An unfortunate concept was injected into the thinking of a receptive 1970’s culture by the movie Love Story, and remains with us still: "Love means never having to say you’re sorry." Although the phrase had meaning for the movie in which it appeared, it is usually untrue in the course of our relationships, and is profoundly untrue in our relationship with God. However appealing this concept is for us, we know through experience that life honestly lived in relationship with others - and with God - means instead "forever saying we are sorry."

In addressing this need to correct and reconcile our relationships, the Church provides a ritual, called reconciliation (or confession), which assists us in naming our sins, admitting our capacity to participate in evil that is destructive to us and to those around us, and reestablishing our relationship with those we have wronged. On most Sundays, a general community confession is included in the midst of the Eucharistic liturgy; however, there may be times in our lives when it is necessary to name our specific sins, to be assured of God’s forgiveness for us individually, and to receive counsel on how to amend our lives. For this purpose, the Church offers The Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession). Two forms are included in the Prayer Book, beginning on page 447.

In reconciliation, the penitent meets with the priest in the context of prayer, out of the hearing of anyone else. Whatever sins are confessed are kept under the "seal of confession". In Prayer Book words, the secrecy of a confession is "morally absolute" and must under no circumstances be broken. The Prayer Book continues: "When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and has given evidence of due contrition, the priest gives such counsel and encouragement as are needed and pronounces absolution. Before giving absolution, the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer or hymn to be said, or something to be done, as a sign of penitence and act of thanksgiving."

In line with our need for continual or periodic reconciliation with God and with others, some find it helpful to regularly schedule confessions as a helpful part of their spiritual growth and development, as we seek to know and love God better. This is an especially appropriate exercise for Lent as we turn out attention to self-examination and penitence. At Christ Church, reconciliation can be arranged at any time by making an appointment with one of the priests.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

The Book Discussion Group is taking a summer break and will not meet in July.  Look for the announcement of future plans.