O Antiphons
The "O Antiphons" provide a wonderful source of meditation to help prepare us for the Nativity. Traditionally chanted before and after the Magnificat in Evening Prayer during the last week of Advent, they help connect Old Testament prophecy to the Messiah born in a manger. Listen first to this wonderful introduction by Ken Myers of Mars Hill Audio:
Bp. Chad's Lectures on Confession
The Anglican Province of America (APA) held its annual clergy retreat on February 6 at St. Barnabas Church in Dunwoody, GA. The topic of retreat was the Sacrament of Penance. Bishop Chad Jones led the retreat and gave a series of lectures on the topic along with an extensive Q&A session.
Bishop Chad's first lecture was about the nature of the Confession, the strengths of the Anglican approach to the Sacrament of Penance, attrition, and how the Sacrament helps us walk on the path of holiness. Click below on each link to listen. You may also listen to these lectures from any podcast host like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Click here for more information.
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In his second lecture, Bishop Chad starts by considering two questions that came up after his first lecture. First, the difference between the absolution given at the general Confession at the Holy Mass and the absolution given in the Sacrament of Penance. Second, how a priest may offer help outside of Confession if the penitent expresses the need of additional help. He then goes on to talk about the difference between penance and repentance, and why Anglicans should seek after The Sacrament of Penance.
The third lecture contains the three conditions necessary for the penitent and how priests may encourage these three conditions. These are contrition, Confession, and amendment of life.
The fourth lecture was specifically about scrupulosity, or the habit of obsession over one's sins without trusting in the forgiveness of God. Bishop Chad talks about the conditions of scrupulosity but also its remedies in this lecture.
To conclude, Bp. Chad answered questions from the audience concerning Confession. Many different topics are considered from mandatory reporting and cases of confessed abuse, to the liturgy of confession, and more on the nature of the seal. Some of the questions are hard to hear, but Bp. Chad usually repeated the question in his answer.
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