July 9, 2011. (Romereports.com) Benedict
XVI has decided to relaunch confessions and spiritual direction. He
will do this through a very expressive gesture: this summer he will
sit in a confessional during World Youth Day in Madrid. A handful of
young people will make their confessions with the pope. The Vatican
also just published the document “The Priest, Minister of Divine
Mercy - An Aid for Confessors and Spiritual Directors.” It's a
manual on how to be good confessors.
Msgr. Celso
Morga
Secretary, Congregation for the Clergy“It will help
priests to rediscover the pastoral value of these simple actions.
They are very simple, so they seem to have no pastoral power but are
a very powerful ministry if we know how to administer them well and
we are available to offer them.”
The
new document has been prepared by the Congregation for the Clergy and
is signed by its prefect, Cardinal Mauro Picenze, as well as the
number two of the Congregation, Archbishop Celso Morga.
The
first part of the text explains the sacrament of Penance and gives
practical advice on administering and receiving the sacrament. For
example, it includes an examination of conscience meant for
priests.
Msgr. Celso
Morga
Secretary, Congregation for the Clergy“The document
encourages priests to be readily available for confession and
spiritual direction and at the same time to frequently confess
themselves and to have spiritual direction.”
The
second half of the text explains the doctrine of spiritual guidance,
on how to help other souls, and how to be helped by a spiritual
director.
The document has been sent
to all bishops' conferences in the world, and is available on the web
at clerus.org.
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