Confession; is still necessary?

[Evan]

It can help u destroy vice.

It sure helped me.

No more late nights at the bar. No more GD expletives.

You could have left out the expletive!

 

[teeboy]

You could have left out the expletive!

I now say “hot diggidy dog!”.

A dog is someone outside of the covenant.

 

[teeboy]

In Sermon on Mount, Jesus gives us two neccessities for true Discipleship…

Listen and Act.

Confession is an act.

 

[Vico]

It is slightly different for eastern Catholics, ASAP rather than annually.

CCEO Canon 719
Anyone who is aware of serious sin is to receive the sacrament of penance as soon as possible; it is strongly recommended to all the Christian faithful that they receive this sacrament frequently especially during the times of fasts and penance observed in their own Church sui iuris.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Yes, Confession is still necessary. As previously posted, there has been a loss of the sense of sin in our society and I believe this has led in a big part to the abandonment of this great sacrament.

At this point in my life I’m not sure which sacrament I prefer, Confession or Eucharist. I actually ‘feel’ closer to God in the confessional than at Mass but that may be a phase I’m going through. Fortunately our faith is not based on feelings and I know I recieve His graces in abundance through both sacraments.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

When I feel apprehensive about going to Confession I read this article lifeteen.com/my-side-of-the-confessional-what-is-it-like-for-a-priest/ it might help your feelings towards the things which repel you form the Sacrament

I loved that link. I go once a month and it helps me to build up the strength to avoid certain sins. There are lots of people who tell me that they would never confess to our priest because he knows them and they don’t want him to think badly of them. Our priest says it shows humility. But the article also gave me different ways of looking at it. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[Saints_Alive]

So many of us are products of the pulpit.

I feel our clergy bear the responsibility of stressing to us the importance of the Sacrament of Confession. After all, the Church’s mission is the salvation of souls, is it not ?

We need to hear sermons on Hell. Not every Sunday of course, but often enough to get our attention. Yet so many of us have never heard a single one.

jmo

 

[Pug]

Perhaps they examine their conscience with a formal list or their own approximation of a list and either

1. they have done nothing on the grave list since their last confession
2. have done things on the grave list but they don’t think they had full knowledge and free consent
3. have done things on some official grave list somewhere but they are using the simple Decalogue itself or perhaps no helpful list at all, and so they think those things are venial from some type of ignorance (perhaps cultivated, perhaps not)
4. they think the Church is wrong about what is grave, so they think they have done nothing grave, even though it is on some list
5. they are too afraid or ashamed to go
6. they are aware of mortal sin, but they consider that they are not contrite enough or are not contrite at all.
7. they are in an irregular marriage and think it is unfixable, or they are merely divorced, but think that means they are in a pickle and can’t go
8. they just don’t bother with it and let it slide, too busy with daily activities and they have no habit of thinking about it
9. they figure confessing to a priest is meaningless and confess only in prayer
10. they think everyone will be saved, even grave sinners, because they can’t conceive that God would condemn people that they don’t condemn

If number 6 is the main reason, then a real issue is what type of social pressure is causing them to still present themselves in the communion line. The number 7’s don’t present themselves for communion, I imagine.

What a long list. You can tell I am an insomniac.

 

[PJM]

=Pug;10227483]Perhaps they examine their conscience with a formal list or their own approximation of a list and either

THANKS Pug

{QUOTE}1. they have done nothing on the grave list since their last confession

Thats a good thing. Not going to Confession NOT so good. It’s a source of humity and grace to continue to avoid Mortal sins.

1. have done things on the grave list but they don’t think they had full knowledge and free consent

IF they just “think this” they are Mroally obligated to discuss it with a priest so that they CAN KNOW 4 sure

3.have done things on some official grave list somewhere but they are using the simple Decalogue itself or perhaps no helpful list at all, and so they think those things are venial from some type of ignorance

CCC 1783 Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.

1. they think the Church is wrong about what is grave, so they think they have done nothing grave, even though it is on some list

And very LIKELY end up in hell because of it Everyone OUGHT to KNOW they don’t have this right!

5 they are too afraid or ashamed to go

That friend is one of the benefits intended by Christ to discourage sins. This too will lead to serious consequences.

1. they are aware of mortal sin, but they consider that they are not contrite enough or are not contrite at all

Eccl.15:18 “Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him”

1. they are in an irregular marriage and think it is unfixable, or they are merely divorced, but think that means they are in a pickle and can’t go

Invalid and illogical excuse. TALK to a priest. FREE of charge

8 they just don’t bother with it and let it slide, too busy with daily activities and they have no habit of thinking about it

SEE #6

9.they figure confessing to a priest is meaningless and confess only in prayer

**FOOLISH! Jn.20:21-23 **

" He [JESUS] said therefore to them [the Apostles] again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

10.they think everyone will be saved, even grave sinners, because they can’t conceive that God would condemn people that they don’t condemn

Self-Imposed ignorance id STILL Ignorance. See #4

Rom. 2:6 “Who will render to every man according to his works.”

Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works”

If number 6 is the main reason, then a real issue is what type of social pressure is causing them to still present themselves in the communion line. The number 7’s don’t present themselves for communion

Paul
1st. Cor. 11:24-30
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me. For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep [MEANS ARE DEAD SPIRITUALLY IN THERE SINS]

GOD GIVES EVERY PERSON SUFFICIENT GRACE TO KNOW HIM; THEN ITS OUR CALL. SEE #6

God Bless you!

pat/PJM

 

[Pug]

Thats a good thing. Not going to Confession NOT so good. It’s a source of humity and grace to continue to avoid Mortal sins.

Yes, I agree confession regularly, even if there is no mortal sin is a great idea. For me it helps keep me sharp and trying. I’m not so hot with a daily examen, so forcing myself to be accountable regularly is helpful.

Self-Imposed ignorance id STILL Ignorance.

It is worse than ignorance. Studied or cultivated or deliberate ignorance is culpable, whereas real ignorance is not. I’ve been tempted to do it, too, so I know it is something people can dream up and try, hoping to avoid having to struggle with having to deal with the results of the knowledge.

It helps to remember that we are given enough grace (as you definitely reminded us in your post). Going to confession helps me remember God loves and supports me, so I have less fear, and living without fear makes it easier to do the right thing.

 

[Usige]

Perhaps they examine their conscience with a formal list or their own approximation of a list and either

1. they have done nothing on the grave list since their last confession
2. have done things on the grave list but they don’t think they had full knowledge and free consent
3. have done things on some official grave list somewhere but they are using the simple Decalogue itself or perhaps no helpful list at all, and so they think those things are venial from some type of ignorance (perhaps cultivated, perhaps not)
4. they think the Church is wrong about what is grave, so they think they have done nothing grave, even though it is on some list
5. they are too afraid or ashamed to go
6. they are aware of mortal sin, but they consider that they are not contrite enough or are not contrite at all.
7. they are in an irregular marriage and think it is unfixable, or they are merely divorced, but think that means they are in a pickle and can’t go
8. they just don’t bother with it and let it slide, too busy with daily activities and they have no habit of thinking about it
9. they figure confessing to a priest is meaningless and confess only in prayer
10. they think everyone will be saved, even grave sinners, because they can’t conceive that God would condemn people that they don’t condemn

If number 6 is the main reason, then a real issue is what type of social pressure is causing them to still present themselves in the communion line. The number 7’s don’t present themselves for communion, I imagine.

What a long list. You can tell I am an insomniac.

Well I know many people that fall under numbers 4 and 8. Those under number 4 see consent as including they consent to agreeing it’s a sin (cough… contraception… cough… fornication… cough… divorced & remarried… cough…)

 

[Vico]

Well I know many people that fall under numbers 4 and 8. Those under number 4 see consent as including they consent to agreeing it’s a sin (cough… contraception… cough… fornication… cough… divorced & remarried… cough…)

No. 4 covered in Gaudium et spes: 16. In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law which he does not impose upon himself, but which holds him to obedience. Always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience when necessary speaks to his heart: do this, shun that. For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it he will be judged.(9) Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths.(10) In a wonderful manner conscience reveals that law which is fulfilled by love of God and neighbor.(11) In fidelity to conscience, Christians are joined with the rest of men in the search for truth, and for the genuine solution to the numerous problems which arise in the life of individuals from social relationships. Hence the more right conscience holds sway, the more persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and strive to be guided by the objective norms of morality. Conscience frequently errs from invincible ignorance without losing its dignity. The same cannot be said for a man who cares but little for truth and goodness, or for a conscience which by degrees grows practically sightless as a result of habitual sin.
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html

 

[Holly3278]

Yes the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession or Penance is very essential. If you are in a state of mortal sin then it is the best way to be forgiven of those sins. Indeed you should always go to Confession when you are in a state of mortal sin. If you can’t get to Confession right away then pray an Act of Perfect Contrition and if you sincerely have perfect contrition you’ll be forgiven right then but you still must go to Confession at your earliest opportunity.

 

[mlz]

Anybody who can go a year without either going to Confession or committing any serious sin would be rare indeed. I know lots of very holy people, but they are in the Confessional once a week - that’s how they stay so holy.

I would agree! Confession is like going to the doctor for either smaller , non-life threatening problem as well as the very serious life threatening ones- all important to maintain spiritual health

mlz

 

[Incomplete]

Do you guys know about the SEEK convention that was held in Orlando this month? It was designed primarily for college students. There was Mass and confession every day, but one night they had all the priests in attendance available for confession (around 125-150) and it took 4 HOURS for them to hear everybody’s confession.

My daughter was in line for 2 hours. She said it was beautiful; like making a pilgrimage to go to confession.

 

[Pug]

Those under number 4 see consent as including they consent to agreeing it’s a sin

What a thought! It never occurred to me some people misconstrue the consent condition for grave sin that way.