Help me on this one please - Another Confession Question

[Turtle_Turtle]

Hi,

I thought I was done with the Confession questions, but they keep coming.

From what I understand, is that Catholics have to Confess to a Priest who stands in the Person of Christ of their sins and that is how they get forgivness of their sins, Jesus working through the priest.

Why must we confess to a priest, why not go to God? Is it because this is the way the rubrics set the Sacrament up? Or that this is what has been traditionally practiced through the Catholic Church’s history.

Personally, I think it’s because Jesus instituted the Sacrament this way when he said to Confess ye sins to one another. Am I right? I was having a discussion with one of my Proestant friends and this question came up.

For me I struggle so much in Confession, becauase I know I’m confessing to Jesus, but I am always thinking, oh my Gosh, I wonder what the priest is thinking. I know from that other thread that others feel nervous too.

Thanks.

 

[cessnawag]

The gospel of John 20:23. Jesus breathed on the disiples and gave them the power to forgive sins. The only other time the bible mentions god breathing on man was when he breathed life into Adam (so you know Jesus was doing something big here). It started there and has gone on through the catholic church ever since through apostolic procession. You are right about how the preist is standing in for Jesus. You dont get forgiveness from the priest, you get it from Jesus. The priest is a kind of “middle man” whom is highly educated and also gives good advice on how to avoid sin.

 

[Bookcat]

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Confession…

Mortal sins need to be confessed…venial sins can be forgiven in many ways…but it is certainly recommended to confess them too (at least some…)

(even if one has perfect contrition…one still is to confess mortal sins …)

 

[edward_george]

When we confess our sins to a priest, we are confessing them in the presence of God. The priest has the power to absolve sins, given to him by his share in the apostolic ministry of his Bishop, handed down in unbroken succession going back to the apostles themselves. The priest’s power to absolve sins ultimately comes from Christ. When the priest absolves, he does so in the person of Christ. There is no either/or here; rather it is both–we confess to God through the priest, acting in the person of Christ.

-ACEGC

 

[JRKH]

Hi,

I thought I was done with the Confession questions, but they keep coming.

No problem…

From what I understand, is that Catholics have to Confess to a Priest who stands in the Person of Christ of their sins and that is how they get forgiveness of their sins, Jesus working through the priest.

For Mortal sins, yes this is true. Venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest (though it is not a bad idea…especially if you keep committing the same one over and over…)

Why must we confess to a priest, why not go to God? Is it because this is the way the rubrics set the Sacrament up? Or that this is what has been traditionally practiced through the Catholic Church’s history.

You DO confess to God. God is present in the confessional.
As others have pointed out, Jesus gave the apostles to bind or loose sins. But of course in order to know which is which - they have to hear those sins…And this sort of touches on an aspect of the sacrament that is often overlooked, downplayed or outright ignored. The idea of “council” and advice received from the priest as well as the opportunity (if necessary) for the priest to ask more questions in order to determine if one is truly repentant.
So the Sacrament of Reconciliation (“Confession”) has many benefits that are best gained by the private - face to face confession.

Personally, I think it’s because Jesus instituted the Sacrament this way when he said to Confess ye sins to one another. Am I right? I was having a discussion with one of my Protestant friends and this question came up.

See above…

For me I struggle so much in Confession, becauase I know I’m confessing to Jesus, but I am always thinking, oh my Gosh, I wonder what the priest is thinking. I know from that other thread that others feel nervous too.

I’ll tell you the same thing we tell everyone who wonders this…The priest has heard it ALL before…and really does not make personal judgement calls.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

HERE is the Catechism section on the sacrament. It should answer your questions.

Peace
James

 

[Suegra]

A bishop of my past acquaintance said two things about hearing confessions that have stuck with me:

One was that when he was hearing confessions from nuns, it was like being pelted with popcorn.

The other thing was that priests (or bishops) after a while have heard just about everything and it kinda goes in one ear and out the other. The confessed sins are neither retained by God or by the priest (at least, for the most part it seems).

I guess if you confessed something truly heinous, it might stay in the priest’s mind, but he’s actually acting as a conduit, if you will, of God’s grace and forgiveness.

And, honestly, how many times have you been waiting for your turn to make your confession and heard the priest exclaim, “You did* WHAT*?!?!?!?” None, right? So I wouldn’t give another moment over to worry about what the priest *might *think.

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

The gospel of John 20:23. Jesus breathed on the disiples and gave them the power to forgive sins. The only other time the bible mentions god breathing on man was when he breathed life into Adam (so you know Jesus was doing something big here). It started there and has gone on through the catholic church ever since through apostolic procession. You are right about how the preist is standing in for Jesus. You dont get forgiveness from the priest, you get it from Jesus. The priest is a kind of “middle man” whom is highly educated and also gives good advice on how to avoid sin.

I did not know that God breathing on man was mentioned only twice in the Bible.

So this Sacrament is very special, I will share this with my friend. Thank you.

