Archbishop Roger Schwietz, photo via catholicanchor.org

Archbishop Schwietz calls Catholics to regain sense of sin

A diminished belief in the reality of sin poses a major hurdle for today’s American Catholics, said Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz, reports Catholicanchor.org.

The archbishop spoke Nov. 8, in a presentation on the sacrament of reconciliation to parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Soldotna.

The Generations of Faith gathering is an inter-generational program in which adults and youth study relevant Catholic topics together and within their own age groups.

Archbishop Schwietz addressed teens and adults, stressing that the most important part of reconciliation is what Jesus does — forgive us.

But our understanding and acceptance of that forgiveness is also key, he added.

“Reconciliation is of no value unless we seek reconciliation in the understanding that sin is a reality and punishment is a reality,” Archbishop Schwietz explained. “A big problem in our society is not taking responsibility for ourselves and what we have done wrong. We have come to a point of presuming God’s forgiveness. We tend to see God so loving us that he would never punish us.”

The archbishop pointed to a growing cultural tendency to minimize personal sins while focusing on the faults of others. He also noted the tendency to make excuses for sins, and the tendency to not take them very seriously.

“We really have lost the sense of sin, and the less we examine our own sins, the more we examine the sins of others.” Archbishop Schwietz said. “We need to look at sin more closely, recognizing our sinfulness but in the light of what Christ does for us.”

Rose Henry is a Soldotna parishioner who hasn’t regularly participated in the sacrament of reconciliation in the past. She said Archbishop Schwietz’s talk and her time at a recent Catholic retreat have motivated her and her family to take better advantage of God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation.

“I think way too often we presume that we automatically have God’s forgiveness, and we minimize our sins in relation to the sins of those around us,” Henry said. “We are going to actually have to ask for forgiveness, that is our responsibility.”

Archbishop Schwietz pointed out that not everyone uses their free will to seek reconciliation.

“Those who experience the forgiveness of Jesus are people who seem to be open to the forgiveness of Jesus,” he said.

Archbishop Schwietz added that it is important to participate in the church’s sacrament of reconciliation and not merely resort to private, personal prayers for forgiveness.

“We cannot guide ourselves by our feelings,” he said. “Feelings can change; some days we feel forgiven, other days not. We receive assurance of our forgiveness through the priest.”

Kate Forrest is the junior high instructor of the Generations of Faith program. She says she chose to have young teens attend Archbishop Schwietz’s presentation because she felt they would benefit from hearing directly from the archbishop about sin and forgiveness.

“When we commit sin and hide in it, we close a part of ourselves from Christ,” Forrest said. “The same can be true if we see ourselves too holy and pure; we also close ourselves off from his forgiveness. When we are open about our sin and our human nature, it helps us to receive Christ.”

A convert to Catholicism, Forrest regularly participates in the sacrament of reconciliation.

“I could not wait to come into the church and participate in reconciliation,” she said. “I was a broken down wretch, to borrow from the song Amazing Grace, and now I feel so blessed.”

She added: “Reconciliation is one of the most rewarding parts of my experience in this faith. After leaving the confessional I feel renewed, cleansed and free.”

Marguerite McIntosh is a regular adult participant in Soldotna’s Generations of Faith program. She asked questions from one of the adult tables during the archbishop’s presentation.

“He dispelled a lot of myths,” McIntosh said after the talk. “I just think it was awesome.”

The archbishop said he would like to see Catholics throughout the Anchorage Archdiocese participate in the sacrament of reconciliation more regularly — at least every few months.

“Certainly more than once a year,” he said. “Every few months would be a good goal.”

As for those sins that keep persisting, keep asking for God’s help and forgiveness, Archbishop Schwietz said. Just because they persist does not minimize their impact and importance.

“We all have our favorite sins,” he added. “Don’t stop confessing them until God says stop.”

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TAGS: USA Archbishop Roger Schwietz sense of sin Generations of Faith gathering cultural tendency Anchorage Archdiocese

[11/27/2009]

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