Chapter 4 // Confessions Flashcards

1
Q

Define the Sacrament of Penance.

A

Confession is the sacrament in which Jesus, through the ministry of His church forgives sins committed after Baptism.

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2
Q

Sin is the result of failure to love. Explain.

A

When human beings place themselves and their desires before the will of God and allow created things to become more important than God in their lives, their relationship with God is damaged.

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3
Q

How does Original Sin affect each and every person?

A

Due to Original Sin, human nature is wounded in the natural powers proper to it, subject to ignorance, suffering and the dominion of death, and inclination to sin.

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4
Q

Explain the original sin of Adam and Eve. How do we still commit the same sin today?

A

In disobeying the command not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, Adam and Eve chose to be their own arbiters of right and wrong. They placed their own wills above Gods. We commit the same sin when we choose our own wisdom and wills over God’s.

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5
Q

What is concupiscence? How does it affect us?

A

Concupiscence is the weakened will and disordered desire we possess as a result of our fallen state. We are inclined to sin, and so, even after Baptism, each person has to struggle to live a life modelled on Jesus Christ.

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6
Q

What is moral law, and what is its source?

A

Moral law is the ethical code, authored and revealed by God and safeguarded by the Church, that informs the conscience of each person as to correct moral behaviour.

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7
Q

How can sin be said to be a form of idolatry?

A

Sin can be a form of idolatry because, when someone disobeys God, he is placing someone or something above God in importance.

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8
Q

How does the Original Sin affect our first parents relationship with God? How does sin affect our relationship with God?

A

After Adam and Eve committed Original Sin, their friendship with God was ruptured, and they were now separated from him, both in heart and mind. Similarly, sin damages our relationship with God, separating us from his love and his will in our lives.

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9
Q

What does the Old Testament teach us about the nature of sin and our relationship with God?

A

In the Old testament, sin was not only a simple violation of some ethical norm of conduct, but an offence against God.

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10
Q

Explain the analogy between sin and an unfaithful spouse.

A

The prophet Hosea married an adulterous wife, a situation that was analogous to the relationship between God and Israel. After sending his wife away, Hosea was instructed by God to forgive her and to receive her once again into his household. The Israelites were God’s chosen people with whom he had established a covenant. By their sins of disobedience and idol worship, they had betrayed their relationship with him. God withdrew his blessings, allowing the Israelites to be conquered and sent into exile in Babylon. While in exile, God prepared them once again to be received into his friendship and to return to the Promised Land.

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11
Q

How did the advent of Christ add a new dimension to the nature of sin and our relationship with God?

A

With Christ’s coming, sin took on a much more personal nature. In his plan of salvation, God sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to redeem us from our sins. The sacrifice of Christ was not made out of some vague concept of sin in general, but out of his infinite love for each and every one of us and his desire to bring us to Heaven.

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12
Q

What are the implications of free will?

A

We can say that sin is always the result of free choice. Sin is a personal act, and the first and most important consequence of sin is the sinner himself. Each sin damages our relationship with God, and also damages our spirit, weakening the will and clouding the intellect.

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13
Q

Why would God give us free will is he knew many would misuse the gift and cause immeasurable suffering?

A

God wanted us to love him freely. The price of freedom is that somebody may misuse it.

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14
Q

Name at least three people who are affected by every sin.

A

I offend God by breaking him commandment not to bear false witness, myself by becoming a liar and the reputation of the person I have attacked.

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15
Q

What are the conditions for a mortal sin? Choose an example of a mortal sin and a venial sin, and apply these conditions to each.

A

A. Grave or serious matter , ex. Ten Commandments
B. Full knowledge in that you know its serious
C. Complete consent or freedom to act

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16
Q

What was the mission of Jesus Christ?

A

Forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with the Father.

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17
Q

If only God can forgive sins, then how was Jesus able to forgive the sins of the paralytic?

A

Because he is God. By claiming to forgive sins, Jesus was proclaiming his divinity.

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18
Q

How does Jesus continue to forgive sins in the world today?

A

Through the Sacrament of Confession.

19
Q

Describe when Jesus first imparted his divine authority to forgive sins.

A

After hearing the opinions of the multitudes concerning his identity, Jesus asked his apostles “ Who do you say that I am?” Peter made a profession of faith that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus in turn explicitly bestowed his own authority on Simon, changing his name to Peter (meaning rock). “ You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kings of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. “

20
Q

When is the giving of keys first mentioned in the Bible? What was the meaning of this event?

A

The keys are first mentioned in Isaiah 22. In doing this , he was placing his servant Eliakim in charge of the house of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

21
Q

List the signs of authority that Jesus gave to St. Peter and their significance. What was the role of St. Peter to be in the church?

A

Jesus gave St. Peter the keys and the leadership of the Christian community, making St. Peter the leader of the church, the “rock” and the person to act in Jesus’ place when he is no longer on earth.

22
Q

When was the authority to forgive sins given to the rest of the Apostles?

