How do make reparation for my sins?

  • Thread starter Thread starter anneramones
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Ok, so our sins incur a “temporal punishment”. They are forgiven but we have to make things right and correct the imbalance between right and wrong, good and evil. Every sin weighs the scale down on the evil side and when we do penance by saying prayers, fasting, giving alms, enduring our sufferings patiently and offering them up, we add to the good side and correct the balance.

The best way I’ve heard reparation explained is that if you are playing baseball in the yard and you break the neighbors window with the ball, he will forgive you but you have to make reparation–you have to pay for a new window installation.

If you go to this website there are a number of prayers that the Church has listed for us to gain indulgences (an indulgence is a remission of that temporal punishment due to our sins.)

https://www.ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/

I just say them for partial indulgences. There are certain criteria that have to be met to gain a plenary indulgence such as being detached from venial sins. That’s very difficult.

But to answer your question–How can you expiate your sins? You simply say the prayers in a spirit of devotion and penance. I once read that we can say something like: “O Lord, in reparation for the punishment due to my sins, I offer you these prayers…” That’s what I do every day.

Two of my favorites are the Anima Christi and the Look Down Upon Me Good and Gentle Jesus prayers.

God Bless!
 
As someone mentioned above, make sure to observe Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus told St. Faustina that those who confess and received communion that day will be not only forgiven of their sins but also have all punishment due for their sins wiped away. In short, a completely clean slate. Read St. Faustina’s diary for this and more beautiful promises of the Divine Mercy. We are in an extraordinary time of Mercy.
Besides this, strive for a plenary indulgence each day, for you or a soul in Purgatory. And ask God for the grace to go right to heaven, without Purgatory.
 
This is from an article on indulgences on the main site:

“Certainly when it comes to the eternal effects of our sins, only Christ can make amends or reparation. We are completely unable to do so, not only because we are finite creatures incapable of making an infinite satisfaction, but because everything we have was given to us by God. For us to try to satisfy God’s eternal justice would be like using money we had borrowed from someone to repay what we had stolen from him. This does not mean we can’t make amends or reparation for the temporal effects of our sins. If someone steals an item, he can return it. If someone damages another’s reputation, he can publicly correct the slander. These are ways in which one can make at least partial amends (expiation) for what he has done.”

 
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