HOLY MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION

• The Holy Mystery of Reconciliation is available everyt Saturday at 2:30PM.
• The Holy Mystery of Reconciliation is available by appointment or immediately before or after the Divine Liturgy.
• For an appointment, contact Fr. Lukas at (440) 494-4341.

The Holy Mystery of Repentance (Confession) is a marvellous manifestation of God's love and mercy towards us sinners.  This is because the Lord does not reject us and does not turn away from us when we, having been washed of our sins in Baptism and endowed with divine grace, sin again through malice or weakness.  Indeed, the Lord awaits our repentance. He forgives us if we repent and confess our sins. 

In the celebration of the Holy Mystery of Repentance, the Church actualizes the words of the Lord to the apostles: "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you fogive the since of any, they are fogiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23).  Every priest continues the apostolic ministry in the Mystery of Repentance when he absolves the faithful of their sins and reconciles them with the Church.  The priest pronounces the prayer of absolution (the loosing from the bondage of sin) and every penitent thereby receives Christ's forgiveness. (from the Catechism of the Ukranian Catholic Church)

Reflect on your life in the light of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.

The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17

I am the Lord your God, and you shall have no other gods before me.
Has God been the source, center, and hope of my life?  Have I put myself, others, or things before God?  Have I failed to trust in God's existence, love, and mercy?   Have I failed to pary to God, to worship Him, and to thank Him for His blessings?  Have I tried to serve God and keep His commandments faithfully?  Have I murmured or complained against God in adversity?  Have I praised and glorified God through my words and deeds? 

You shall not make for yourself a graven image in order to worship it. 
Have I valued anone or anything above God?  Have I given to anyone or anything the love, honor, and worship that belongs to God alone?  Have I made an idol of any person, idea, occupation, or thing? 

I am the Lord your God, and you shall have no other gods before me. 
Have I blasphemed God's holy name in any way?  Have I sworn a false oath?  Have I broken any solemn vow or promise?  Have I entered into an agreement, promise, or contract against God's law?  Have I cursed or used foul language? 

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 
Have I worshipped regularly on Sundays and major feast days and have I helped others to do the same?  Have I worked unnecessarily on Sundays or major feast days or caused others to do so?  Have I spent the Lord's Day in a wholesome and edifying way? 

Honor your father and mother. 
Have I loved and respected my parents as I should?  Have I neglected them or failed to help them?  Have I disobeyed them, deceived them or caused them pain by my words or deeds?  Have I treated all my family members with patience and love?

Thou shall not kill. 
Have I caused the harm, injury, or death of anyone?  Have I wished my own or anyone's harm or death?  Have I been cruel to animals or destroyed any life unnecessarily?  

You shall not commit adultery. 
Have I committed any immoral acts alone or with others?  Have I caused others to commit immoral acts?  Have I committed immoral acts in my heart? 

You shall not steal. 
Have I taken anything that was not mine from anyone or from anywhere?  Have I cheated anyone?  Have I caused others to steal or cheat?  Have I tried to find the owners of lost things I have found?  Have I damaged or destroyed anything that belonged to another?  Have I defrauded anyone of rightful wages?  Have I paid my debts?  Have I given to the poor and to philanthropic causes in proportion to my means? 

You shall not bear false witness. 
Have I given false testimony against anyone?  Have I spoken evil, told lies, or spread rumors about anyone?  Have I disclosed to anyone the sins and faults of another?  Have I made careless statements or done anything else to harm the name and reputation of another?  Have I engaged in idle gossip?

You shall not covet. 
Have I looked with envy, jealousy, or hatred toward the possossions, talents, or achievements of others?  Have I desired the downfall or loss of others out of evil intent that I might benefit?  Have I grieved that God has bestowed greater blessings on others than on me?
 

The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:1-12  

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Have I truly recognized my complete dependence on God?  Have I been proud, arrogant, and self-righteous in my ways?  Have I been selfish, possessive, and self-seeking?  Have I sought after status, power, and wealth? 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 
Have I endured difficulties and afflictions with faith and patience?  Have I felt sadness for the sufferings of the poor, the hungry, and the addicted; the sick, the lonely, and the sinful of the world?  Have I truly been sorrowful for my sins and faults? 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 
Have I tried to serve or rather to dominate others at home, school, work, office, church, and elsewhere?  Have I cursed against anyone?  Have I been resentful, bitter, unforgiving, or insulting and abusive to others?  Have I loved my enemies? 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 
Have I truly yearned for God's will to be done in all things?  Have I worked for justice in my family, society, and the world in ways within my reach?  Have I tried to cultivate a righteous life through prayer, fasting, worship, receiving Holy Communion, and deeds of love toward others? 

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 
Have I shown compassion and help toward the poor, hungry, lonely, and needy around me?  Have I tried to understand and forgive others?  Have I been indifferent, judgmental, or legalistic? 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 
Have I loved goodness, purity, and holiness?  Have I succumbed to evil motives and intentions?  Have I given way to impure thoughts, words, or deeds?  Have I been guilty of bias and prejudice?  Have I been hypocritical, pretentious, or self-indulgent to sinful passions? 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 
Do I have God's peace in my heart?  Have I been unfairly angry, aggressive, or impatient?  Have I worked for peace at home, work, church, and in society?  Have I been irritable, polemical, or divisive?  

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Have I complained when persecuted for God's sake?  Have I prayed for my persecutors?  Have I failed to defend anyone in the truth for fear of humiliation or persecution?  Have I had the courage to stand up for what is right despite criticism, ridicule, or persecution? 

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you on my account; rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. 
Is the joy of Christ in my heart even in trying moments?  Have I been pessimistic, despondent, or despairing?  Have I truly delighted in the promise of God's treasures in heaven?  
 

Source: The Office of Repentance and Guide to Confession in the Byzantine Catholic Tradition by Horizons Press