“Jesus set up this sacrament as a way to heal sin and human weakness. He told the apostles: Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” — JOHN 20:21-23
Reconciliation
Reconciliation, also known as confession and penance, is one of the sacraments of healing in the Church. It is a sacrament of healing because it reconciles us with God through his merciful love and forgiveness of our sin.
Receiving This Sacrament
Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3:00-3:45pm, on the First Thursday of the month at 6:45 pm, and anytime by appointment with one of the priests. Please call the Parish Office at 440-238-5555 to make an appointment.
Insights & References
The sacrament encompasses four parts: contrition, confession, satisfaction or penance, and absolution. Contrition means that we are sorry for our sins, and we intend to try to do better. Confession is the act of stating our sins to a priest. This is always required with mortal or serious sins, but is also a good and pious practice with venial or less serious sins. Satisfaction or penance consists of prayers or particular actions the priest assigns to us to show our sorrow, and to make some amends for our actions. And finally absolution - the words Jesus Christ speaks to us, through the priest - freeing us from our sins.
“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.” — CCC #1422