What happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Catholic children in receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the age of seven. At this time it is generally known as 'First Confession' as the child confesses his wrong doings to the priest.
Often in adulthood the Sacrament is administered in the' confessional box'-a small partitioned room. The priest sits at one side while the penitent kneels at the other. They are separated only by a curtained covered gap which protects anonymity of the penitent. However this is changing and for our young children this is not the case. The child sits or kneels facing the priest in a very informal manner.
The short service begins by making the sign of the cross and the penitent telling the priest when they made their last confession. There then follows 'the confession of wrong doings' At this point a short discussion may take place between penitent and priest with the priest offering advice about shortcomings, if necessary. The priest, in his capacity of minister of Jesus Christ, absolves the penitent of his sins ,while the penitent expresses sorrow for sin by saying the prayer (Act of Contrition) before being given a small penance.
"For those whose sins you forgive they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain they are retained"
John 20: 19-23
This penance generally consists of two or three prayers to say to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. After a blessing by the priest,the penitent leaves the confessional box to carry out his 'penance' in the general body of the church,trustful in the knowledge that they are once again 'cleaned' of any sin they may have committed.