What is the responsibilty for reperation/restitution, if any, a person has after going to confession and receiving absolution? I read about this in the updated “This is the Faith” by Canon Francis Ripley, but I’m a little confused. I have stolen and damaged property when I was younger, and even when I was an adult. I am a revert to the faith of about 8 years,but have not been very faithful lately, and I’m trying to get back on the beam. I think this website can be helpful. Also what does Canon mean?
Confession is for the forgiveness of sins. Once confessed God forgives the sin and grace is restored. However, that is not to be thought of as a “get out of jail free card.” There is still the issue of temporal punishment (reparation or consequences) for the sin. An example might be if a person were to say visit a prostitute. Afterwards, he may feel compelled to confess his sin. He can be assured of the fact that God will indeed forgive the sin, but can he be assured of the fact that there won’t be consequences related to the sin (STD, marital problems, etc.)? Will God (who has forgiven the person) further protect that person from any consequences that come about because of his sin? No. The old but good example of the little boy who broke a neighbor’s window while playing ball also illustrates this concept. Initially, the little boy runs home, afraid of what may happen. Then later he feels the guilt of what he did and returns to the neighbor to ask forgiveness. The neighbor tells the little boy that he forgives him, but is that the end? No, forgiveness maybe given but in this case it doesn’t fix the broken window. The boy should be expected to repair the damage (reparation). Finally, my last example… There are two brothers. The older brother discovers the younger brother’s piggy bank and finds that it contains $5. He takes the money and spends it on candy later that day. However, by that evening the older brother was feeling guilty over having had taken the money and confesses to his younger brother and asks him to forgive him. His younger brother does, in fact, say that he forgives his brother. Again, should that be the end of the story; or should the older brother, though forgiven, repay his brother for the money he had stolen? Rest assured any temporal punishment (payment) that isn’t paid here on earth will still be paid in purgatory. It’s not an issue of Heaven or hell. If all mortal sins have been forgiven through the sacrament of confession at the time of death, the person will go to Heaven. The question is, will he/she have to stop in purgatory beforehand and for how long (though, I am confused concerning the issue of time as it relates to purgatory).
If you mean Canon law -
Canon law is the body of laws and regulations made by or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members (IE - Church law).
If you mean Biblical Canon -
A Biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious community, generally in Judaism or Christianity.
