Confession

[Mangy_Donkey]

While listening to a tape from a Catholic apologist he claimed that know where in scripture does it ask us to confess directly to God but rather to one another. I have done a search and agree it doesn’t seem to be there. Any thoughts?

 

[jmcrae]

While listening to a tape from a Catholic apologist he claimed that know where in scripture does it ask us to confess directly to God but rather to one another. I have done a search and agree it doesn’t seem to be there. Any thoughts?

Did you mean “no where” or did you mean that you know where, or that someone knows where?

 

[EphelDuath]

While listening to a tape from a Catholic apologist he claimed that know where in scripture does it ask us to confess directly to God but rather to one another. I have done a search and agree it doesn’t seem to be there. Any thoughts?

We confess both to God, and to the ordained servants of God on earth.

John 20:22-23
*“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” *

Matthew 9:8*
“When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.”*

God bless.

 

[Nita]

While listening to a tape from a Catholic apologist he claimed that know where in scripture does it ask us to confess directly to God but rather to one another. I have done a search and agree it doesn’t seem to be there. Any thoughts?

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah]

Just try a word search on “confess” and “repent”.

I would just add that at Mass, we can confess our venial sins (silently, to God) and they are forgiven when we receive the Eucharist worthily.

 

[Todd_Easton]

While listening to a tape from a Catholic apologist he claimed that know where in scripture does it ask us to confess directly to God but rather to one another. I have done a search and agree it doesn’t seem to be there. Any thoughts?

The notion that we need only to confess our sins to God is often supported by appealing to 1 John 1:9, where “he” refers to either God or to Jesus Christ and, though not stated explicitly, confessing to him seems to be implied but confessing only to him is something of a stretch and actually contradicts James 5:16:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Therefore confess your sins to one another… (James 5:16)

 

[Randy_Carson]

There seems to be ample scriptural evidence that Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins to the Apostles at the very least. Whether this extended to the successors of the Apostles can be debated at another time.

Would it be reasonable to say that during the lifetimes of the Apostles, auricular confession of sins was customary?

 

[Mangy_Donkey]

Did you mean “no where” or did you mean that you know where, or that someone knows where?

Ahh shhesh, my bad. I meant the he claimed that “No where” in scripture.

Sorry.

 

[NotWorthy]

There seems to be ample scriptural evidence that Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins to the Apostles at the very least. Whether this extended to the successors of the Apostles can be debated at another time.

Would it be reasonable to say that during the lifetimes of the Apostles, auricular confession of sins was customary?

It was either that, or the Apostles were also gifted with the charism of ESP, for the Apostles would need to know which sins to forgive and which sins to retain. I don’t know of any Scriptural evidence of this charism of ESP.

 

[Todd_Easton]

It was either that, or the Apostles were also gifted with the charism of ESP, for the Apostles would need to know which sins to forgive and which sins to retain. I don’t know of any Scriptural evidence of this charism of ESP.

St. Peter seems to exhibit a charismatic gift of knowledge concerning the sins of others in Acts 5:1-11, when he confronts Ananias and Sapphira. It’s my understanding that St. Pio (Padre Pio) had a similar gift.

Nevertheless, public confession of sins seems to have been practiced in the early Church, Acts 19:18.

 

[diggerdomer]

While listening to a tape from a Catholic apologist he claimed that know where in scripture does it ask us to confess directly to God but rather to one another. I have done a search and agree it doesn’t seem to be there. Any thoughts?

On a more general note to what others have shared, Scripture does not dictate every part of every Sacrament that the Church celebrates. Remember we receive Revelation from Christ (God) through both Scripture and Tradition. The Scripture may or may not prove to someone that we need to confess to one another, but it does not deny or reject the practice. The theology of sin, that it’s an offense against both God and others, is important to consider as well.

 

[Cashue]

We confess both to God, and to the ordained servants of God on earth.

John 20:22-23
*“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” *

Matthew 9:8*
“When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.”*

God bless.

