Confession

[ReflectHim]

Could someone clearly explain to me the reason behind confession to a priest?

What examples are given, and what scripture is used to support confession to a priest?

And what is actually said during a confession between a priest and a congregant?

Thanks in advance.

 

[decn2b]

Confession is a Sacrament. A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ that gives grace. Since we are physical and spiritual creatures our relationship with God is a phycisal and Spiritual existance.(you know the deal where God actually physically came to us in the flesh and then came to us again in spirit at Pentacost)

As far as scriptural evidence is similar to the scriptural evidence of the Trinity. Meaning we must rely on Apostolic Tradition to define and present the Trinity. Confession is clearly defined by scripture here are a few examples:

*John 20:21 - before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, “as the Father sent me, so I send you.” As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins.

John 20:22 - the Lord “breathes” on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord “breathes” divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place.

John 20:23 - Jesus says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.

Matt. 9:8 - this verse shows that God has given the authority to forgive sins to “men.” Hence, those Protestants who acknowledge that the apostles had the authority to forgive sins (which this verse demonstrates) must prove that this gift ended with the apostles. Otherwise, the apostles’ successors still possess this gift. Where in Scripture is the gift of authority to forgive sins taken away from the apostles or their successors?*

 

[decn2b]

*Matt. 9:6; Mark 2:10 - Christ forgave sins as a man (not God) to convince us that the “Son of man” has authority to forgive sins on earth.

Luke 5:24 - Luke also points out that Jesus’ authority to forgive sins is as a man, not God. The Gospel writers record this to convince us that God has given this authority to men. This authority has been transferred from Christ to the apostles and their successors.

Matt. 18:18 - the apostles are given authority to bind and loose. The authority to bind and loose includes administering and removing the temporal penalties due to sin. The Jews understood this since the birth of the Church.

John 20:22-23; Matt. 18:18 - the power to remit/retain sin is also the power to remit/retain punishment due to sin. If Christ’s ministers can forgive the eternal penalty of sin, they can certainly remit the temporal penalty of sin (which is called an “indulgence”).

2 Cor. 2:10 - Paul forgives in the presence of Christ (some translations refer to the presences of Christ as “in persona Christi”). Some say that this may also be a reference to sins.

2 Cor. 5:18 - the ministry of reconciliation was given to the ambassadors of the Church. This ministry of reconciliation refers to the sacrament of reconciliation, also called the sacrament of confession or penance.

James 5:15-16 - in verse 15 we see that sins are forgiven by the priests in the sacrament of the sick. This is another example of man’s authority to forgive sins on earth. Then in verse 16, James says “Therefore, confess our sins to one another,” in reference to the men referred to in verse 15, the priests of the Church.

1 Tim. 2:5 - Christ is the only mediator, but He was free to decide how His mediation would be applied to us. The Lord chose to use priests of God to carry out His work of forgiveness.

Lev. 5:4-6; 19:21-22 - even under the Old Covenant, God used priests to forgive and atone for the sins of others.

James 5:16 - James clearly teaches us that we must “confess our sins to one another,” not just privately to God. James 5:16 must be read in the context of James 5:14-15, which is referring to the healing power (both physical and spiritual) of the priests of the Church. Hence, when James says “therefore” in verse 16, he must be referring to the men he was writing about in verses 14 and 15 – these men are the ordained priests of the Church, to whom we must confess our sins.

Acts 19:18 - many came to orally confess sins and divulge their sinful practices. Oral confession was the practice of the early Church just as it is today.

Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5 - again, this shows people confessing their sins before others as an historical practice (here to John the Baptist).

1 Tim. 6:12 - this verse also refers to the historical practice of confessing both faith and sins in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - if we confess are sins, God is faithful to us and forgives us and cleanse us. But we must confess our sins to one another.

Num. 5:7 - this shows the historical practice of publicly confessing sins, and making public restitution.

2 Sam. 12:14 - even though the sin is forgiven, there is punishment due for the forgiven sin. David is forgiven but his child was still taken (the consequence of his sin).

Neh. 9:2-3 - the Israelites stood before the assembly and confessed sins publicly and interceded for each other.

