The Operational Grace of the Sacrament of Penance for the Awareness of Sin in the Soul of the Penitent According to Thomas Aquinas

Herwindo Chandra — 2024-12-04

Two understandings of the reality of grace in the Sacrament of Penance were found. The Sacrament of Penance is a sign and means of the flow of grace of repentance in the soul of the penitent. However, in the penitent there is the reality of the grace of the Holy Spirit thanks to the Sacrament of Baptism. At first glance, both are like two separate realities of grace. Therefore, this article attempts to identify the relationship between the two in the operational scope of grace. This fills in several studies that have found various responses from Catholics to the Sacrament of Penance. So the purpose of this article is to understand the relationship between the grace of the Holy Spirit in the penitent and the operational grace of the Sacrament of Penance. Achieving this goal also leads to the novelty of the article, namely the fundamental reasons for the penitent's inappropriate attitude towards the Sacrament of Penance. The method of analysis of sacramental grace and baptism uses the desk research method based on the thoughts of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Through Aquinas's framework of thought on the Sacrament of Penance, this article has a new emphasis on psychological awareness that leads individuals to true regret and repentance. The findings of the analysis reveal that problematic psychological unconsciousness can make penitents unaware of the roots of sin so that true regret is difficult to achieve. The theoretical implications of this writing are the strengthening of catechesis of the Sacrament of Penance on the aspect of psychological unconsciousness. At the same time, it enriches the pastoral accompaniment of the Sacrament of Penance in the field of kerygma.

Harmoni Filsafat dan Teologi dalam Pemikiran Thomas Aquinas: Kontribusi terhadap Pemahaman Kebenaran Ilahi

Andreas Ferdian Ginting — 2024-12-30

Thomas Aquinas' thoughts on the relationship between reason (intellect) and revelation (faith) play a crucial role in the tradition of Christian theology, particularly within the Catholic Church. Aquinas argued that reason and faith are two sources of knowledge that do not contradict each other but complement one another. He distinguished between scientific knowledge, which is acquired through reason and sensory experience, and knowledge of faith, which is rooted in divine revelation that transcends the capacity of human reason. According to Aquinas, while human reason can grasp certain divine truths, revelation is necessary to understand deeper and limitless truths, such as the mysteries of God and the Christian teachings found in sacred scripture. Aquinas' thought resulted in a synthesis between Aristotelian philosophy and Christian doctrine, where philosophy investigates the material world, while theology explores divine truths. Aquinas proposed that reason and revelation have distinct yet supportive roles in the pursuit of truth. This view provided a strong intellectual foundation for the Catholic Church and offered a solution to the tension between reason and faith. Aquinas' ideas remain relevant today, particularly in the dialogue between science and religion, which complement each other in the pursuit of a more holistic understanding of reality and human existence.

Gaudium Vestrum: Jurnal Kateketik Pastoral

The Operational Grace of the Sacrament of Penance for the Awareness of Sin in the Soul of the Penitent According to Thomas Aquinas

Harmoni Filsafat dan Teologi dalam Pemikiran Thomas Aquinas: Kontribusi terhadap Pemahaman Kebenaran Ilahi