Lenten Adoration and Penance Service

Monday, April 1, 2019 5:30-6:30 pm

 
The parable of the prodigal son is a testimony to God’s mercy. It teaches me that God loves me and forgives me even when I don’t have my “act together.”  God accepts me and loves me even in my imperfections.
 
A great spiritual practice during Lent is to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Few Catholics enjoy going to Confession, but this Sacrament offers us a wonderful opportunity to deepen our relationship with Christ and experience more deeply his love and mercy.  And one of the most powerful ways we can grow in our relationship to Christ is to humbly admit that our relationship is not everything that it could be; it is not everything that we would hope it to be.  So, a very basic Catholic practice that too many Catholics have avoided for far too long is to confess our sins and seek out God’s great mercy.  I am hoping that you will rise to the challenge and join us this Monday evening for the Lenten Penance Service and Adoration at 5:30pm.
 
We begin with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and immediately start celebrating the sacrament.  It would be nice to start off with a “crowd”, but I realize not everyone will be able to make by 5:30pm.   Don’t worry as long as you are in line by 6:30pm, we’ll be happy to hear your confession. If it has been a while, please trust me when I tell you that I try to allow only compassionate priests to hear confessions in our parish.  I think Bishop Boland and Fr. John Lyons are especially compassionate men.  Part of that compassion comes in helping you to make a good confession especially if you have forgotten the “how” of confessing your sins.  You only need to be able to “name” your sins and the priest will be happy to lead you through the details of celebrating the Sacrament.  To be honest it's hard, maybe one of the hardest things in the world, to face up to whatever wrong you've done and ask for mercy. But that's why the relief, and spiritual growth, that comes from confession is so powerful. It is meant to feel like the crucifixion, but it ends with a new, healthy life — a resurrection.
 
Most people have a sense of their sins, but the Ten Commandments offer a good guide for an examination of conscience.  And perhaps the following questions will also help you prepare: 
 

• Do I pray to God every day? Have I thanked God for His gifts to me?
• Did I take the name of God in vain? Do I curse “like a sailor”?
• Did I miss Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation through my own fault?
• Did I disobey my parents and lawful superiors in important matters?
• Did I steal or damage another's property? Have I been honest and just in my business relations?
• Have I been responsive to the needs of the poor and respected the dignity of others?  Do my sexual energies give glory to God?
• Did I tell lies? Did I sin by calumny, or detraction of others? Did I judge others rashly in serious matters?  Am I envious of what others have?  Am I a gossip?

 
Again, don’t worry about the “how” of going to confession.  The priest will help you, but here is a basic outline of the rite:
 
1. The priest gives you a blessing or greeting.
2. Make the Sign of the Cross and say: “Bless me father, for I have sinned. My last confession was…” (give the number of weeks, months or years).
3. “These are my sins…”  Confess your sins to the priest. The priest will help you to make a good confession. If you feel uneasy, just ask him to help you.
4. Following your confession of sins, say: “I am sorry for these and all of my sins.”
5. The priest assigns you a penance and offers advice to help you be a better Catholic.
6. Say an Act of Contrition, expressing your sorrow for your sins. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then absolves you from your sins.
 
Act of Contrition
God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
     
Next Sunday, the second collection will be for Catholic Relief Services.  This will also be the time to turn in any money you collected this Lent in your CRS’ Rice Bowls (it be a huge help to our counters, if you counted the money and then wrote out a check to St. Michael noting “Rice Bowl” on the memo line). For more than 75 years, CRS has been providing expertise and compassion to the very poorest of our brothers and sisters in more than 100 countries.
When you give, you help fill the bellies of young children so they can study hard in school. You help prevent trafficking and provide welcome kits for survivors. Your donations help mothers and babies around the world receive nutritional care and health exams.  When you give, you change lives, families and communities.

Fr. Jerry Ragan