Acknowledging a popular objection to the sacrament, Pope Francis noted, “someone can say, ‘I confess my sins only to God.’ Yes, you can say to God, ‘forgive me,’ and say your sins. But our sins are also against our brothers, against the Church. This is is why it is necessary to ask forgiveness of the Church and of our brothers, in the person of the priest.”
“While the celebration of the sacrament is personal, it is rooted in the universality of the Church,” which “accompanies us on the path of conversion,” he explained.
I read the above recently on Father Z’s blog.“Forgiveness is not something we can give ourselves,” cautioned the Pope. “One asks forgiveness, one asks it of another person, and in confession, we ask forgiveness from Jesus.”
COMFORT FOR THE SINNER
This is where the beauty of the Sacrament of Reconciliation shows forth. The tragedy of sin strikes very deep. In truth, it is the deepest of all human wounds. It strikes man where the effects can be most devastating—his spirit, which is the very core of his being. The tragic results can be anything from eternal separation from God, the worst possible human misery, to deep dissatisfaction with life and depression, to debilitating addictions that strip the victim of his freedom. Serious sin, mortal sin, will never afflict man’s spirit without leaving major inner harm in its wake.
and…This, of all times, is the moment for a person to know that the Blessed Lord is close, and to have His presence represented in the most assuring form possible. The depth of the injury makes the penitent in desperate need of confidence that the Lord is near. For the healing to be complete, there cannot be lingering doubts: “Was I truly forgiven? Did the Lord accept my sorrow and hear my acknowledgment of my sin? Am I free from my sin, or do I continue to bear it within me?” This is where Jesus knew so well that we must have some concrete sign from Him that He has heard us and taken our sins away, if our hearts are to rest at ease.
and another…For this reason it is necessary for a Catholic to confess to a priest, the representative of the Church, each occasion of mortal sin before receiving Holy Communion. There is no option of confessing privately to God in such a case (as one can do with venial sin) because of the nature of the sin - it has caused one to fall out of communion with God and the Church. The way back to communion can only be, apart from emergency situations, in the way established by Christ. One cannot make one’s own way back into union. In effect, this is what so many do in avoiding the confessional. They are making their own way back to Christ, rather than following His way. They are putting themselves in the place of Christ, and determining what it is they must do to be reconciled. A futile practice. Forgiveness comes not from oneself, but from God. His are the steps to reconciliation we must follow, in as much as with Him ultimately resides the power to reconcile.
But forgiveness is one thing. Another is the infusion of grace specifically designed to assist a person in fighting against sin. With the trouble in breaking certain habits of sin, the soul would get nowhere in its spiritual journey were it not for divine help over and above divine forgiveness.
andThis special grace is the unique contribution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation where it is abundantly present. As with all the Sacraments, there is imparted with Confession a “sacramental grace”, which is, as St. Thomas says, “a certain Divine assistance for attaining the end of the Sacrament” (III, 62,2). This “sacramental grace” is a supernatural gift over and above the divine presence ordinarily bestowed in a Sacrament, and strengthens a person in accord with the human condition being addressed.
Is it always fruitful though?The degree to which God can help a penitent, will be the degree to which that person allows God to help him by cooperation with grace. Someone who is only mildly sorry for his sins, with only the vaguest intention of devoting himself to overcoming some sin, will hinder God’s immense desire to strengthen him. Our Blessed Lord binds Himself strictly to doing only what the penitent allows Him to do. Little profit will result from weak strivings. From devoted efforts, greater graces will be given. God sees the openness of the will to His grace and gives accordingly.
The third document is stellar in my opinion, a sample:The fruit that can come from Confession will not automatically appear simply by confessing on a frequent basis. For a person confessing frequently, but carelessly, mechanically, Confession will at best be an experience of spiritually running in place. There will be little progress in leaving sins and imperfections behind. It is quite possible that after years of such frequent but thoughtless Confession a person can be still struggling with the same sins as before. Avoiding such spiritual stagnancy is the concern of this final issue in our series on Confession.
This is why, as St. Francis de Sales says, “many who confess their venial sins out of custom and concern for order but without thought of amendment remain burdened with them for their whole life.” The cooperation of such people with God’s wonderful aid is minimal. They may be impressive in accusing themselves of sin, but woefully short in what is at the crux of the problem - the will to sin no more. To have freedom from sin, such people must come to realize that instead of an exhaustive enumeration of venial sins, what opens up the real power of Confession is the intention to reform and carrying that intention perseveringly into action.
What is appropriate, then, for those needing only to confess venial sins will be to acknowledge a few such offenses that stand out since the last Confession. For those few sins, carefully thought out, realistic plans must then be made for striving against them
First, just so you know what is required,… venial sins are not required to be mentioned in confession. It is good to do so, but not required. But all mortal sins, and their number, are.Do we have to ask his forgiveness before we are forgiven? What about those same stupid little things we do wrong over and over? What if we do something that is only hurtful to ourself, but we know its wrong and still do it anyway? Are we only forgiven when we go to confession?
Do we have to ask his forgiveness before we are forgiven? What about those same stupid little things we do wrong over and over? What if we do something that is only hurtful to ourself, but we know its wrong and still do it anyway? (edtied D.P.see below)… Are we only forgiven when we go to confession?./QUOTE
Do we have to ask his forgiveness before we are forgiven? No-consider in context-
What about those same stupid little things we do wrong over and over?
No-consider in context-
Edited by D.P. What if we… do something that is only hurtful to ourself, but we know its wrong and still do it anyway, then( do we have to ask for forgiveness from God) ?
Yes and No (depends-on the risk)…tricky thing that…(we might presume ) we presume-we get to heaven-no matter the sin/ we presume-our own wrongs, turned inwward- do not hurt ourselves/ we presume our own intelligent turned against ourselves,like an animal in a trap, those sins-having full knowledge-of self inflicted wounds to make the wound of sin even bigger-then presume it does not hurt another/ (if on the scale of high risk-that reality demands to recognize) then presumptions can be incorrect…large self inflicted wounds that makes the wound of original sin, even larger, can risk to hurt others…( if this means to wake up one day and see one’s life in a downward spiral-in need of confession)
Are we only forgiven when we go to confession? No, in context…
The sacrament of confession can be reviewed in hindsight-for instance a one hour stay at church- 3 minutes in confession, during and after wards this can be felt as pure experience-measured in tears-that gaining momentum but has a quiet trust-by a knowledge of what you inherit , then later improving your prayer life by self efficacy. Can you live your 24 hour day in pure ‘experience?’ No-There is a quiet daily faith to learn, and not to be alarmed-‘because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven-’
Consider those little old ladies in church…if they were to speak to you-
." the little old lady in church may sum up:" ‘I’ could not live, nor take a breath of life, nor hope-without God’s forgiveness…(of the world)"
Col ch1, v4-6/jerusalem bible
1 From Paul, by the will of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy
2 to God’s holy people in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ. Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
3 We give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, continually in our prayers,
4 ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all God’s holy people
5 because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. News of this hope reached you not long ago through the word of truth, the gospel
6 that came to you in the same way as it is bearing fruit and growing throughout the world. It has had the same effect among you, ever since you heard about the grace of God and recognised it for what it truly is.