Broken relationship over my faith

[Even_So]

God doesn’t limit Himself to only forgiving people through confession. He can forgive people anytime they ask Him for His mercy- such as when Jesus forgave the good thief from the cross, even though that thief had never participated in any of the sacraments. But with confession, we have the advantage of knowing for sure we have been forgiven. Any other way, you are left unsure- but with Confession you have a priest standing en persona Christi who says “I absolve you” and you know then you have been forgiven which, I’m sure you know, is a huge relief and also makes you eligible again for the Eucharist.

Additionally, there is a concept called “invincible ignorance” where a protestant might be forgiven certain transgressions simply because they didn’t know any better and our God is a God of Mercy.

So your GF is not necessarily doomed for not being a Catholic.

Or you could just cut out the middle man and straight to the LORD. I trust He hears me. If He hears our prayers, then why doesn’t He hear our confessions? Why then would we not pray to a priest and have him send it up? Because the veil was torn when JESUS died, taking down the divider between us forever! JESUS is our High Priest!

 

[Even_So]

I just got to this in my email and believe it fits here. Bless the LORD!

The First Christmas Began with… Pain?

by Jack Graham

What a scandal. . . A respected local carpenter is engaged to a young peasant woman when all of a sudden, she turns up pregnant! I bet the town of Nazareth was teeming with rumors of Mary’s love affair and questions about the identity of the father of the child. And can you imagine the looks Joseph would’ve been getting on the streets for being rumored as the possible father of this illegitimate child while at the same time knowing that it wasn’t him?

The only way Joseph could’ve maintained his good name would have been to break off his engagement with Mary. And for Mary, this would have essentially meant being kicked out of her family and her hometown.

But God was in control. He knew that the accusations would come. He knew the anguish and heartbreak it would cause Joseph thinking Mary was an adulteress after she tried to convince him over and over that she wasn’t. And he knew the stigma that would be attached to this family by many who didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God. So in the midst of the chaos, God sent an angel to assure Joseph that Mary was telling the truth.

The first Christmas began not with joy, but with heartbreak and anguish. Yet in the midst of the chaos, God brought order. Whatever difficulties you may be going through today, God is the only one who can bring order to your chaos. So trust fully in him to bring you through the hard times you face.

 

[Evania]

Or you could just cut out the middle man and straight to the LORD. I trust He hears me. If He hears our prayers, then why doesn’t He hear our confessions? Why then would we not pray to a priest and have him send it up? Because the veil was torn when JESUS died, taking down the divider between us forever! JESUS is our High Priest!

We don’t have to understand it, but sacramental confession is His Will for His Church. It doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hear you when you pray in the privacy of your own heart. It just means that as with all the sacraments, the Sacrament of Reconciliation imparts sanctifying grace, while merely saying, “I’m sorry, Lord.” does not.

“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” -John 20:23

I hope you’re doing okay, OP.
Still praying for you!