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

When we confess our sins to a priest, we are confessing them in the presence of God. The priest has the power to absolve sins, given to him by his share in the apostolic ministry of his Bishop, handed down in unbroken succession going back to the apostles themselves. The priest’s power to absolve sins ultimately comes from Christ. When the priest absolves, he does so in the person of Christ. There is no either/or here; rather it is both–we confess to God through the priest, acting in the person of Christ.

-ACEGC

I guess this is where my friend is confused, does not really understand the Apotolic Succession, okay, I guess I had better read up on this to help her.

Thank you.

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

No problem…

Good because I got a great deal of questions.

For Mortal sins, yes this is true. Venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest (though it is not a bad idea…especially if you keep committing the same one over and over…)

I always make it a practice to Confess my venial sins too. I usually confess them first to sort of break the ice to speak for me.

You DO confess to God. God is present in the confessional.
As others have pointed out, Jesus gave the apostles to bind or loose sins. But of course in order to know which is which - they have to hear those sins…And this sort of touches on an aspect of the sacrament that is often overlooked, downplayed or outright ignored. The idea of “council” and advice received from the priest as well as the opportunity (if necessary) for the priest to ask more questions in order to determine if one is truly repentant.
So the Sacrament of Reconciliation (“Confession”) has many benefits that are best gained by the private - face to face confession.

I had never really given much though to the “council” part of Confession. It is a blessing to have. And I would not trade that at all. I shall bring this point up with my friend as well.

Thank you for the CCC link. I ordered a hard copy of the CCC and it should be arriving next week.

Peace to you as well.

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

A bishop of my past acquaintance said two things about hearing confessions that have stuck with me:

One was that when he was hearing confessions from nuns, it was like being pelted with popcorn.

The other thing was that priests (or bishops) after a while have heard just about everything and it kinda goes in one ear and out the other. The confessed sins are neither retained by God or by the priest (at least, for the most part it seems).

I guess if you confessed something truly heinous, it might stay in the priest’s mind, but he’s actually acting as a conduit, if you will, of God’s grace and forgiveness.

And, honestly, how many times have you been waiting for your turn to make your confession and heard the priest exclaim, “You did* WHAT*?!?!?!?” None, right? So I wouldn’t give another moment over to worry about what the priest *might *think.

You are right, I have never heard a priest go You did what ever issue forth from a Confessional while waiting in life hee hee. That’s a good thing, else I’d tuck and run out the door.

 

[JRKH]

I did not know that God breathing on man was mentioned only twice in the Bible.

So this Sacrament is very special, I will share this with my friend. Thank you.

I bit off topic, but speaking of only being mentioned twice…
Did you know that the word “Church” (ekklesia) is only mentioned twice in the Gospels - Both times by Jesus Himself, and Both Times associated with the authority to “Bind and Loose” - “Whatever”…
(Mt 16:17-19) (Mt 18:15-18)

Peace
James

 

[HonoraDominum]

And, honestly, how many times have you been waiting for your turn to make your confession and heard the priest exclaim, “You did* WHAT*?!?!?!?” None, right? So I wouldn’t give another moment over to worry about what the priest *might *think.

The Cure of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, could read souls and was in high demand in the confessional. When people would confess sins, he would say, “What a pity.”

That being said, to quote one of my favorite sermons on Audio Sancto, “God already knows what you’ve done, who cares if the priest knows.” To fear the reaction of the priest is to dwell on self-love and not on love of God. God sent his only Son, who suffered a horrible and painful and humiliating death, for love of Me, so I find it a great act of love to admit my faults and failings against this Love so as to become friends with God again.

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

I bit off topic, but speaking of only being mentioned twice…
Did you know that the word “Church” (ekklesia) is only mentioned twice in the Gospels - Both times by Jesus Himself, and Both Times associated with the authority to “Bind and Loose” - “Whatever”…
(Mt 16:17-19) (Mt 18:15-18)

Peace
James

Interesting, and thanks for that. Interesting, I will work that in my discussion with my friend.

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

The Cure of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, could read souls and was in high demand in the confessional. When people would confess sins, he would say, “What a pity.”

That being said, to quote one of my favorite sermons on Audio Sancto, “God already knows what you’ve done, who cares if the priest knows.” To fear the reaction of the priest is to dwell on self-love and not on love of God. God sent his only Son, who suffered a horrible and painful and humiliating death, for love of Me, so I find it a great act of love to admit my faults and failings against this Love so as to become friends with God again.

Thank you for the quote. It is hard, I will pray that God will help me to overcome my nervousness.

 

[JRKH]

Interesting, and thanks for that. Interesting, I will work that in my discussion with my friend.

THAT should turn into an interesting discussion…

Be prepared to get into the definition of “ekklesia” (church) and the whole issue of “Authority” (local vs universal)…
It’s unlikely that you will be able to convince him but I have discovered that the NT writings all point to universal authority and not independent local authority…and they point to “Church” as having that (universal) authority.

Peace
James

 

[Turtle_Turtle]

THAT should turn into an interesting discussion…

Be prepared to get into the definition of “ekklesia” (church) and the whole issue of “Authority” (local vs universal)…
It’s unlikely that you will be able to convince him but I have discovered that the NT writings all point to universal authority and not independent local authority…and they point to “Church” as having that (universal) authority.

