Reconciliation (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A) : Revision Note
Meaning of Reconciliation
A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace
Reconciliation is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
Reconciliation means a return to friendly relations and this sacrament is about restoring good relations with God and others
Reconciliation is the sacrament where a Catholic confesses sins to a priest and receives forgiveness
The priest may ask them to say prayers or do a deed to make up for the sin they have committed. This is known as penance, and therefore the sacrament is also known as the sacrament of penance
Although a person can pray to God for forgiveness and to say sorry for their mistakes at any time, the sacrament of reconciliation means that they are forgiven by God through the priest, who serves as God’s representative on earth
This fulfils the authority Jesus gave his followers after his resurrection, when he told them:
If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. (John 20:23)
It also continues the practice that has been happening in the Church ever since.
The apostle James wrote:
‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed’ (James 5:16)
There are signs, symbols and important words or actions in each sacrament. In reconciliation these are:
The laying on of hands which shows the passing on of God’s power of forgiveness
The words: ‘I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’
Absolve means forgive, so these words show that the person is forgiven in the name of all the persons of the Trinity
Effects & Importance of Reconciliation
The sacrament of reconciliation is important because:
it is how a person can receive the gift of God’s forgiveness, as the Parable of the Prodigal Son tells
it restores the person’s relationship with God, as the Catechism says, reconciliation 'restores grace lost by sin' (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1446)
it cleanses a person's soul from sin
it strengthens the person to resist future temptation
it enables the person to feel released from the burden of guilt and therefore able to start again
it shows the person that they have God’s help to start again and to change
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which the sacrament of reconciliation affects the lives of Catholics
(4 marks)
The sacrament of reconciliation allows a person to have their sins forgiven by God through the presence of the priest. This will allow them to have reconciliation with God, restoring their relationship with him so that they feel closer to God (2 marks)
The sacrament of reconciliation releases them from the burden of guilt, which allows them to make a fresh start and live a better life in future (2 marks)
You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week
Unlock more, it's free!
Did this page help you?
