Confession or Reconciliation?

[catechizeme]

When teaching kids (elementary school age K-8) about the sacraments, do you use the term “Confession” or “Reconciliation”? Do you have a preference, and if so, why?

 

[Phemie]

In our parish we use Sacrament of Penance, but all are good terms.
The Catechism calls it “Penance and Reconciliation” and says that it has many names: Sacrament of conversion, of Penance, of confession, of Reconciliation & of forgiveness because it is all these things.

 

[Lepanto]

When teaching kids (elementary school age K-8) about the sacraments, do you use the term “Confession” or “Reconciliation”? Do you have a preference, and if so, why?

The catechism addresses this question. Here is a citation:​

I. WHAT IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED?

1423 It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father5 from whom one has strayed by sin.

It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.

1424 It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a “confession” - acknowledgment and praise - of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.

It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."6

It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the live of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God."7 He who lives by God’s merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord’s call: “Go; first be reconciled to your brother.”​

Here is the source:
vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm#I

So all of those names are valid, however, the “sacrament of Penance” is clearly preferred, because that is what the catechism uses after the introductory explanations.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

When teaching kids (elementary school age K-8) about the sacraments, do you use the term “Confession” or “Reconciliation”? Do you have a preference, and if so, why?

It is important that children learn the proper Catholic terms and language. Confession of sins is a main element of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In our parish we use Sacrament of Penance, but all are good terms.
The Catechism calls it “Penance and Reconciliation” and says that it has many names: Sacrament of conversion, of Penance, of confession, of Reconciliation & of forgiveness because it is all these things.

Penance is also an element of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Repentence, Confession, Contrition, Absolution, Penance are the elements of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I don’t disagree with the Catechism, but the Catechism is explaining the teaching of the Church and is correct in that the Sacrament is known by it’s effects. It is a Conversion of the sinner, It does require communiction or expression of ones sins to a priest, it does Forgive and Absolve the guilt of sins, etc. But trying to use many different terms just confuses children as well as adults.

 

[Phemie]

Penance is also an element of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Repentence, Confession, Contrition, Absolution, Penance are the elements of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I don’t disagree with the Catechism, but the Catechism is explaining the teaching of the Church and is correct in that the Sacrament is known by it’s effects. It is a Conversion of the sinner, It does require communiction or expression of ones sins to a priest, it does Forgive and Absolve the guilt of sins, etc. But trying to use many different terms just confuses children as well as adults.

But while it lists its many effects, it still calls it the “Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation” and Canon Law calls it the Sacrament of Penance (in Latin, in English, in French). That hasn’t changed since I went to catechism class 50 years ago.

 

[Lepanto]

It is important that children learn the proper Catholic terms and language. Confession of sins is a main element of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

More than that, but the confession of sins and the penance are necessary for the sacrament to be valid.

 

[kage_ar]

It is vital to use ALL the terms when instructing.

You would not believe the number of people who travel or move somewhere and will say “my parish does not offer Confession”. The Parish posted it as “Reconcilliation” or “Penance” and the person did not KNOW what that was!