The next section of the Rule of 1818 moves to the logical conclusion of preaching: helping the listener to come to a personal encounter with God as Savior. Preaching should make people aware of their need for conversion, best expressed in the sacrament of reconciliation:
Concerning confessions he will keep in mind what St. Ignatius, St. Philip Neri, and many others perceived, namely, that the work begun in the pulpit has to be completed in the tribunal of penance. If grace has touched a soul by the strength of the Word of God, ordinarily it is in the tribunal of penance that grace molds and justifies it. Preaching, indeed, has no other end than to lead sinners to the pool of salvation.
When God’s grace touches a person with the desire for conversion, the Missionaries need to be available to celebrate the sacrament with them.
We will, therefore, never refuse the request of those who seek to go to confession, whether during the time of missions, or outside of it.
Where we have our residences, three days a week will be especially dedicated to the hearing of confessions.
1818 Rule Part 1, Chapter 3, §2 Regarding Confession
“When God’s grace touches a person with the desire for conversion, the Missionaries need to be available to celebrate the sacrament with them.” It would seem to me that we were created to want to repent our sins, our wrong-doings and further to seek forgiveness. Eugene’s expression of his experience of God, of Jesus on the Cross and dying for him – ‘when my eyes met His’ – total love without end. The celebration of this sacrament is not just in the confessional but in and throughout the kingdom of God, filling the heavens and the hearts on this earth. There is no place for arrogance, derision or ridicule, for judgement or hatred, There is only place for the most tender love, fearlessness, trust, humility, hope and belief.
I remember the first time I received this sacrament after being away from the Church and the sacraments for many years – there must have been celebration in heaven – unreserved, unconditional. I think of the particular joy that fills each of our hearts when another joins us, our community, our family, particularly when he or she has been away for a while – it is the joy and celebration that comes with a Baptism and with the rest of the sacraments.
“Preaching, indeed, has no other end than to lead sinners to the pool of salvation.”