Sir. 4:26 - God tells us not to be ashamed to confess our sins, and not to try to stop the current of a river. Anyone who has experienced the sacrament of reconciliation understands the import of this verse.

Baruch 1:14 - again, this shows that the people made confession in the house of the Lord, before the assembly.

1 John 5:16-17; Luke 12:47-48 - there is a distinction between mortal and venial sins. This has been the teaching of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years, but, today, most Protestants no longer agree that there is such a distinction. Mortal sins lead to death and must be absolved in the sacrament of reconciliation. Venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest, but the pious Catholic practice is to do so in order to advance in our journey to holiness.

Matt. 5:19 - Jesus teaches that breaking the least of commandments is venial sin (the person is still saved but is least in the kingdom), versus mortal sin (the person is not saved). *

In confessio the priest acts in persona Christi and hears our actual sins and how many times to the best of our knowledge we have committed them. We then hear sound advice from the priest on these matters. Then we offer and act of contrition (saying and MEANING we are sorry) then the priest gives us a pennance. (this is our outward sign to God for our sorrow) then he absolves us from our sin in the name of CHrist and his church…then we walk out of the confessional feeling like a million bucks and do our pennance and continue our journey of faith.

 

[Ladybug42]

It was my understanding that Christ was our intercessor with God, and not some other man or woman. My confessions go to God through Christ. It is good to air them out loud to someone that is instructed on Scripture and the Gospel message, but we have direct access to Christ without a priest. It was my understanding that confessing to a priest is a good thing, but not necessary. Confession in and of itself is a necessary part of repentance, and a part of our salvation process, but the priest is not necessary. Just one tool among many that God has provided for us. We can utilize God’s tools, but if we allow the tools to replace that which they point towards, then they become a hindrance.

 

[JimG]

When Jesus gave his apostles the power to forgive sins in his name, he expected them and their successors to use it. And he expects the members of his church to use this means of forgiveness which he himself gave.

John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

 

[Ladybug42]

When Jesus gave his apostles the power to forgive sins in his name, he expected them and their successors to use it. And he expects the members of his church to use this means of forgiveness which he himself gave.

John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

I’m gonna hafta say that Jesus forgives, although Jesus did give them authority to pronounce His forgiveness. Big difference. This is to clarify to the penitant who may not be sure that they have met all the requirements that indeed they have–that is, that they have fully repented, among other things. This in no way means that all who sin must seek out a priest. Seeking out a priest for a society who was illiterate and uneducated has been a must in the past. The Church did the Body a great service by preserving literacy, by trying to preserve tradition, and by catechising the laity.

I’d be curious to know more about the history of confession in the Catholic Sacramental sense.

 

[Jared123]

The sources posted above give scriputural support for the Sacrament of Confession. Now I will give you some logical support for confession. All of us are sinners some more than others. How do we ask forgiveness to when we sin without confession. Before I converted to Catholicism and was a Baptist I ask my mother this question. She said you pray to God and ask for forgiveness. O.k. I thought that sounds easy. So as a teenage I would commit a sin of purity. I would say to myself boy that’s a sin I better pray to God and ask him for forgiveness. This lasted for a while and then I quite praying to God and asking for forgiveness…what the heck I was saved anyway. Then when I became Catholic and was taught about Confession it became very clear to me. If I commit a mortal sin then I have to ask God to forgive me. But I have to go to a priest and ask for forgiveness. This is much more difficult than laying in my bed at night and praying for forgiveness. If I know that i have to do this than this will be a greater deterant to commit sin. Then while in the confessional the preist gives me advice, kind of a mini counseling session. Can I get this mini counseling session laying in bed at night praying to God for forgiveness…Nope. Then I realized another amazing thing, each time I went to confession I felt awesome like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. This was the effects of grace. Then I realized another thing, the same old sins I struggled with for years in the past now I was able to overcome them and be a more complete and happy person.
The Sacrament of confession is a wonderful thing and I believe it is the most under used Sacrament by most Catholics. There is only two Sacraments that we can partake in everday, Eucharist and Reconciliation.

