Celebrating God's Healing Forgiveness Here is a practical, pastoral book for all Catholic Christians - laity as well as clergy - to foster renewed understanding and practice of the sacrament of reconciliation. The most thorough handbook of its kind, Reconciliationis at once informative, instructive, and pastorally sound. The author presents a detailed and fascinating historical overview of sin and confession from biblical times to the present; a theological analysis of the evolution and meaning of the sacrament in the life of the Christian community; the actual Rite of Penance promulgated since Vatican II; the Church's guidelines for the new celebration; prayers for individual as well as communal reconciliation; biblical readings; prayers for inner healing; helpful steps on making an examiniation of conscience; and a section of Questions and Answers covering just about every situation or concern one is likely to experience. Clergy, religious counselors, lay people young and old will find in this book a new meaning and new spirit for celebrating one of the Church's most important and (re)vivifying sacraments. No parish should be without it!