What Is the Easter Duty in Roman Catholicism?

Answer: Because of the central importance of Easter to the Christian faith, the Catholic Church requires that all Catholics who have made their First Communion receive the Holy Eucharist sometime during the Easter season, which lasts through Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter. (They should also take part in the Sacrament of Penance before receiving this Easter communion.) This reception of the Eucharist is a visible sign of our faith and our participation in the Kingdom of God. Of course, we should receive Communion as frequently as possible; this "Easter Duty" is simply the minimum requirement set by the Church.

So, there is good news here – we have until Pentecost to complete this “duty” if you have not done this simple and grace filled task

Why is it so hard for us to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for grace?  Confession, or more recently called Reconciliation is avoided, like the plague by so many people.  My belief is that many do not understand the entire purpose of the sacrament – many think that it is simply a “duty” to confess our sins to a priest & therein lays the error

Confession, as I have come to know it (thanks Dennis O’Connor) is much more that confessing our sins & yes we can and should do that each night with God.  Confession is Jesus’ way to impart grace on us to not sin again – Remember, to be forgiven of a sin; we must have in our hearts the true desire not to commit that sin again.  If we go to confession to confess something we know we will do again and have not committed to try with our whole heart mind and soul to not do again – WE WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN and have not made a proper confession.  I recently came to realize also that if we purposely leave out some sins (due to embarrassment or other silly reasons), that we will not be forgiven for the ones we confess.

So let’s get back to the true purpose of the sacrament; to gain grace not to sin again.  Grace, that God given “boost” or power to do the will of the Father – that God given opportunity to turn our lives around and to live as saints (or at least to try real, real hard) is truly a gift from our Lord.  My friends, that is why I write these things to you – to pressure myself to do what is right – I do this as part of my yearning for grace to be the best version of myself.  Four years ago I committed to monthly confession.  I have a confessor who I go to each month, when possible & I encourage all of you to find yourselves a confessor; someone you can sit down with and unload your sins and ask for the grace not to do them again.  The screen and anonymity is OK but if the purpose is to gain grace; go face to face.  Remember, the priest represents God & absolves you by the power given to the apostles when Jesus conferred on them “the power to bind and the power to loose sins.”  They represent the people you sinned against as well – again remember, what we should do is ask forgiveness from the person we offended or sinned against – we really should confess to the person we stole something from and to make retribution - we really should ask forgiveness from the person we took out our anger on – we really should make right the lies we tell. 

To sum this up, the sacrament of Reconciliation is about conversion and repentance.  Check out what our Catechism says about this: 1439 The process of conversion and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father:  the fascination of illusory freedom, the abandonment of the father's house; the extreme misery in which the son finds himself after squandering his fortune; his deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed swine, and still worse, at wanting to feed on the husks the pigs ate; his reflection on all he has lost; his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father; the journey back; the father's generous welcome; the father's joy - all these are characteristic of the process of conversion. The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet are symbols of that new life - pure worthy, and joyful - of anyone who returns to God and to the bosom of his family, which is the Church. Only the heart Of Christ Who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way.

My brothers and sisters, for your own sake and for God’s sake; take advantage of this incredible gift – Make confession a major source of grace in your life – you want things to change for the better – start here.