This unit is a practicum to prepare future confessors for sacramental service in the Catholic Church. It is restricted to Catholic deacons who are candidates for the Priesthood. The unit examines the official decrees and teaching on the administration of the Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick. The unit begins with a restatement of the Christological and Ecclesiological dimensions of Penance. It then proceeds to deal with the pastoral care of the penitent and the duties and rights of both penitent and confessor. As this unit is a practicum, various guest speakers deal with subjects such as psychology and reconciliation, the liturgy of reconciliation, the canonical requirements, and medical and family issues.

Prerequisites

units in Moral Theology and Canon Law

Requirements

2½ hours per week

Assessment

one 30 minute formal oral examination
This unit is assessed as a pass/fail grade only.

Bibliography

• Doran, Kevin. More Joy in Heaven! Confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1988.
• Grün, Anselm. The Seven Sacraments. Translated by John Cumming. New York: Continuum, 2003.
• Huels, John M. Empowerment for Ministry: A Complete Manual on Diocesan Faculties for Priests, Deacons and Lay Ministers. New York: Paulist, 2003.
• Kelly, Gerald. The Good Confessor. Dublin: Clonmore & Reynolds, 1952.
• Luijten, Eric. Sacramental Forgiveness as a Gift of God: Thomas Aquinas on the Sacrament of Penance. Leuven: Peeters, 2003.
• Stasiak, Kurt. A Confessor’s Handbook. Mahwah, NY: Paulist, 1999.