Exactly, as the scripture in John says clearly, “you must confess your sins” and shows how the crowds confessed to the apostles before they were blessed and forgiven their sins. Priests today are the equivalent of the apostles in the holy church and you can see clearly in John 20: 222-23 the clear account of the crowds confessing to them.

Jesus in Matthew 28: 19, 20 gave authority to preach only to his apostles and this is the same group mentioned in Math 9:8. As I said, the Priests are a continuation of this authorative group as clearly seen in the above scriptures.

Also as has been clearly shown, the bible shows how Ananias and Sapphira came to Peter to confess their sins and be forgiven. This is clear when we read Acts 5:1-11.

All this is biblical evidence that confession and forgiveness to humans (apostles/priests) is firmly part of bible teaching.

 

[NotWorthy]

Exactly, as the scripture in John says clearly, “you must confess your sins” and shows how the crowds confessed to the apostles before they were blessed and forgiven their sins. Priests today are the equivalent of the apostles in the holy church and you can see clearly in John 20: 222-23 the clear account of the crowds confessing to them.

Jesus in Matthew 28: 19, 20 gave authority to preach only to his apostles and this is the same group mentioned in Math 9:8. As I said, the Priests are a continuation of this authorative group as clearly seen in the above scriptures.

Also as has been clearly shown, the bible shows how Ananias and Sapphira came to Peter to confess their sins and be forgiven. This is clear when we read Acts 5:1-11.

All this is biblical evidence that confession and forgiveness to humans (apostles/priests) is firmly part of bible teaching.

Ahhhh, I LOVE the smell of sarcasm.

Do you look at John 20 and see that the Apostles were given the authority to forgive sins? We can take this step by step.

 

[rotlex]

There seems to be ample scriptural evidence that Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins to the Apostles at the very least. Whether this extended to the successors of the Apostles can be debated at another time.

Would it be reasonable to say that during the lifetimes of the Apostles, auricular confession of sins was customary?

While I’m a regular in the confessional, , the first statement you make above always raises a question in my own mind. While I fully understand that Christ gave the power to forgive sins to his apostles, I can’t help but wonder it it is in fact the ONLY way that we may confess. (Also question whether or not that power is in fact handed on down the line to today’s current priests).

It seems as though every time someone refers to confession, the standard response as to why we confess to priests comes from John 20:22-23 which we are all familiar with. Again, I am not question our practice of confessing, nor would I ever NOT do it, but, it does make me wonder from time to time exactly what was meant, and if in fact it has been interpreted correctly over the years as the absolute only way a proper confession might be made.

 

[NotWorthy]

While I’m a regular in the confessional, , the first statement you make above always raises a question in my own mind. While I fully understand that Christ gave the power to forgive sins to his apostles, I can’t help but wonder it it is in fact the ONLY way that we may confess. (Also question whether or not that power is in fact handed on down the line to today’s current priests).

It seems as though every time someone refers to confession, the standard response as to why we confess to priests comes from John 20:22-23 which we are all familiar with. Again, I am not question our practice of confessing, nor would I ever NOT do it, but, it does make me wonder from time to time exactly what was meant, and if in fact it has been interpreted correctly over the years as the absolute only way a proper confession might be made.

Well, let’s see… do you believe in the authority of the Church?

Also, the questions are raised:
a) If the authority to forgive sins was given to the Apostles, then it shows there is a need for the forgiveness of sins. With the death of the Apostles, was this need for forgiveness gone? (I’ll give you a hint… the answer is “No”.)
b) If the priest is to determine which sins are to be forgiven and which are not, shouldn’t he know the sins?

 

[diggerdomer]

While I’m a regular in the confessional, , the first statement you make above always raises a question in my own mind. While I fully understand that Christ gave the power to forgive sins to his apostles, I can’t help but wonder it it is in fact the ONLY way that we may confess. (Also question whether or not that power is in fact handed on down the line to today’s current priests).

