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Originally, the Sacrament of Penance was a public act, which was required of Christians who either had been officially excommunicated (separation from the Church and Sacrament of Holy Communion) or had performed acts liable to excommunication. Gradually, and especially after the fourth century, it took on the form of private confession with a Priest and was followed by a prayer of absolution pronounced by a Priest. Today, there are two primary kinds of confession in use: private confession by prayer and sacramental confession. Our Roman Catholic brethren tend to hold to sacramental confession and our Protestant brethren to confession by private prayer (although some will do it publicly in front of the entire congregation). The Orthodox Church, following the apostolic way, holds that divine forgiveness may be received either by private prayer or by the Sacrament. It almost always includes some form of private spiritual direction. One can find in the early Christian Church an important theology of tears when in comes to confession and repentance. Just as in Baptism our sins are cleansed by water, our sins committed after baptism are also cleansed by water (i.e. “tears of repentance”). Saint Symeon the New Theologian (10th Century), calls these tears the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” and teaches that sins committed after baptism cannot be forgiven without tears. Saint John Climacus (6th century) wrote, “Greater than baptism itself is the fountain of tears after baptism, even though it is somewhat audacious to say so. For baptism is the washing away of evils that were in us before, but sins committed after baptism are washed away with tears. Because baptism is received in infancy, we have all defiled it, but we cleanse it anew with tears. And if God in His love for mankind had not given us tears, then few indeed would be saved.” In the Orthodox Church, the role of the Priest in Confession is that of a witness rather than a judge. This is why the Sacrament begins with, “Behold, my child, Christ stands here invisibly and receives your confession; therefore, do not be ashamed or afraid, and hid nothing from me; but tell me without hesitation all the things that you have done, and so you will have pardon from our Lord Jesus Christ. See, his holy image is before us; and I am only a witness, bearing testimony before Him of all the things you have to say to me. But if you hide anything from me, you will have the greater sin. Take care, then, lest having come to a physician you depart unhealed.” It was also common in the early Christian Church, and still is in churches today that continue this ancient practice, to receive Holy Communion after the Sacrament of Penance. This is because the Eucharist is the Sacrament by which our sins are forgiven and washed in the Precious Blood of Jesus, and all Christian churches were once united in the theology of Holy Communion (the receiving of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the form of bread, water and wine). By uniting these two Sacraments, it serves as a vivid reminder of that great and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that, while we constantly struggle with missing the mark, we can be forgiven and reunited with our Lord and Savior…is it really any wonder this would cause someone to cry? May the peace and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you now and unto the endless ages. Amen. Author: Fr. Anthony |
