Absolution, Confession, Forgiveness, etc

[Taurks]

Alright all. I have a question that I’ve been puzzling around with. I am a Catholic convert (confirmed this year) but I can’t get my head around these questions about confession and reconciliation.

1. When do I receive forgiveness for my sins: When I realize I did something wrong and pray to God for forgiveness, or when I receive absolution in confession? I’m asking for either mortal or venial sins. Is there any forgiveness outside of Confession?
2. Catholicism claims that Eastern Orthodoxy has Apostolic Succession and valid Sacraments. But in Catholicism, “penance is reconciliation with God through means of justification. In Orthodoxy the intention of the sacramental mystery of Holy Confession is to provide reconciliation with God through means of healing.” How does this work together?
3. What happens to Christians in Protestant denominations when they sin venially? What about mortally? If they have no way to absolve themselves in their churches, how do they become clean of these sins?

 

[pablope]

Alright all. I have a question that I’ve been puzzling around with. I am a Catholic convert (confirmed this year) but I can’t get my head around these questions about confession and reconciliation.

1. When do I receive forgiveness for my sins: When I realize I did something wrong and pray to God for forgiveness, or when I receive absolution in confession? I’m asking for either mortal or venial sins. Is there any forgiveness outside of Confession?
2. Catholicism claims that Eastern Orthodoxy has Apostolic Succession and valid Sacraments. But in Catholicism, “penance is reconciliation with God through means of justification. In Orthodoxy the intention of the sacramental mystery of Holy Confession is to provide reconciliation with God through means of healing.” How does this work together?
3. What happens to Christians in Protestant denominations when they sin venially? What about mortally? If they have no way to absolve themselves in their churches, how do they become clean of these sins?

Hi, Taurk…I am going to recommend a book for you to read…Scott Hahn’s “Lord Have Mercy-The healing power of Confession.” It will answer Q1 for you and will even enrich your life.

This is my take or understanding on Q1: Mortal sins can only be forgiven through confession, when the priest says the absolution. Then you say the Act of Contrition and do your penance. You still have to complete the penance. Venial sins, are usually forgiven at Mass, when we say the Act of Penance…remember…“I confess to Almighty God, and you my…” This is because we want to be cleansed prior to communion. When we go to confession, it does not mean that we do not confess venial sins…we should also take that opportunity to confess venial sins, together with mortal sins. Sometimes, I only have venial sins to confess, but I still do confess these. This is to strengthen us and deepen our relationship with God. Anyway, a word I came across in reading Hahn’s book is “Concuspisence” but this is for another topic.

Q2, I think I will leave this to theologians more informed than me.

As for Q3, we may never know do we. We should be thankful indeed that we have the Sacrament of Confession…that we can be sure our sins are forgiven.

 

[Taurks]

As for Q3, we may never know do we. We should be thankful indeed that we have the Sacrament of Confession…that we can be sure our sins are forgiven.

That’s true. I am thinking that it might have to do with the lack of full knowledge - which is necessary for mortal sin. If a Protestant understood clearly (and believed in) the distinction / definition of mortal sin, he probably wouldn’t still be Protestant. At least, that is the answer I think I’m getting after praying about this.

 

[diggerdomer]

Alright all. I have a question that I’ve been puzzling around with. I am a Catholic convert (confirmed this year) but I can’t get my head around these questions about confession and reconciliation.

1. When do I receive forgiveness for my sins: When I realize I did something wrong and pray to God for forgiveness, or when I receive absolution in confession? I’m asking for either mortal or venial sins. Is there any forgiveness outside of Confession?

Baptism, Eucharist, and Reconciliation are the sacraments that forgive sins according to Catholic teaching.

The Eucharist does not forgive mortal sins.

1. Catholicism claims that Eastern Orthodoxy has Apostolic Succession and valid Sacraments. But in Catholicism, “penance is reconciliation with God through means of justification. In Orthodoxy the intention of the sacramental mystery of Holy Confession is to provide reconciliation with God through means of healing.” How does this work together?

It works together because the sacraments are valid and effective.

1. What happens to Christians in Protestant denominations when they sin venially? What about mortally? If they have no way to absolve themselves in their churches, how do they become clean of these sins?

We trust them to the mercy of God.

 

[Taurks]

It works together because the sacraments are valid and effective.

Here’s where I grapple with that - in Orthodoxy, as far as I’ve read, you can ask forgiveness outside of Reconciliation and be forgiven. Maybe my interpretation is wrong, but the Orthodox don’t see sin “as a stain on the soul that needs to be wiped out” [Wikipedia]. Maybe someone can clear up this point for me? If the Orthodox don’t even have the same distinction between mortal and venial sins, how are their sacraments to get rid of these things supposed to be valid?

 

[Taurks]

Also, a fourth question: I know that if you die on the way to being baptized, the Church recognizes something like “Baptism by intent” I believe it’s called. But what about if you’ve committed mortal sin, have clearly recognized what you’ve done is wrong, and die while you’re driving over to the Priest to get absolution? What happens then? If Baptism which first allows one into the church has a “baptism by intent,” would reconciliation, which reconnects one to the church, also have a “reconciliation by intent” ?

 

[diggerdomer]

Here’s where I grapple with that - in Orthodoxy, as far as I’ve read, you can ask forgiveness outside of Reconciliation and be forgiven. Maybe my interpretation is wrong, but the Orthodox don’t see sin “as a stain on the soul that needs to be wiped out” [Wikipedia]. Maybe someone can clear up this point for me? If the Orthodox don’t even have the same distinction between mortal and venial sins, how are their sacraments to get rid of these things supposed to be valid?

Catholic teaching does not deny that individuals can receive God’s forgiveness outside the sacrament.

 

[diggerdomer]

Also, a fourth question: I know that if you die on the way to being baptized, the Church recognizes something like “Baptism by intent” I believe it’s called. But what about if you’ve committed mortal sin, have clearly recognized what you’ve done is wrong, and die while you’re driving over to the Priest to get absolution? What happens then? If Baptism which first allows one into the church has a “baptism by intent,” would reconciliation, which reconnects one to the church, also have a “reconciliation by intent” ?

We trust in God’s mercy.