Aiding the Sinful Man: About the Merciful Accompaniment by the Church

Abstract

Man was created by God in His image and likeness. However, as a result of the sin of our first parents, human nature became tainted. The sin disrupted people’s lives and pushed people away from God. However, God did not give up on man. The Son of God came with His aid to the sinful mankind, accomplishing the work of redemption through the sacrifice made on the tree of the cross. From this sacrifice comes salvific power and strength. However, man in his freedom has the opportunity to decide about his happiness and about taking the side of good or evil. It turns out that man in his existence succumbs to temptation and commits sins, thereby distancing himself from God’s love. Nevertheless, God still comes to his aid and does so in the community of the Church, which is called upon to proclaim the truth and to fulfill God’s mercy. So, a sinful person can still count on God’s aid. This aid comes to him in the Word of God and in the Holy Sacraments as well as through the merciful accompaniment of the Church. However, God does not force anyone to do anything, therefore it is up to the sinful person to decide to reject sin. The article presents the issues outlined above in a synthetic way, introducing selected forms of pastoral accompaniment of the Church to a person entangled in the reality of sin.