A Descriptive Study of the UST-EHS Students’ Attitudes towards the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Implications for Grade 9 CLE

Abstract

Through God's love and forgiveness, the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings about a transformation of the heart. It is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to forgive sinners. In turn, this sacrament helps people develop a personal relationship with Jesus. However, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is in crisis, and there is a decline in receiving it, especially among young people. Filipinos are commonly observed as “sacramentalized” but do not develop a deep understanding of religion or apply the teachings of the Church in their personal lives. This can be further explained through the Cognitive Dissonance Theory, where inconsistencies between beliefs and actions are said to cause cognitive discomfort. One way to address this problem is through Religious Education, which is considered to be a significant process for instilling in children the importance of engaging in and realizing the significance of the sacraments. With that, this ongoing study aims to determine the attitudes of the Grade 10 UST Education High School (UST-EHS) students towards the Sacrament of Reconciliation, specifically by identifying if there are inconsistencies between their beliefs and actions regarding the sacrament through administering a restricted response and open-ended essays. The results of the study will be used to enhance the Grade 9 Christian Living Education (CLE) lesson about the sacrament. This will be done by utilizing the students’ answers as a basis to gain a grasp on the factors, such as the lesson plans’ contents, that led them to have these attitudes toward the sacrament.