(2) It is committed by Him to those whom He has

sent.

S. John xx. 22, 23. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, 20. Cf. S.

Luke v. 24.

"Receive the HOLY GHOST for the office and work of a Priest in the Church of GOD. . . . Whose sins thou dost forgive they are forgiven, and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained."

See also Absolution, Daily Office; Absolution, Visitation Office.

The Forgiveness of Sins, the second great privilege given to us in the Catholic Church, as 65 Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven."

The Means of Forgiveness.

I. Holy Baptism.

Baptism cleanses from all sin, both original and actual; if the person have committed actual sin before Baptism.

Acts ii. 38; xxii. 16.

I believe in one Baptism for the remission of sins." "We call upon Thee for this infant-this person—that he, coming to Thy Holy Baptism, may receive remission of his sins."

66 Sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin."3

II. Absolution.

The appointed means of pardon for sins committed after
Baptism. S. John xx. 22, 23..

The Church in her Offices provides

(1) Two general forms of Absolution.

α. "GOD hath given power and commandment to
His ministers to declare and pronounce to His
people, being penitent, the Absolution and re-
mission of their sins.
He pardoneth and
absolveth all such as truly repent."4
B. Almighty GOD.... Who of His great mercy
hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them
that with hearty repentance and true faith turn
unto Him; Have mercy upon you, pardon and
deliver you from all your sins."5

66

1 Office for the Ordering of Priests. 4 Daily Office.

tismal Office.

2 Nicene Creed. 5 Communion Office.

3 Bap

(2) One special form of Absolution.

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who hath left power to His Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in Him, of His great mercy forgive thee thine offences: and by His authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, in the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST."1

III. Holy Communion.

a. We receive pardon of sin by devout Communion.
"Grant us so to eat the Flesh of Thy dear SON JESUS
CHRIST, and to drink His Blood, that our sinful
bodies may be made clean by His Body, and our
souls washed through His most precious Blood."
"Grant that by the merits and death of Thy SON
JESUS CHRIST, and through faith in His Blood, we
may receive remission of our sins."3 S. Mat.
xxvi. 28.

... ·

b. We must, however, distinguish between Holy Communion as a means of forgiveness, and Holy Baptism and Absolution,

(1) These are the specially ordained means of conveying pardon to sinners.

(2) Holy Communion has for its more immediate object that of conveying to the already pardoned sinner nourishment and strength, " the strengthening and refreshing of our souls." We receive pardon through Holy Communion, for in receiving CHRIST we receive all gifts of Grace; remission of sins, and all other benefits of His Passion."3 c. The Church teaches us that we may not approach to Communion except with souls already pardoned. (1) If our souls are disquieted, she bids us seek for special Absolution before Communion.

"If there be any who ... cannot quiet his own
conscience,
let him come to me, or to some
other discreet and learned Minister of GOD'S Word,
and open his grief, that he may receive the benefit
of Absolution."4

(2) The Church provides a distinct form of Absolution
in the service itself, that so every sin may be par-
doned before we draw near.

3 Prayer of

1 Visitation Office. 2 Prayer of Humble Access. Oblation; Communion Office. 4 First Exhortation; Communion Office.

Types.

a. JESUS washes His disciples' feet before He insti-
tutes the Holy Eucharist. S. John xiii. 2-II.
B. The leaven was to be put away out of the houses
before the Blood of the Paschal Lamb was sprin-
kled on the door-posts. Ex. xii. 15. Cf. 1 Cor.
v. 8.

IV. Prayer.

a. Besides the outward means of pardon ordained of GOD, GOD gives forgiveness of sins in answer to prayer.

66

S. Mat. xviii. 26, 27, 32. CHRIST thus teaches His disciples to pray. 'Forgive us our trespasses." b. It is because we have been washed in Holy Baptism and made GOD's children, that we can thus draw nigh to GOD and seek forgiveness by prayer.

S. John xiii. 10. See above, Forgiveness of Sins, a privilege of the Church.

c. GOD's mercy unfailing so long as we earnestly seek forgiveness.

S. Mat. xviii. 21, 22. S. Luke xvii. 3, 4.

Conditions of Forgiveness.

I. Repentance and Faith.

a. Repentance.

(1) Without repentance we cannot truly seek the grace
of pardon, and thus all outward form of pardon
would be unavailing.

S. Luke xxiv. 47. Acts iii. 19; v. 31. Cf. S.
Luke xvii. 3.

(2) True repentance must include each part of Repent-
ance, Contrition, Confession, Satisfaction.1

b. Faith.

"Faith whereby we steadfastly believe the promises of GOD."2

(1) We cannot receive the Gift unless we believe the promise.

S. Mark ix. 23. Acts xiv. 9. Heb. xi. 6. (2) Unbelief withholds GOD from working His mira

cles of Grace.

S. Mark vi. 1-7. c. The Church teaches the

faith.

Cf. S. Mat. xiii. 58. necessity of repentance and

(1) Repentance and Faith "required of persons to be

baptized."

1 See 2nd and 3rd Sundays in Lent.

2 Catechism.

(2) GOD "pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe His holy Gospel."

"That with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him."2

"Who truly repent and believe in Him."

II. Forgiveness of others.

S. Mat. v. 23, 24; xviii. 21 to end.

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us."

Special Application.

(1) Thankfulness to GOD for this great Gift of Pardon.
(2) Reverence in receiving the word of Absolution.
(3) To seek to cultivate a forgiving spirit.

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.

Death.

I. Death of the body, the penalty of sin all must pay.

Rom. v. 12. Heb. ix. 27.

a. The body when it dies returns to dust.
Gen. iii. 19. Eccles. iii. 20.

"We commit his body to

the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."4

b. The spirit returns to GOD Who gave it.

Eccles. xii. 7; iii. 21. "It hath pleased Almighty

GOD.

to take unto Himself the soul of our dear

II. Christ by His Suffering and Death has changed the curse into a blessing.1

Rev. xiv. 13. Cf. Deut. xxiii. 5. Ps. xxiii. 4.
a. CHRIST has taken away the "sting" of Death.
I Cor. xv. 55, 56. Cf. Rom. viii. 1, 2.
b. The Holy Dead are with CHRIST in Paradise.
Phil. i. 21, 23.
2 Cor. v. 8. Cf. S. Luke xxiii. 43;
xvi. 22. "With Whom do live the spirits of them
that depart hence in the LORD, and with Whom the
souls of the faithful .... are in joy and felicity."
"We meekly beseech Thee.... that when we shall
depart this life, we may rest in Him, as our hope is
this our brother doth."2

c. To Christians is given the hope of a joyful Resurrection.
I S. Pet. i. 3. "Sure and certain hope of the resurrec-
tion to Eternal Life."
"Grant. that through

the grave and gate of death, we may pass to our
joyful Resurrection."3

"I believe in the Resurrection of the body."4

Resurrection.

I. Death will be destroyed.

I Cor. xv. 26. Rev. xx. 14.

CHRIST has taken away the "victory" of the Grave, for the
Grave will not be able to hold those who are CHRIST'S.
I Cor. xv. 54, 55, 57. Cf. Acts ii. 24.

II. Soul and body will be reunited for ever.
I Thes. iv. 14-18.

For this blessed time we wait and long.

Rom. viii. 23. 2 Cor. v. I-4. "I look for the Resur

rection of the Dead."5

The Resurrection of the Body, the third great privilege given to us in the Catholic Church, as "Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven."

The Bodies of the Risen Saints.