I g l e s i a C a t ó l i c a R e i n a D e L o s Á n g e l e s
1001 Oakland Avenue East, Austin MN 55912
Website: queenofangels.church
Tel. (507) 433-1888 (English) or (507) 433-8474 (Spanish)
References
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - 1422
"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 by USCCB.org
Reconciliation
In this sacrament of healing we celebrate God forgiving our sins and us becoming better united with God and with the church.
In Luke's Gospel (15:11-24) we read the story of the Prodigal Son who took his share of the family inheritance and wasted it on foolish things. When he realized how empty his life was and he remembered the goodness and the love of his father he decided to return home and ask to be reunited with his family.
​
His father saw him coming and ran out to meet him with a big hug. Then his father threw a big party to celebrate the return of his son who was lost.
From this story we learn that God always forgives us and welcomes us back when we have turned our back on God. There is no sinful action that God will not forgive. When we sin we too can be reunite with God in the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation.
The sacrament of penance is part of our faith life of continual conversion and transformation. We are continually called to pass from the old to the new, from self-centeredness to selflessness, from sin to greater intimacy with God.
​
In the process of conversion, celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation is a sharply focused expression of the needs of persons called to growth and renewal. Sin distances us from God and from each other. It distorts our vision. It makes us loose sight of our baptismal dignity. Serious sin cuts us off from the very place where we can experience the life of Christ—the Church.
The sacrament of penance, then, becomes the way of renewing our baptismal dedication and dignity. It becomes the opportunity to restore baptismal innocence— aninnocence that has been marred by sin.
Information
Confessions
Saturday at 3:15pm and Sunday at 10:15am as announced or anytime by appointment.
CANON LAW 959 - TITLE IV: RECONCILIATION
"In the sacrament of penance the faithful who confess their sins to a lawful minister, are sorry for those sins and have a purpose of amendment, receive from God, through the absolution given by that minister, forgiveness of sins they have committed after baptism, and at the same time they are reconciled with the Church, which by sinning they wounded."
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: RECONCILIATION
"Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same."