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100
The Early Church: What Is Reconciliation?
The Catholic Church could not rebaptise someone who sinned, as God was incapable of being unfaithful to man. Therefore, you were either in baptismal holiness or you were excommunicated from the Church. There is evidence that the bishop was the one who decided what penance should be imposed according to the severity of the sin and he was the one who officially reconciled the penitent at the end of the penitential process. -
100
The Early Church: Creation Of The Sacrament
The Catholic Church has always been conscious that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it can forgive sins yet it has traditionally provided ways and sacraments in which this can be done. Baptism is the first forgiveness of sin, with Reconciliation being required for grave sin. The origin of Reconciliation is rooted in the early Christian sensitivity of community and the all encompassing passion of a troubled people. If you sinned, you were excommunicated from the Church. -
200
The Third Century: Schisms in Africa and Rome
Leniency (e.g. readmitting to the Church those who had denied the faith under persecution and admitting to canonical penance, especially those Catholics who had committed grave and somewhat scandalous sins) caused major schisms in Africa and Rome. -
200
The Third Century: Fear Of The Sacrament
People rarely underwent the Sacrament of Reconciliation for fear of never having another opportunity for forgiveness, as well as public penance being regarded as something people underwent when on their deathbed. -
220
Pope Callixtus I And Sexual Sins
Callixtus was lenient in declaring certain sexual sins as forgivable. -
251
Pope Cornelius And Forgivable Sins
Pope Cornelius extended the range of forgivable sins. -
405
St. John Chrysostom Has Private Penance
St. John Chrysostom is condemned for having Penance privately. -
Jun 5, 754
St. Boniface Urges Confession
The public, canonical system of Reconciliation was now almost gone and frequent confessions were urged by St. Boniface. These were private and repeatable and they opened the way to keep the best of the old tradition and lead it into a new one. -
Nov 11, 1215
Fourth Lateran Council
At the Fourth Lateran Council, emphasis was placed on Catholics to go to Confession at least once a year. People had to confess differing sins of number, kind, and circumstance. -
Dec 4, 1563
The Council Of Trent
The Council placed a great amount of emphasis on Reconciliation. It ordered it to officially become the Sacrament of forgiveness. The Council stated that all mortal sins must be confessed by the order of God's will. -
Baby Boomers
Anybody born post-World War II was considered to be a part of the Baby Boomer generation up until 1/1/1964 -
First Coloured Television Broadcast
America had its first television broadcast in colour. Australia would receive colour television just in time for the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games. -
Rock Music
Many people started listening to Rock, especially after the emergence of the Rolling Stones. The Who and Bob Dylan were also popular. -
"I Have A Dream"
Martin Luther King, Jr. presented his famous speech at a racial freedom rally. -
Anti-Vietnam War
There were many protests against the Vietnam War. -
Vatican II
The Second Vatican Council ends after four years. -
Confessions Become Personal
Confessions were impersonal due to a preist not being able to attend to a person's spiritual needs. From the 1970s, this changed and confessions then became more personal. -
A New Rite Of Penance Is Ordered
Reconciliation is customarily received before Communion and children were required to give it before their first Communion. In order to restore some balance, the Catholic Church ordered a new Rite of Penance. Sins may be secret but they are never private. This either raises or lowers the moral tones of the Church. -
Computer Games
Computer games become more popular, especially after the release of "Space Invaders". -
Euthanasia Law Passed
A euthanasia law is passed in the Northern Territory, but is later rejected, making the practice of it illegal in Australia. -
Legal Abortion
Abortion becomes legal in Western Australia. -
September 11 Attacks
The world was shocked when Al-Quaida crashed into the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and near the White House in America. Many people lost their lives. -
Bali Bombings
Just over a year after the 9/11 attacks, the tourist district of Kuta in Bali was bombed. Many people died and three years later, Bali was bombed again. -
Facebook Is Launched
Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook, which changed the face of social media forever. Twitter is launched two years later, with the Pope even having an account. -
London Bombings
In the same year, both London and Bali were bombed. People were killed and no one expected it. -
The Sacrament Of Reconciliation Today
Catholics are also known as the Mystical Body of Christ. When a person sins, it affects the entire Catholic community due to sins causing separation. As Catholics are called to be loving, charitable and patient, they need to ask for God's forgiveness. This in turn repairs their relationship with God.