Drogi pojednania grzeszników w Kościele: sakramentalna i codzienna pokuta chrześcijanina

Abstract

The reconciliation between man and God is carried out in the Church in many ways. It can be divided into sacramental and non-sacramental, liturgical and non-liturgical, individual and collective. The sacramental forms include baptism, the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick. Each of them, however, has its own specific character. The usual way of bringing a sinner back to God (we mean the cardinal sin), after baptism, is the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. In extraordinary cases cardinal sins are absolved through the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The absolution of menial sins may be granted by non-sacramental means, devotions of a penance character, through everyday difficulties born with patience and love, and through the practice of the deeds of penance approved by the Church: prayer, fasting, alms giving and penance pilgrimages. All the existing forms of penance in the Church should be mutually complemented and should bring about a more perfect life every day with the Gospel of Christ.