 

[Veritas41]

I’m gonna hafta say that Jesus forgives, although Jesus did give them authority to pronounce His forgiveness. Big difference. This is to clarify to the penitant who may not be sure that they have met all the requirements that indeed they have–that is, that they have fully repented, among other things. This in no way means that all who sin must seek out a priest. Seeking out a priest for a society who was illiterate and uneducated has been a must in the past. The Church did the Body a great service by preserving literacy, by trying to preserve tradition, and by catechising the laity.

I’d be curious to know more about the history of confession in the Catholic Sacramental sense.

This is not what the text of John 20:23 says. It says “If *you forgive *anyone his sins, they are forgiven; *if you do not forgive them, *they are not forgiven.” The text says nothing about “pronouncing/announcing” forgiveness. I think to understand why Jesus would institute sacramental confession (through a priest), we have to look at the whole idea behind sacraments in the first place: the Incarnation, where God assumed a human nature, possessing a physical body. Spirit and matter were joined in perfect harmony as they were in the begining,with the creation of Adam and Eve, before the Fall. Physical matter is good. We are, like Christ, physical and spiritual beings. By giving His saving, sanctifying grace through physical means, Jesus is relating to us in a way that we can perceive with our physical senses – we are not disembodied spirits, and He doesn’t treat us as such. During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed just by speaking a command, but other times he healed through physical means, such as touch (Mark 6:5, ), through His saliva (Mark 7:33, 8:23) and His garment (Matt 9:21-22). We see this continued in the ministry of the apostles, in Acts 5:15-16 where Peter’s shadow is the means of healing and in Acts 19:11-12, where cloths touched by Paul are means of healing. The sacraments are physical means God conveys His saving grace. Catholics confess both ways-- “directly” to God (it’s highly recommended to make a daily examination of conscience and confess our sins every day) and through the sacrament of reconciliation. The beauty of sacramental confession is that it is a more humbling experience --it’s easy to confess “directly” to God because He already knows our sin, but confessing to another human is another matter – we have to humble ourselves by admitting our sins and faults to someone who doesn’t already know them. The priest represents Christ and Church in the confessional – he acts in the person of Christ to forgive (or not forgive, if there isn’t demonstrated contrition) and represents the Church, the Body of Christ, which is wounded by our sin. We get feedback from the priest on how to avoid sin or give us helpful advice in dealing with certain matters, and we receive the sacramental grace to be strengthened against sin. I always walk out of the confessional feeling like a great burden has been lifted from me --it’s a different experience than confessing alone.

Jesus gave His apostles the authority to do *everything *He did during His earthly ministry: 1) heal 2) cast out evil spirits (Matt 10:1) 3) forgive sins (John 20:23) 4) preach,teach and baptize (Matt 28:18-20) 5) offer sacrifice (Luke 22:17-19). There was a need for those 2,000 years ago and continues to be a need today, which is why will still have sacraments, including sacramental confession.

In the early church, sacramental confession was usually made publicly and only allowed a few times in a person’s life time (usually for very serious sins), but over time private confession became the norm (originally baptism was in the nude, and thankfully they changed that!). It is strictly necessary only for mortal sin (sin that severs our relationship with God) but it is recommended for confessing venial sin as well because of the graces received in the sacrament that help us along on the path to holiness. Mother Teresa and JPII were known to go to confession weekly.

 

[Coder]

This in no way means that all who sin must seek out a priest.

Often is heard talk of direct communication with God and something like “I don’t need a priest, Jesus is the mediator.” However, Jesus has directed the Church to teach His Good News to the world. Confessing our sins to priests of the Church seems consistent with this. The point is that if God acts through the Church to tell about Jesus then it is understandable that God also acts through the Church to forgive people for sins. However, venial sins can be forgiven directly by God.

 

[Eileen_T]

There is an article in the CA Library on Sanctifying Grace ( the kind you get in Confession) catholic.com/library/Grace_What_It_Is.asp

Sanctifying Grace is what helps us to become saints, which we are all called to be but so many of us fail.

