Tax duty and Easter duty: Prepare for deadline by taking inventory

(Catholic Online)- April 15, 2006 is the annual Internal Revenue Service's written deadline for filing a tax return, and this year, Holy Saturday, April 15 is also the deadline for Catholics who are planning to go to confession before making their Easter duty on Easter Sunday.

Easter duty is the obligation of Catholics to receive Communion at least once a year during the Easter season. If a baptized person has sinned in a grave manner, there is a requirement that they go to confession before receiving Communion. The process of preparing for filing an annual tax return is a top priority in people's lives that requires time and energy. The IRS provides a multitude of forms and guidelines to assist people to inventory their financial checks and balances. The process of preparing for the sacrament of reconciliation is similar to the process of preparing to file a tax return in that it also requires an inventory, though, in this case, a moral inventory. Like the variety of forms available to taxpayers, there are a variety of "forms" or models to use to prepare for confession. A person could: (a) refer to the Ten Commandments and resort to the same guidelines learned at the time of their first confession, (b) use the "7-deadly sin" short form, which includes the sins of pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth; or (c) take extra time to look more closely at their thoughts and behaviors since their last confession and reflect on their level of being faithful. People's lives are sometimes overbooked these days, but an hour of television or computer time could be traded for reflection. For instance, setting the alarm clock an hour earlier creates an hour of opportunity. For those who have the luxury of hours or an entire day during this Holy Week, the experience could be like a retreat. Looking over one's thoughts and behaviors not only takes time, but also takes patience, humility, inner strength and courage. Asking questions similar to those listed below can help to scan for wrongs that have been done since the last confession. - Have I been honest with myself, God and others, especially those near to me? - Do I treat other people as I'd like to be treated? - Have I committed sins of omission that neglected responsibilities? - Have I purposefully hurt anyone? - Have I apologized and made amends for wrongs done? - Have I verbally, emotionally or physically abused another or myself? - Have I otherwise mistreated family members or co-workers? - Do I really listen to others when they speak? - Do I accept other people's points of view? - Am I grateful to God for the daily gifts of nature, family, food and shelter? - Do I pray on a regular basis? - Have I been harsh or unjustly critical of others? - Have I gossiped about others? - Have I been financial irresponsible? Consider writing out thoughts relating to your moral inventory so you can to be more focused during the actual confession. When the answers are completed, there will be a discovery of the negatives to confess, and a glimpse of the many positives that interweave daily life. Catholics are blessed to have confession as a spiritual tool that allows them to reflect upon their lives, recognize negative patterns, confess their wrongdoings, say prayers of penance and be forgiven. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to learn from the mistakes made and make living amends by mindfully choosing to change harmful acts and thoughts. The process allows them to live the message of Easter and create a new life experience. There is a bit of forgiveness for those who may have missed filing taxes on April 15. Government offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday, therefore extending the deadline until April 17 and the IRS grants extensions to those who were not able to meet the deadline. For Catholics who need to go to confession before doing their Easter duty and miss the chance to go before Easter Sunday, they too are granted an extension. The Code of Canon Law states that the season for making annual Easter duty (receiving Communion at least one a year during the Easter season) includes Holy Week through Pentecost. And for Catholics in the United States, the season is extended until Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2006, this year. There is plenty of time to both go to confession and make this year's Easter duty. - - - Mary Carty is the Home and Family editor of Catholic Online.

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