HISTORY OF RECONCILIATION
The history of Reconciliation dates as far back as after Jesus’ Resurrection and is found in the Gospel of Matthew 16:19 and John 20:22-23. In these gospels, Jesus is giving his disciples the power of forgiveness.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” – Gospel of Matthew
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – Gospel of John
During the Early Church the only form of forgiveness was in Baptism. This was because Baptism in the Early Church was seen as a long-lasting forgiveness with little possibility that people would sin again. However, more people began to sin, so the Church began to forgive people through Eucharist and good works. For more serious sins, people were given harsher punishments, like death.
In the Second and Third Century (150 & 200 AD), people who sinned after forgiveness at baptism, were forgiven only once but serious sinner (murderers) confessed their bad actions to the Bishop and they were given a long penance.
Between the Fourth and Sixth Century, the penance or consequence of sinning was for the sinner to wear a sackcloth, crop their hair or kneel on the Church steps. People began waiting until it was close for their death until they ask for forgiveness, because the punishment was so harsh.
Throughout the Seventh and Eleventh Century private penance began more popular. People wrote their sins on a paper and gave it to the priest or bishop. The Priest or bishop would then officially write down their penance. The penance was given to fit the crime that the sinner had committed and examples include whipping and fasting. Some people used to pay others to do their penance for them.
Eventually, in the Twelfth Century confessing sins became a requirement; all Christians had to do it at least once a year. This confession was the first form of one-on-one, face-to-face confession, and is held in an open and public place. In order to be forgiven in the eyes of the Church, the sinner could only attend confession, Eucharist was not enough.
The history of Reconciliation dates as far back as after Jesus’ Resurrection and is found in the Gospel of Matthew 16:19 and John 20:22-23. In these gospels, Jesus is giving his disciples the power of forgiveness.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” – Gospel of Matthew
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – Gospel of John
During the Early Church the only form of forgiveness was in Baptism. This was because Baptism in the Early Church was seen as a long-lasting forgiveness with little possibility that people would sin again. However, more people began to sin, so the Church began to forgive people through Eucharist and good works. For more serious sins, people were given harsher punishments, like death.
In the Second and Third Century (150 & 200 AD), people who sinned after forgiveness at baptism, were forgiven only once but serious sinner (murderers) confessed their bad actions to the Bishop and they were given a long penance.
Between the Fourth and Sixth Century, the penance or consequence of sinning was for the sinner to wear a sackcloth, crop their hair or kneel on the Church steps. People began waiting until it was close for their death until they ask for forgiveness, because the punishment was so harsh.
Throughout the Seventh and Eleventh Century private penance began more popular. People wrote their sins on a paper and gave it to the priest or bishop. The Priest or bishop would then officially write down their penance. The penance was given to fit the crime that the sinner had committed and examples include whipping and fasting. Some people used to pay others to do their penance for them.
Eventually, in the Twelfth Century confessing sins became a requirement; all Christians had to do it at least once a year. This confession was the first form of one-on-one, face-to-face confession, and is held in an open and public place. In order to be forgiven in the eyes of the Church, the sinner could only attend confession, Eucharist was not enough.