritual healing for a baptized person from the distancing from God resulting from sins committed. If a person sins after baptism, he cannot have baptism as a remedy; Baptism, which is a spiritual regeneration, cannot be given a second time.

Reconciliation involves four elements: (1) Contrition (the Penitent's sincere remorse for wrongdoing or sin); (2) Confession to a Priest with the faculty to hear confessions (Canon 966.1) - while it may be spiritually helpful to confess to another, only a Priest has the power to administer the sacrament; (3) Absolution by the Priest; and, (4) Satisfaction or Penance.

The priest is bound by the "seal of confession", which is inviolable. "Accordingly, it is absolutely wrong for a confessor in any way to betray the penitent, for any reason whatsoever, whether by word or in any other fashion”. A confessor who directly violates the sacramental seal incurs an automatic excommunication whose lifting is reserved to the Holy See.

Reconciliation at St. Martin de Porres Parish

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered each Saturday beginning at 4:15PM in the Church, or call the parish office at (714) 970-2771 for an appointment. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also offered at additional times before Easter and Christmas. See Home Page for schedules.