The sacrament of reconciliation in the sermons of st. Anthony of Padua

Početak trećega tisućljeća obilježava kriza sakramenta pomirenja. Toj krizi idu u prilog neosjetljivost za evanđeoski navještaj obraćenja i pokore u suvremenoj kulturi. Spomenutu krizu također pospješuje nedostatno poznavanje i shvaćanje sakramenta pomirenja. Imajući sve to na umu, autor ovim člankom želi istražiti nauk o sakramentu pomirenja u govorima sv. Antuna Padovanskoga, evanđeoskoga naučitelja i velikog propovjednika. Sabirući i analizirajući Antunove izričaje o sakramentu pomirenja, razasute na preko 1500 stranica njegovih govora, autor pokazuje da u njima nalazimo pravi rudnik pouka u vezi sa sakramentom pomirenja koje su i danas veoma vrijedne i mogu pomoći boljem i dubljem otkrivanju, poznavanju i slavljenju ovog sakramenta. Njegova razmišljanja su vrlo životna, konkretna i jednostavna, i posve utemeljena na Pismu i tradiciji Crkve.The beginning of the third millennium is characterized by the crisis of the sacrament of reconciliation. That crisis is backed by the insensitivity to evangelic proclamation of conversion and penance in contemporary culture. The crisis is also assisted by the insuffi cient knowledge and understanding of the sacrament of reconciliation. Having all this in mind, in this article the author wants to investigate the doctrine on the sacrament of reconciliation in the sermons of St. Anthony of Padua. Gathering and analyzing St. Anthony’s statements on the sacrament of reconciliation, scattered on over 1500 pages of his sermons, the author shows that they are a real mine of lessons regarding the sacrament of reconciliation which are valuable even today and can help to better and deeper revealing, understanding and celebrating of this sacrament. His refl ections are vitally wise, concrete and simple, and fully founded on the Scripture and tradition of the Church