Dear. St. Philomena Parish Family,<\/p>\n
Blessings and peace to you all! Fr. Daniel and I received so many positive comments from last week\u2019s homily where we talked through some models of Reconciliation\u2014I\u2019m so glad it was fruitful for many! While we certainly had some fun with a few lighthearted things, hopefully it will continue to serve as a practical reminder of the joy of this great Sacrament of Mercy.<\/p>\n
This week, we\u2019ll conclude our review of Reconciliation with an overview of the Order of Penance and some tips for making a fruitful Confession. As we mentioned last weekend, please don\u2019t ever worry about saying \u201cexactly the right words\u201d or the exact order of the parts\u2014we priests are always willing to help if needed. The most important part of the Sacrament is being honest about our sins and failings and receiving the wonderful mercy of our loving Lord! The classic structure is there to guide us…but always feel free to ask if you have any questions or are unsure.<\/p>\n
Overview of the Order of Penance:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cO my God I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because Your just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n Another common (and short) one: \u201cLord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n Be filled with joy as your heart overflows with God\u2019s grace and love!<\/p>\n A few other hints at making a good confession:<\/strong><\/p>\n Take the challenge to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation sometime between now and Easter.<\/p>\n In Christ,\n
\n
\n
\nFather Luke<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"