The Most Important Prayer in a Cataclysmic Event (Part II)

While the Act of Contrition prayer is the most important prayer for someone facing imminent death in a cataclysmic event, it is also the most important prayer for a survivor. During cataclysmic events like the current California fires, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, and the 7.1 earthquakes in Mexico, victims gather in huge numbers at their churches seeking God, solace, and protection.

With the shortage of priests and the busyness of parish life, most Catholic churches only offer an hour of confession once a week on Saturdays. What can a victim do if he/she would like to be united to and consoled by Our Lord in Holy Communion, but he/she is not able to go to confession because of the huge number of people in line or it is not available? The Code of Canon Law sheds light,

“A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; IN THIS CASE THE PERSON IS TO REMEMBER THE OBLIGATION TO MAKE AN ACT OF PERFECT CONTRITION WHICH INCLUDES THE RESOLUTION OF CONFESSING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.” (916)

Similarly, the Catechism of the Catholic Church twice reinforces the teaching of practicing Catholics not receiving Holy Communion without first going to confession lest there is perfect contrition and grave reason,

“Perfect contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.” (1452)

“Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, UNLESS HE HAS A GRAVE REASON FOR RECEIVING COMMUNION AND THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF GOING TO CONFESSION.” (1457)

This Catholic teaching is not new as it goes back to the Council of Trent five hundred years ago, during Jesus’ time, and it is even mentioned in the Old Testament. Yes, “Contrition occupies first place,” (CCC 1451) and likewise, the Council of Trent states, “Contrition, it is true, blots out sin.” The council mentions “compunction of heart” as the piercing of the heart with the lance of contrition to discharge the poison of sin, and it references several scriptures,

“A contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:17; “I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.” Ps.32:5; and “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said: Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean.” Lk. 17:13-14

Of course, the norm is to go to sacramental confession since Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive sins in the gospel of John chapter 20 verse 23. Sacramental confession takes away mortal sin even if our contrition is imperfect as the Catechism explains,

“The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.” (1453)

On the other hand, “perfect contrition” (CCC 1452) is detesting our sins, being truly sorry for the love of God plus having a firm resolution not to sin again. When perfect contrition occurs, grave/mortal sin is wiped away instantaneously, and we are able to receive our Lord provided we have the intention of going to confession when it is available. If perfect and imperfect contrition seem unclear in your heart consider what Jesus says in St. Faustina’s diary to help you discern,

“My mercy is greater than your sins…I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness.” [282]

Going to Holy Communion without first having gone to confession can also occur during normal times outside of cataclysmic events for a grave reason. An example is addictive behavior (alcohol, drugs, pornography, etc.) when it has reached the level of illness, where there are mitigating, “factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.” (CCC 2352) This, of course, is done under the supervision of a spiritual director/confessor, but it must be very clear that it is not a loophole for not going to sacramental confession first as St. Paul warns against the sin of “sacrilege” (CCC 2020),

“Let a man examine himself, and so he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the Body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” 1 Cor.11:28-30

 

Most importantly, Jesus is always sending us special graces of conversion in order to make a perfect act of contrition from the heart so that He can unite His heart with ours as was the case with the sinful woman who washed His feet with her tears (Lk.7:36-50) and the woman caught in adultery (Jn.8:1-11). Similarly, Jesus tells St. Faustina,

 

“Write, My daughter, that I am mercy itself for the contrite soul. A soul’s greatest wretchedness does not enkindle Me with wrath; but rather, My Heart is moved towards it with great mercy.” [1739]

As the shortage of priests continues and the possibility of more cataclysmic events, remember, He never stops forgiving us, “seventy times seven,” (Matt. 18:22) meaning infinitely. Finally, believe that God yearns and longs to be with us in Holy Communion as a mother with her child as He tells St. Faustina,

“One time, I was in doubt as to whether what had happened to me had seriously offended the Lord Jesus or not. As I could not solve this doubt, I made up my mind not to go to Communion before first going to confession, although I immediately made an act of contrition, as it is my habit to ask for forgiveness after the slightest transgression. During those days when I did not receive Holy Communion, I did not feel the presence of God. This caused me unspeakable pain, but I took it as a punishment for sin. However, at the time of Holy Confession I was reproached for not going to Holy Communion, because what had happened to me was not an obstacle to receiving Holy Communion. After confession, I received Holy Communion, and I saw the Lord Jesus who said to me, Know, My daughter, that you caused Me more sorrow by not uniting yourself with Me in Holy Communion than you did by that small transgression.” [612]

THE END.

The Most Important Prayer in a Cataclysmic Event (Part 1)

How To Make A Good Confession – Fr. John Kane