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Historical Origins And Development Of Reconciliation In The West

Baptism is the primary means of reconciling sinners to God. But what happens when Christians fall into sin after baptism? In the sacramental traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, the Eucharist itself has been a means of restoring relationship with God and other Christians. But highly visible or habitual sinning required special attention if the integrity of the Christian community was to be maintained. In the Western tradition this led to the sacrament of penance:...

 

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