Original scientific paper
The motherhood of the Church in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation
Mato Zovkić
; University of Sarajevo - Catholic Theological Faculty, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract
This was a presentation at the Seminar for priests who heard the
confessions of pilgrims in Medjugorje, on May 7, 2008. Documents of the
Second Vatican Council and subsequent guidelines of Catholic
Magisterium call this sacrament a Reconciliation sacrament, which is
more consistent with Jesus' teaching and the practice of the early Church.
The New Testament foundations for this sacrament are the words of Jesus
in Matthew 16:17-19; 18:15-18 and his treatment of the sinful woman in
Luke 7:36-50; but the key event of forgiveness of sins is baptism, which
begins an association with Christ and Church (John 20:22-23; Eph 2:14-
18). In recent documents of the Catholic Magisterium, the ecclesial aspect
of this sacrament has been pointed out, especially as emphasized by the
expression “per ministerium Ecclesiae - through the ministry of the
Church” in an absolute formula. Although a valid sacramental absolution
can be ministered only by bishops and priests, the entire ecclesial community supports its weak members on their way to conversion and reconciliation. By doing so it implements the maternal role of the Church.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
286024
URI
Publication date:
1.6.2009.
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