杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis on Friday received the over 700 participants in a Course on the Internal Forum organized by the Apostolic Penitentiary insisting on the fact that it is to be taken very seriously.

The Course aims to contribute to the formation of good confessors.

In unscripted remarks at the beginning of his speech, the 杏MAP导航 noted  that in some cases Church superiors are known to use notions of the Internal Forum to make decisions that are not internal, and vice versa. This, he said, 鈥渋s a sin against the dignity of the person who puts his or her trust in the priest when he or she is asking for forgiveness鈥�.

鈥淭he Internal Forum is the Internal Forum. It's something sacred.  I wanted to say this because I am concerned鈥� he said. 

The 杏MAP导航 went on to explain that the Ministry of Reconciliation requires "adequate formation, so that the encounter with the faithful who ask God's forgiveness proves to be a real encounter of salvation, in which the embrace of the Lord is perceived in all of its strength, its capacity for renewal, conversion, purification and forgiveness鈥�.

A vital theme for the life of the Church

杏MAP导航 Francis praised the training programme that the Apostolic Penitentiary - the oldest Tribunal at the service of the 杏MAP导航s - has been offering for the past 30 years.

He noted that the participation of so many in the course is proof of a need for solid formation in matters that are 鈥渟o important for the very life of the Church and the fulfilment of the mission that the Lord entrusted to it鈥�.

Loss of the sense of sin

He said that within the contemporary context in which man tends 鈥渢o lose the sense of sin and therefore of confession鈥�, this formation reveals a consistent interest 鈥渋n working together to face and overcome the crisis with the weapons of faith鈥� by offering 鈥渁n ever more qualified service capable of truly manifesting the beauty of divine 惭别谤肠测鈥�.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, the 杏MAP导航 said is 鈥渁 path to holiness鈥� for both the penitent and the confessor. This Sacrament, he explained, restores 鈥渇ull communion with God鈥�, from which man sometimes strays by misusing the magnificent gift of freedom.

No jurisdiction can interfere with the 鈥淪acramental seal鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 underscored the importance of the secrecy of confession by explaining that Reconciliation is 鈥渁 good that the wisdom of the Church has always safeguarded, strenuously, with the Sacramental seal.

He said that even if this is not always understood by modern mentality, it is indispensable for the holiness of the Sacrament and for the penitent鈥檚 freedom of conscience.

鈥淣o human power has jurisdiction over it, nor can it claim it鈥�, he said.

The 杏MAP导航 concluded his address inviting the priests to 鈥渁lways listen with great generosity to the confessions of the faithful鈥�, to walk with them along this 鈥減ath of holiness鈥� and to 鈥渃ontemplate the miracles of conversion that grace works in the secret of the confessional: miracles of which only you and the angels will witness鈥�.