It seems as though every time someone refers to confession, the standard response as to why we confess to priests comes from John 20:22-23 which we are all familiar with. Again, I am not question our practice of confessing, nor would I ever NOT do it, but, it does make me wonder from time to time exactly what was meant, and if in fact it has been interpreted correctly over the years as the absolute only way a proper confession might be made.

How the Church has understood the theology of sin and sacramental reconciliation and how it’s been practiced has evolved through history. The Bible does not give us explicit directions such that we can, in the 2nd, 6th, 16th, and 21st centuries (for instance), look at what the Church does in its detailed sacramental practice and point to a passage in the Bible and simply say “see, that’s what Jesus told us to do.” Forgiveness and reconciliation are part of the Christian life, Jesus instituted the sacrament, the Church continues the ministry sacramentally but it’s still God forgiving sins. While the Church is bound to the sacraments, God is not.

 

[dnar]

What is one to do after committing mortal sin until the next available confession?

What if I commit a mortal sin and the priest is gone on vacation this week and I won’t be able to confess for a few weeks? Or my job doesn’t allow to make it to confession normally?

How am I to live after separating myself from God, and becoming dead in my sins? Should I live in sorrow for having offended God and pray that I stay alive until the next confession time?

 

[jmcrae]

What is one to do after committing mortal sin until the next available confession?

What if I commit a mortal sin and the priest is gone on vacation this week and I won’t be able to confess for a few weeks? Or my job doesn’t allow to make it to confession normally?

How am I to live after separating myself from God, and becoming dead in my sins? Should I live in sorrow for having offended God and pray that I stay alive until the next confession time?

Make a Perfect Act of Contrition right now, and be resolved to go to Confession at the next reasonable opportunity.

 

[NotWorthy]

What is one to do after committing mortal sin until the next available confession?

What if I commit a mortal sin and the priest is gone on vacation this week and I won’t be able to confess for a few weeks? Or my job doesn’t allow to make it to confession normally?

How am I to live after separating myself from God, and becoming dead in my sins? Should I live in sorrow for having offended God and pray that I stay alive until the next confession time?

If you make every effort to go to confession, but should happen to die before this happens, I think you can rest assured that the God of Mercy will bring you comfort.

But, why should you only go to one priest? I have about 7 priests, spread out over a 30 mile radius, in our diocese who have heard my confessions.

 

[arcee]

Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of penance as the normative way to forgive sins.
Biblical basis as follows:

Jn 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me,
even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and
said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they
are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”

Acts 19:18 St. Luke writes, “Many also of those who were now believers came,
confessing and divulging their practices” before the apostles.

Mt 9:8 St. Matthew writes, God “had given such authority to men”
(Jesus entrusted the forgiveness of sins to His apostles and their
successors, as men)
1Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

2Cor 5:18 St. Paul wrote to discribe this priestly gift, God “gave us the ministry of
reconciliation”

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.”

Leviticus 5:5-6 says that a man guilty of sin, “shall confess the sin he has committed…
and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.”

Numbers 5:7 the Lord tells Moses that if anyone in Israel commits sin, “he shall confess
his sin which he has committed, and he shall make full restitution for his
wrong.”

Nehemiah 9:2-3 we see that the Israelites “stood and confessed their sins and the
inequities of their fathers” orally in the Temple where they also read the
book of the Law.

Baruch 1:13-14 the people who “have sinned against the Lord our God” are again
instructed “to make your confessions in the house of the Lord.”

Sir 4:26 “Do not be ashamed to confess your sins, and do not try to stop the
current of a river”

 

[dnar]

If you make every effort to go to confession, but should happen to die before this happens, I think you can rest assured that the God of Mercy will bring you comfort.

But, why should you only go to one priest? I have about 7 priests, spread out over a 30 mile radius, in our diocese who have heard my confessions.

I would say consider yourself lucky to have so many men of God around you.

And I try to make an act of perfect contrition, but often I find myself dreading the pains of hell and the loss of heaven, and I know this is imperfect contrition.