Confession to a priest was practiced by the earliest Christians as we read in the writings of the Early Church Fathers. Fr William Saunders writes:

St. Paul wrote, “God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:18) The Didache (or Teachings of the Twelve Apostles), written about 80 AD, stated, “In the congregation you shall confess your transgressions” and “On the Lord’s Day, come together and break bread…having confessed your transgressions that your sacrifice may be pure.” St. Cyprian in his concerning the reconciliation of Christians who had succumbed to offering pagan worship rather than face martyrdom, wrote, “Let each confess his sin while he is still in this world, while his confession can be received, while satisfaction and the forgiveness granted by the priests is acceptable to God.” At this time of persecution, when local “parishes” were small, individuals publicly confessed their sins at the beginning of Mass (as mentioned in the Didache) and received absolution from the bishop or priest.

After the legalization of the Church by Constantine, the Church fathers continued to emphasize the importance of confession. St. Ambrose wrote, “It seemed impossible that sins should be forgiven through penance; Christ granted this power to the Apostles and from the Apostles it has been transmitted to the office of priests.” () Similarly, St. Athanasius asserted, “As the man whom the priest baptizes is enlightened by the grace of the Holy Ghost, so does he who in penance confesses his sins, receive through the priest forgiveness in virtue of the grace of Christ.” () By the mid-400s and the pontificate of Leo I, private confession under the seal of secrecy becomes the norm to safeguard the reputation of the penitent and to attract others to the sacrament.

Therefore, we go to confession because it is a sacrament given to us by Christ, and it has always been a practice of the Church.

The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 required that “every faithful of either sex who has reached the age of discretion should at least once a year faithfully confess all his sins to his own priest. He should strive as far as possible to fulfill the penance imposed on him, and with reverence receive at least during Easter time the sacrament of the Eucharist.” This rule is still a precept of the Church.

Veritas41:

Mother Teresa and JPII were known to go to confession weekly.

My youngest child almost didn’t get to make her First Holy Communion with her peer age group, for various reasons. I talked to our priest and he agreed that she could go to Confession weekly until just before the Big Day and he would let me know his final decision and I would abide by it.

She DID make her first Communion that year. As a family we went to Confession once a month. This kid was sooooo difficult that sometime in the 4th week we could actually see a difference in her behaviour.

Being aware of this I started monitoring the rest of the family, including myself. Sure enough, we all were slipping in various ways after the 3rd week. In lack of Charity toward others: being disrespectful to others, getting irritable, mild swearing etc. etc.

PARENTS:
If you want sweet loving children and a harmonious family life, do two things. Chuck out the TV, and get them into the habit of going to Confession every 2 weeks. You and your spouse as well, of course.

That Sanctifying Grace will make your life sooooo much easier.

 

[Eileen_T]

On another note, Saint Padre Pio was known to retain sins and tell confessors to come back when they were ready to take the Sacrament seriously.

 

[LilyM]

On another note, Saint Padre Pio was known to retain sins and tell confessors to come back when they were ready to take the Sacrament seriously.

‘Confessor’ refers to the priest hearing the confession. The correct term for the person confessing is penitent - so St Padre Pio was saying this to penitents and not to confessors

 

[Sir_Knight]

Ladybug, ask yourself this question … if Jesus did not intend for us to seek forgiveness through the church via the priests and if we could obtain that forgiveness directly from God, why then did He command His Apostles to go out and forgive sins. Seems like a big waste of time for them to wander the country side doing this if we could obtain that forgiveness directly from God.

Mother Teresa and JPII were known to go to confession weekly.

Just a slight correction. JPII went to confession THREE times a week. Mother Teresa went to confession DAILY.

 

[Ladybug42]

This is not what the text of John 20:23 says. It says “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

As I am sure you know, if a priest were to abuse his position (which I suspect rarely if ever happens today) and tell someone that their sins were not forgiven even though they met the critieria for appropriate repentance and penance, then they indeed would still be forgiven. You see, the priest’s position is only to stand in as the symbol of Christ. In the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony the priest blesses in the name of God. In the Sacrament of Confession, the priest forgives in the name of God. He is only a stand-in, and if his will is not alligned with our Father in Heaven–if his advice contradicts what God has said concerning salvation–then it most certainly does not still fly as true.

