New Insights on the Sacrament of Reconciliation

This article will reflect on David M. Coffey’s book, The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Lex Orandi Series), pages 83-125. Generally, he interprets the Rite of Penance (RP) and gives new accounts of it, in comparison with the Council of Trent, biblical statements, papal encyclicals and theologians. In my reflection, there are three new insights that he wants to emphasize: his understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, self-criticism about the Rites of Penance, and a new reality about this sacrament nowadays. In the end, I will suggest the main task that the Church can do in the future.

Firstly, David M. Coffey contributes a tremendous and deep understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He classifies this sacrament into four parts: contrition, confession, absolution, and satisfaction. In my opinion, contrition cannot be separated from confession. If a person has a contrite heart, he should go to confession, unless he wants to be a pessimistic person. On the contrary, it is impossible to confess without contrition, because the forgiveness of God only has its full meaning if we have a positive response to God’s grace, which is poured out in this sacrament.

Secondly, David M. Coffey also challenges his reader to a critical way of thinking. He does this not as an attack on the magisterial teaching, but more as self-criticism. His classification, in fact, varies slightly from RP, which presents the structure of contrition, confession, the act of penance, and absolution. By changing the position of the act of penance and absolution, it seems to me that he wants to give a new perspective to the completion of the sacrament. Thus, I agree when he stresses that both absolution and satisfaction (the act of penitent) are genuinely a completion of the conversion. The only difference between them is that “absolution completes the sacrament logically, and satisfaction completes it chronologically.” He also gives a beautiful correction of the translation of the forms of absolution in RP. Clearly, he shows that the adequate form of absolution must be a prayer in the name of the Triune God (Trinity), and not merely a statement of the priest in his own name. Besides, I would like to suggest that theology that explains exorcism should in the context of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Thirdly, Coffey shows the reality of the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation nowadays has its problems. I agree with him when he says that the real problem is a tendency to resist authority (in this case, the Magisterium of the Church). It is true also that the official teachings of the Church are misunderstood by many, not only because they contradict the secular world, but also because of some scandals inside the Church itself (misuse power and money, paedophilia and sexual abuse, etc.). As a result, reality shows that the practice of the sacrament of reconciliation is decreasing. Today people may prefer to go to a psychiatrist than go to confession. Furthermore, he shows that grills in confession rooms seem to be avoiding a truly personal encounter between confessors and penitents. Consequently, some people feel uncomfortable and frightened. Besides that, the courage to confess sins is another problem. To do the confession, people need a virtue of humility. Humility sense is painful for some people who live in Western culture. For these reasons, I think, the Church needs to re-think the contents of RP, both from the theological and pastoral point of views.

Finally, I want to add my reflection that evangelization is urgent work to strengthen the people of God to honor the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Secularization with its implications, such as individualism, consumerism, etc. must be dealt with significant effort and passion. These tendencies only can be balanced through prayer and hard work.

In a nutshell, David M. Coffey has shown great understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. His opinion is open to new approaches such as the new category and translation of RP. But at the same time, he also shows the real challenges in the world today. There are many challenges to the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. However, there has always been an opportunity to live this sacrament in its full sense.