Peace
James

Okay will do. No doubt my friend will bring this up. I’m trying to look up stuff on this already.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[JRKH]

Okay will do. No doubt my friend will bring this up. I’m trying to look up stuff on this already.

Thanks for the heads up.

No Problem…
It took me a bit of time to work though it…But if one follows the logical pattern in Scripture, one finds that
a) Church intended His Church to be One as He and the Father are One (not doctrinally scattered)
b) The “sin” referred to Mt 18:15 can just as easily be “teaching a false gospel” (doctrinal error) as any other more “traditional” sin.
c) When the question of whether local communities are doctrinally independent…Acts 15 says No since the problematic matter involved more than one community. In fact the issue before the council was one that was bound to effect nearly every local church where both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians resided.
d) There are at least 7 references that I know of in the Gospels and letters exhorting the faithful to be “one”, to avoid dissensions, to agree with one another, to praise with one voice etc…
e) Not only is the Church the Pillar and Bulwark of Truth (1 Tim 3:15) but it is Through the Church that God has chosen to make his message manifest to the “powers in the heavenly places”. (Eph 3:8-12)

Once I have laid all of this Scriptural evidence out for a protestant, I will invite them to provide Scriptural evidence that is equally compelling to support the “locally independent”, “Sola Scriptura” view…
Generally the conversation pretty much stops right there…Oh there are a few points to be made…But nothing to compare with the preponderance of evidence supporting the Authoritative Church.
Add to that the fact that the two Ancient Churches (RC and EO) both have always held to a doctrine of authoritative Church (even after their split in the 11th century) and you have a real capper. The fact that Scripture and History coincide so perfectly…
“Local independence” and 'Sola Scriptura" etc, were not taught until the Reformation was well along…

Sorry - I’m getting carried away…
You can see that I’ve investigated this some…

Peace
James

 

[peace2u2]

Hi,

I thought I was done with the Confession questions, but they keep coming.

From what I understand, is that Catholics have to Confess to a Priest who stands in the Person of Christ of their sins and that is how they get forgivness of their sins, Jesus working through the priest.

Why must we confess to a priest, why not go to God? Is it because this is the way the rubrics set the Sacrament up? Or that this is what has been traditionally practiced through the Catholic Church’s history.

Personally, I think it’s because Jesus instituted the Sacrament this way when he said to Confess ye sins to one another. Am I right? I was having a discussion with one of my Proestant friends and this question came up.

For me I struggle so much in Confession, becauase I know I’m confessing to Jesus, but I am always thinking, oh my Gosh, I wonder what the priest is thinking. I know from that other thread that others feel nervous too.

Thanks.

When you are in the confessional, you are confessing your sins to God. The Catholic Priest sits in persona Christi, in the person of Christ. The Priest is Jesus’ Vicar or Representative.

The Priest offers not his mercy, but that of Christ who gave the Priest the power through his validated ordained Catholic Priesthood the power to absolve the sins on your soul.

We are to confess with our lips so the words are audible not left silent in our hearts. Remember without a doubt you are forgiven. And also the devil will try to cause doubt in your heart.

The confessional is the second most hated place of the devil. The most hated place is in The Eucharist. The reason: Because the devil knows of the Real Presence of Jesus in both of these Sacraments to heal us! The devil does not want you to be healed - But JESUS DOES! AMEN! AMEN! Maybe if you remember this, it will help to ease your nervousness. I suppose nervousness could be sumed up as a true sign of your humbleness before the Lord.

How awesome our God is that He gives us visible, tangible signs of His love and care for us through the Sacraments of His Catholic Church!

Peace 2u2

ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/GUIDEPEN.HTM

catholicyouthministry.com/wp-content/files/free/ExaminationofConscience.pdf

 

[HonoraDominum]

Thank you for the quote. It is hard, I will pray that God will help me to overcome my nervousness.

When I get nervous about going to confession, I listen to that homily.

Another great quote from the homily is, “Priests are sometimes surprised by this love [supernatural love of God in the confessional]; typically before confessions, all they have is fear. But as soon as that person begins their confession, there is no more fear. It’s all love. And it would break a priest’s heart to think that someone he loves that much would leave the confessional worse off than when he came in, simply because he was ashamed or embarrassed. This is what Father became a priest to do. Do you think he’s going to back down now just because it’s a friend who needs help?”

And if that’s not enough to ease my fears, I think of this quote:

“Father wants one thing - to make us friends with God again. He does not care who we are or what we’ve done. He simply wants us back. He does not care what it will take to do that, to restore us to God’s friendship. He will lift any burden or treat any wound. He has the power of God at his disposal. He will not stop until we are friends with God for all eternity. To think differently, or to be afraid or worried or anxious is a lie from the devil, who is a liar from the beginning and the father of lies. Ignore him.”

God bless that priest, and please pray for him - I feel confident that with this one homily, many people overcame their fears, walked into the confessional, and truly became friends with God again.