Advent is a penitential season, a time to recognize that Jesus came to save us from ourselves. Taking time to examine our conscience and be honest with ourselves is one of the things that the Church encourages us to focus on during Advent. Father Bob mentioned four Advent tasks in a recent homily: 1) take time to pray; 2) examine our conscience honestly; 3) ask for forgiveness; and 4) rejoice!
How do we use our conscience to guide us in our every day? Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia reflected on this: “Conscience is never merely a matter of personal opinion or private preference. It is not a pious alibi for doing what we want… ‘In forming their consciences, the faithful must pay careful attention to the sacred and certain teaching of the Church. For the Catholic Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth.'”
(Note: Communal Advent Reconciliation prayer services are being offered as follows: Sat., Dec. 17, 10 a.m. St. Mark’s; Tues., Dec. 20, noon, St. Elizabeth’s. Individual reconciliation will be offered at St. Anne’s, Sat., Dec. 17, 9:30 a.m., Wed., Dec. 21, 4:30-6 p.m. or by appointment.)