Confession question...?

[tyson]

Ok so I was arguing about the sacrament of reconcilliation(sp) with a protestant. And he told me that he could go to his room close the door and ask forgivness without going to another man to get forgiven, in other words he could go straight to God…So then i give him the Catholic teaching about how Jesus breathed on the apostles and so on and so on…so then he tells me …" If your were in a burning building about to die and there was no priest around, how would u get your sins forgiven? Couldnt you ask God then??? i was speechless and told him i would get back to him…so any help would be appreciated…thanks

 

[maryj]

Yes, you could ask for forgiveness,but why would you wait until your in a burning building and about to die?

 

[puzzleannie]

there are at least 4 active threads on this topic right now, check it out.

 

[tyson]

maryj:

Yes, you could ask for forgiveness,but why would you wait until your in a burning building and about to die?

im not saying im gonna wait till im in a burning building but if a situation arised and it was time for me to exit this world and i hadnt been to confession in like 2 weeks but had committed say a mortal sin the day before?

 

[Fergal]

Do some research on perfect and imperfect contrition. You will find plenty of stuff there.

 

[quasimodo]

Confession is the normal way for Christians to have their sins forgiven, but God is not limited to the means he sets up as normative. He sees the heart and will forgive those who have repented in those extreme situations. It is not wise to presume & assume His forgiveness in our day to day life however. If He did not institute the sacrament with "whose sins you forgive they are forgiven … " it would seem Jesus was wasting his breath, doesn’t it?

Don’t fall for challenges to the faith that only hold at the extremes: like the thief on the cross for example.

 

[maryj]

tyson:

im not saying im gonna wait till im in a burning building but if a situation arised and it was time for me to exit this world and i hadnt been to confession in like 2 weeks but had committed say a mortal sin the day before?

Sorry oops, that’s what’s wrong with no voice or facial expressions online. I was giving you an answer to give to the protestant. That would have been my answer to him/her.