Why Does The Priest Give Us A Penance After Confession?

The priest gives us a penance after confession that we may make some atonement to God for our sins, receive help to avoid them in the future, and make some satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to them.

Pope Francis at the Confessional

Perhaps it should first be observed that all penances are intrinsically inadequate in order to make true satisfaction for sin. The gravity involved in any sin far outweighs our possibility to repair the lack of love toward God. The wonder of confession is God’s generosity toward us in offering us reconciliation and restoring us to his friendship.

JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME.

May the joy of this great celebration never depart from you and your household in Jesus Name Amen.

The promised Messiah has come. The light of God has enveloped the whole universe, darkness has taken to its heels and salvation has come to humanity.

Catholic Bishop Okeke, Urges Christians To Prepare For Christ's Coming And Not Just Christmas

Ahead of the coming Christmas celebration, Most Rev Hillary Okeke, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, has urged Christians to make use of the festive season in preparation for Jesus Christ’s second coming.

His Lordship Most Rev Dr Hilary Okeke. Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese 

Okeke, who made this call in his Christmas message at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi on Wednesday, December 21 encouraged Christians not see Christmas only as period for merry-making. He said they should rather use the period to re-establish personal contact with Christ.

REFLECTION: ON CHRISTIAN DEATH AND RESURRECTION

HOMILY FOR THIRTY-SECOND (YEAR C ), NOVEMBER 6, 2016
BY REV. FR THOMAS OYODE.

Today's liturgy is a sharp reminder not only of the fact that the liturgical year is fast itching to an end but also of the need to keep in mind that our Lord will surely come again, this time, not to die on the cross but to establish God's justice. It, thus, reminds of our last end and the life after where our acts of restitution would have their ultimate meaning.

HOMILY FOR TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY (YEAR C), SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

THEME: OUR PRAYER LIFE AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

Lazarus outside the rich man's house being licked by dogs

Last Sunday, we saw how Christ presented us with a teaching that indicates that the dawn of God's reign is a reversal of the suffering of the poor and needy. This reversal is given its ultimate significance today; at the end of time, God's judgment will show that the fruitfulness of our Christian devotions would be seen in our commitment to a just, equitable distribution of the world's goods. This is never too much to ask for; it is the beginning of a Christian brotherhood that would come to its fullness in heaven.