If the time comes when priests have become very few in number or even become extinct, as the present trend appears to point to, then sinners won’t have any assurances of their sins being forgiven.
The Lord always provides. You can see that a lot of vocations are coming from Africa and Asia. Our Priest is from the Philippines and our Parochial Vicar is from Congo Kinshasa. Imagine that a generation ago!
Moreover, in the many times that I have gone to confession to a priest, I don’t remember any instance when the priests who heard my confessions have said my sins are not forgiven. It had always been forgiven. So if the priests can always forgive my sins, why would Christ be less forgiving?
What this means is that your confessions have been heartfelt. If, for example, you confessed what the church teaches is a sin, but didn’t understand why it was a sin, the priest would likely not give absolution. Why? Sin contains three parts: 1. an act or omission that is sinful by its nature, 2. you must have knowledge that it was sinful, and 3. you must have given full consent of your will at the time you committed it. Only then does the sin attach. If you were threatened or coerced into committing a sin, it would not attach, because you did not engage in it willingly.
And why should I not feel surer and more certain that my sins are forgiven by Jesus as against the priests? Shouldn’t I have more faith in Jesus’ forgiving grace than that of the priest? If it’s a question of my being sincere and contrite, how would the priest know that better than Jesus?
Christ knew that the burden of sin was the ruin of many souls. He arranged confession so that there was a “moment of Grace” at which time you could be 100% certain that the sin was destroyed. It is precisely this moment of Grace that is the blessing to your soul and conscience. Look at how Jesus forgave:
Matthew 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son;
your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith,
he said to the paralytic, “Son,
your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith,
he said, “Friend,
your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:48Then
Jesus said to her, “
Your sins are forgiven.”
Each time, he spoke the words “Your sins are forgiven”. This is Jesus Christ teaching and practicing at the same time. The priest does the same so that you hear, with your own ears, that your sin is gone. Bear in mind that hearing confessions is wearying to the priest. He must take your sin, make it his own - in emulation of Christ, then offer it up to the Father to be destroyed. So, take it easy on your priest!
But is there a passage where Jesus directed the faithful to confess their sins to the apostles when he’s gone and not to Him anymore? I recall that He said that He will be with us till the end of the world therefore He is still ever present, which is also a key Catholic belief.
Ah, but who then determines your penance? Do you just listen very intently and wait? No! The priest assigns your penance. You do not have that with confession to self. Christ is a Jew and both the Jews and early Christians practiced
public confession of sin:
1 Samuel 7:6When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there
they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.”
Nehemiah 9:2Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and
confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.
Acts 19:18Many of those who believed now came and
openly confessed their evil deeds.
What better strengthens you against sin: Silently confessing in the darkness of your room - or - having to look the priest in the eyes and confess? Obviously, Christ knew the best way to confess, and so left us with that form.
May Christ’s peace always be with you.