A

After Jesus’s resurrection.

23
Q

How was this authority to forgive sins handed down in the Church? Who has this authority today?

A

The authority to forgive sins has been handed down from the Apostles to their successor bishops through apostle succession. Thanks to the Sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops and priests participate in the ministry of Christ’s forgiveness.

24
Q

Explain what is meant by the “Seal of Confession”.

A

Is the confession’s obligation to keep absolutely secret everything a sentient had told him in the sacrament of confession.

25
Q

Why is the seal necessary for confession?

A

Gives people confidence to confess, knowing that what they say will not be revealed in any way.

26
Q

What is accomplished in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

A

Reconciles God and man, restores sanctifying grace lost by mortal sin, forgives all sins, remits eternal punishment caused by mortal sin, imparts actual graces to avoid sin in the future, reconciles the penitent with the Church, reduces purgatorial purification and gives peace of conscience and spiritual consolation.

27
Q

What is the relationship between the sacrament of reconciliation and purgatory?

A

Reconciliation forgives the sin but does not remove the temporal punishment due for the sin. This debt is paid either on earth through penance, suffering, good works, etc, or in purgatory after death.

28
Q

What is the purpose of the grace received in the sacrament of reconciliation?

A

To increase genuine self knowledge, correct bad habits, purify the conscience, grow in Christian humility, strengthen the will, resists lukewarmness and spiritual neglect and increasingly self control.

29
Q

Explain how the sacrament of reconciliation helps a person to become a better Christian.

A

The sacrament receives sin and gives grace. It helps us become humble and closer to God.

30
Q

If God is the one who forgives sins, then why is the sacrament of reconciliation necessary?

A

Even though it is true that God is not bound by the sacraments and can distribute his graces in any manner he sees fit, God has decided that the normal way his forgiveness will be distributed is through this sacrament. This is God’s decision, not ours, and it is presumptuous to assume God will forgive us in the way we would determine.

31
Q

Explain how the sacrament of reconciliation addresses the dual nature of sin : sin against God and sin against neighbour.

A

Every sin is an offence against God and also offends our neighbour. Even the most secret sin changes us, which in turn affects our neighbour in some negative way. The sacrament reconciles us to God and to the church.

32
Q

What is an examination of conscience, and why is it important?

A

An examination of conscience is a prayerful self reflection on one’s words and deeds in light of the gospel to determine how one has sinned against God. This is necessary to prepare for the sacrament of penance. It is important because by taking a close look oat our lives, we can see those areas in which we have failed to live according to our Christian vocation.

33
Q

Catholics can just go to Confession and then continue sinning. Why is this statement false?

A

Because in order for one’s sins to be forgiven, one must make a conscious effort never to commit the same sin again and be willing to take the steps necessary to remove the occasion of sin.

34
Q

Identify some practices that might help us to resolve to avoid sin in the future.

A

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving

35
Q

Why is it a good idea to confess venial sins?

A

Venial sins damage, but do not destroy our relationship with God and can lead to mortal sins. It is good to confess venial sins to receive grace to overcome them and prevent worse ones.

36
Q

Why should a person perform penance in addition to the penance assigned to him or her in confession?

A

By voluntarily taking it upon ourselves to perform additional penance, such as acts of self denial, as well as charity towards our neighbour, selfishness can start to be rooted out of our lives. Additionally, taking regular time for prayer keeps us aware of the actions of God in our lives and how we can best accomplish our role in fulfilling his will.

37
Q

What is conscience? What is its purpose? And how is it formed?

A

Moral conscience is a judgement of practical reason about the moral quality of a human action that a person will do , is in the process of doing or has already done.

38
Q

What is the purpose of spiritual direction? Why is it important?

A

Spiritual direction is important because it helps people understand themselves better and, with divine grace, to grow in the practice of Christian virtue. A spiritual director is a kind of spiritual coach.

39
Q

Define contrition.

A

True sorrow for and hatred of committed sins, coupled with the firm purpose to sin no more. It is necessary in order to make a good confession and for the priest to absolve a penitent in the sacrament of penance.

40
Q

What is the difference between perfect and imperfect contrition? Give an example of each.

A

If someone has perfect contrition, he is sorry for his sins because he offended God (ex. apologizing because one if truly sorry). If someone has imperfect contrition, he is sorry because he fears God’s punishment (ex. someone apologizing for something only because they got caught).

41
Q

Define fasting and give an example.

A

Fasting is not eating or eating less.

ex. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

42
Q

Define abstinence and give an example.

A

Specifically fasting meat.

ex. Ash Wednesday and Friday’s during Lent

43
Q

Define mortification and give an example.

A

Giving up anything desiring or undergoing something difficult as an offering to God.
ex. Penitential practices

44
Q

What are Catholics asked to do on every Friday of the year? During Lent?

A

Every Friday is a day of penance meaning they are asked to give up something every Friday. During Lent, they give up meat.