August 31, 1992

To all Priests in the Archdiocese:

As we heed the call (by the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines) for renewal and evangelization addressed to all Filipino Catholics, we grow in the conviction that such renewal needs to begin with personal conversion. This conversion takes place not only once, but in a continuous and constant way, since “our love for God... can grow cold and we can fall away from this first love. Hence the need to pray daily ‘Forgive us our sins!’ and to seek reconciliation with God and with the church in the Sacrament of Penance” (PCP-II, Concillar Document, 80).

The historic ecclesial event in the Philippines also declared that “the importance of the Sacrament of Penance must be strongly emphasized in the life of the Church” (Art. 9). I therefore open my heart to you, my brother priests, ministers of this sacrament, to encourage you to undertake a catechesis on Confession, which will touch the hearts of our brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese to approach the tribunal of divine justice with confidence and love.

The Sacrament of Penance is a sacrament that ought to be sought and loved by all the faithful, including and starting with ourselves. Our Lord has conquered sin, and through the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we too can conquer everything with Him. Even our very weakness can be turned into strength. Indeed, Penance is a sacrament not only of pardon, but also of joy and healing! Let us nourish ourselves with this consoling truth.

We can recall that “in order to lead others along the path of Christian perfection, the minister of Penance himself must first travel this path” (Reconciliation and Penance, no. 29). He who makes his own confession well can also receive confessions well. Our Lord is constantly seeking us out, individually, like a doctor who goes after the sick (Cfr. Mt 9:12). That is why we should always be moved to avail ourselves of the healing powers of our Lord that flow from this tribunal of love and mercy. Let us ask ourselves these questions: Do we go to Confession regularly? Do we have a regular confessor? or Do we ever go to confession at all?

If we can often turn to the forgiving Christ, we can more effectively attract all the other faithful to this fountain of divine love. Our personal encounter with our Lord will increase our pastoral charity — that “internal principle, the force which animates and guides the spiritual life of the priest” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, 23). And this pastoral charity will somehow give us more knowledge and appreciation of the truth about man, leading us to be very understanding of our brothers and sisters, patient, and willing as ministers of Christ to dispense the mercy of God to them. We would be able to adopt and show the same attitude of Christ before sinners. “I come not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13).

Let us show this love for the Sacrament of Penance in the concrete by continually preaching about it in our homilies and encouraging individuals in our apostolic conversations. In the catechetical programs, we prepare the young for it; helping them understand, appreciate and practice confession. I know that many of you already have fixed days for hearing confessions. Follow that schedule with religious fervor and be readily available at other times, even if the penitents are slow in coming at first.

Finally, make the effort to give spiritual direction in Confession. That ineffable sharing of your own experience, spirituality and knowledge, through the gift of Counsel, will greatly benefit the faithful who goes to confession.

As Servant-Leaders in the Archdiocese, I believe that we can render an outstanding service by being generously available to our faithful in dispensing the mercy of God in the Sacrament of Penance.

With my deepest fraternal and paternal concern for all of you, I am

Devotedly yours in Christ,

(Sgd.) + Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, D.D.

Archbishop of Manila