A priest’s “forgiveness” is only to assure and educate people about what God forgives, and how to go about seeking reconciliation. It is very important, and a good thing, to seek confession with a pirest. But the process of salvation is not reliant on it–it is a tool. Psychologically speaking, it is a healthy thing to confess to someone. With all of the different man-made doctrines out there, it is a good thing to have a spiritual advisor who is steeped in truth. But be careful that you do not fall into legalism. It is God through Christ who forgives the sins. And symbolically, if the priest stands in for them, then he is forgiving as a stand-in. If he is not pronouncing God’s forgiveness, then whose forgiveness is he pronouncing? If it isn’t God’s, then quite frankly, it must be antithetical to God’s will.

 

[Sir_Knight]

The scribes and the pharises [sp] abused their position but Jesus made it very clear that their authority was lawful and commanded the people to obey them. In like manner, Jesus gave His church the authority to forgive sins in His name but this was not done merely as a formality for He clearly said that whose ever sins THEY forgave, would be forgiven and whose ever sins THEY retained, would be retained – showing that whatever determination THEY made would be so.

A priest’s “forgiveness” is only to assure and educate people about what God forgives

No. A CATHOLIC priest’s job is to actual GIVE God’s forgiveness because they have authority to do so.

 

[water]

Ladybug, ask yourself this question … if Jesus did not intend for us to seek forgiveness through the church via the priests and if we could obtain that forgiveness directly from God, why then did He command His Apostles to go out and forgive sins. Seems like a big waste of time for them to wander the country side doing this if we could obtain that forgiveness directly from God.

Just a slight correction. JPII went to confession THREE times a week. Mother Teresa went to confession DAILY.

Good point.

Jesus teaches us a lot about humility in confession. I believe that the thought about not going to confess to priest is all starting from being prideful.

 

[Ladybug42]

Good point.

Jesus teaches us a lot about humility in confession. I believe that the thought about not going to confess to priest is all starting from being prideful.

Jesus teaches us about humility in all that He did, in God humbling Himself to become man for us, and in dying on the cross for us, for the forgiveness of sins. I believe that the idea that what a priest determines as being somehow authoritative separate from the will of God, to be a heresy. It also sounds somewhat different than what I am learning in RCIA.

Some folks may be shy about seeing a priest out of shame, rather than pride. Myself, I have never been given the option.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Jesus teaches us about humility in all that He did, in God humbling Himself to become man for us, and in dying on the cross for us, for the forgiveness of sins. I believe that the idea that what a priest determines as being somehow authoritative separate from the will of God, to be a heresy. It also sounds somewhat different than what I am learning in RCIA.

What are you learning in RCIA that is different? Through out all of the OT, God has interacted with us via human representatives. There is no reason that His approach would change especially since Saint Paul tells us that God does not change from generation to generation.

That, plus the fact that Jesus specifically told the Aposltes to go out and forgive sins is a pretty strong indication that God intended to forgive us our sins THROUGH HUMAN REPRESENTATIVE as He has interaced with us in the past.

Some folks may be shy about seeing a priest out of shame, rather than pride. Myself, I have never been given the option.

If one can not approach a fellow sinner to confess one’s sins, how can that person approach ALMIGHTY God who they have offended with their sins?

 

[Ladybug42]

Through out all of the OT, God has interacted with us via human representatives. There is no reason that His approach would change especially since Saint Paul tells us that God does not change from generation to generation.

Agreed. They are representatives, and can only pronounce what He wills. They have no power in and of themselves. Their physical presence is a symbol, and their service is a tool given to us by the Lord. I don’t mean to degrade the dignity of the priest in saying this. It is in defense of the awesome, forgiving power of God Almighty. I suspect that some folks may be coming close to saying that people save instead of God. God works through all of us in reconciliation. It is only in submission to His will that a priest may pronounce the forgiveness that God has given. But the forgiveness did not originate in the priest, it originated with God through Christ–the priest acts as a conduit, as a spokesperson, of what God has to say. Kind of like the Prophets of the OT.

 

[Ladybug42]

If one can not approach a fellow sinner to confess one’s sins, how can that person approach ALMIGHTY God who they have offended with their sins?

We need to pray for them, many people are stuck in an existential hell where they feel alone, and cannot reach out in fellowship nor in confession.