Commanded by the Lord, the Church, through its ordained ministers, continues to communicate and dispense abundantly the redemptive grace and reconciling mercy of Christ’s Paschal mystery. It does so through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In a sacramental confession, after examination of conscience, the penitent confesses his/her sins, makes an act of contrition (p.79), and Christ, through an ordained minister, in a personal way, effects forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing. Nurses, when aware of sin, need not be afraid of going to Confession, but seek its great blessing and spiritual reward. They are to remind others of it’s importance. Jesus always forgives our sins, when we turn to Him with contrite hearts. Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for treating wounds of serious sins. This is Christ’s recommended, or, as the Church calls it, the “ordinary” procedure for obtaining remission of mortal sins — the life-saving remedy of divine restoration and healing. Jesus reminds us: The greater the sinner, the greater the right He has to My mercy (723). He also tells us: When you approach the confessional, know this that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy (1602). You are dealing with the God of mercy, which your misery cannot exhaust. Remember, I did not allot only a certain number of pardons (1488). Abandoning Self to God’s Saving Will Abandonment in trust to the will of our loving and caring Father is a sure path to personal holiness. It is the Father’s will to offer salvation and eternal happiness to all through His Son. “For God so loved the world, that 47
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