How are Anglicans (and other protestants) forgiven of sins?

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chrisb,
I’ve been in Mass when they offer a public (i.e. general) confession of sinfulness and ask for forgiveness. This is always right after the Opening Prayer of the Mass.
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What you’ve been taught on this matter is terribly incorrect.

This not a remission of mortal sins. For that, you must go to confession, not just once a year, but everytime you are conscious of mortal sin. It is quite true that perfect contrition may restore you to a state of grace, but even so, unless there is danger of death and no way to go to confession, Catholics are canonically bound to refrain from receiving Holy Communion until you receive sacramental absolution during the Sacrament of Penance.

"When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins **if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible" (CCC 1452)

“Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession” (CCC 1452)

The opening prayer of Mass is not sacramental absolution.
 
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itsjustdave1988:
chrisb,
What you’ve been taught on this matter is terribly incorrect.

This not a remission of mortal sins. For that, you must go to confession, not just once a year, but everytime you are conscious of mortal sin. It is quite true that perfect contrition may restore you to a state of grace, but even so, unless there is danger of death and no way to go to confession, Catholics are canonically bound to refrain from receiving Holy Communion until you receive sacramental absolution during the Sacrament of Penance.

“When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins ***if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” ***(CCC 1452)

“Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession” (CCC 1452)

The opening prayer of Mass is not sacramental absolution.
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Actually this is not entirely incorrect.

Sunday is 3 services. 1. Service of the Word. 2**. “The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness” ** 3. Mass. Mass technically refers to the second part of the liturgy- the communion part. The first part is the Service of the Word (focused on the reading of scripture). Somewhere RC’s started calling the whole shebang “mass;”

How this relates to forgiveness of sins as related to Catholicism and the Eucharist is beyond my knowledge.

A good question for Ask and Apologist.
 
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GKC:
That what you meant?

GKC

traditional Anglican
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GKC- Thanks. I wasn’t in the ECUSA prior to the adoption of the '79 Playbook. I have a copy of the '28 BCP at home, but couldn’t remember if there was a form for auricular confession or not. For the same reasons I didn’t know how your communion (or other continuing, or non-Canterbury Anglicans) might view auricular confession. It suppose it’s possible that there are some groups for whom that sort of thing is a bit too “popish”, tho I of course don’t know of any.
 
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mean_owen:
GKC- Thanks. I wasn’t in the ECUSA prior to the adoption of the '79 Playbook. I have a copy of the '28 BCP at home, but couldn’t remember if there was a form for auricular confession or not. For the same reasons I didn’t know how your communion (or other continuing, or non-Canterbury Anglicans) might view auricular confession. It suppose it’s possible that there are some groups for whom that sort of thing is a bit too “popish”, tho I of course don’t know of any.
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The suggested forms of auricular confession found in the 79 book are good things.

The Continuum did kind of sort itself out into some more evangelical flavored groups, and the more high-church, more Catholic ones, fracturing to an extent, the Elizabethan compromise. The bulk of the Continuum probably leans toward the latter. Certainly the ACA, the ACC and the APCK do, with the APA on the other side. The bulk of those who separated from ECUSA after St. Louis, in 1978, were doing so primarily for Catholic and high church liturgical and (slightly later), for sacerdotal reasons. Evangelicals were generally slower to see the problem. New Hampshire was an eye opener, and hence the nature of the AMIA.

GKC
 
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GKC:
For the absolution of mortal sin, to ensure that one is in a state of grace to receive the Sacrament, I think that the RCC requires an individual, auricular confession (reconciliation). I await correction.
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You are correct. There is an exception for those who are truly repentant, but cannot go to confession and intend to go at the first opportunity. It seems that this would be rare, but possible in areas where priests were scarce and only available for brief periods.

However, let’s not forget what mortal sin is - a grave matter done with full consent. One should not receive the Body and Blood of Christ in this state, for their own sake (cf 1 Cor. 11:29-30).

Blessings
 
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Shibboleth:
Actually this is not entirely incorrect.

Sunday is 3 services. 1. Service of the Word. 2**. “The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness” **3. Mass.
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This is not SACRAMENTAL absolution. If one is conscious of mortal sin, one cannot receive of the Holy Eucharsit until they receive SACRAMENTAL absolution.
 
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itsjustdave1988:
This is not SACRAMENTAL absolution. If one is conscious of mortal sin, one cannot receive of the Holy Eucharsit until they receive SACRAMENTAL absolution.
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Fair enough, do you perhaps have a link or something that I can read more about this… I am interrested.
 
Shibboleth/Chrisb,

See here:

PASTORAL NORMS CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF GENERAL SACRAMENTAL ABSOLUTION****Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Approved by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on June 16, 1972.

ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P6PASTOR.HTM
The teaching of the Council of Trent must be firmly held and faithfully put into practice. This implies a reprobation of the recent custom which has sprung up in places by which there is a presumption to satisfy the precept of sacramentally confessing mortal sins for the purpose of obtaining absolution by confession made only generally or through what is called a community celebration of Penance.
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According to a catechetical series on the Mass by Archbishop Chaput of Denver:
archden.org/archbishop/docs/10_30_02_liturgy.htm
Before we move deeper into worship, we now admit our sins and our need for God’s mercy in the Penitential Rite. We ask the faithful already in heaven and our brothers and sisters around us to pray for us – and we’ll hear our neighbors asking the same for themselves. The Roman Missal permits several versions of this confession of sins, which may include the Kyrie, or “Lord have mercy”. If not included in this confession, the Kyrie follows separately. An ancient part of the Liturgy, the Kyrie harks back to when Greek was the prevalent language of the Roman Church. It’s a kind of profession of faith. In the Kyrie, we call on God’s mercy because we believe He will be merciful to us. And as we call on Him, we begin to rise above the somber thoughts of our weakness.
The priest completes the Penitential Rite with words of absolution. Of course, this is not sacramental absolution, and it doesn’t forgive serious sin.
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According to the Code of Canon Laws:
Can. 961 §1. Absolution cannot be imparted in a general manner to many penitents at once without previous individual confession unless:

1/ danger of death is imminent and there is insufficient time for the priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents;

2/ there is grave necessity, that is, when in view of the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors available to hear the confessions of individuals properly within a suitable period of time in such a way that the penitents are forced to be deprived for a long while of sacramental grace or holy communion through no fault of their own. Sufficient necessity is not considered to exist when confessors cannot be present due only to the large number of penitents such as can occur on some great feast or pilgrimage.

§2. It belongs to the diocesan bishop to judge whether the conditions required according to the norm of §1, n. 2 are present. He can determine the cases of such necessity, attentive to the criteria agreed upon with the other members of the conference of bishops.
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JimO:
You are correct. There is an exception for those who are truly repentant, but cannot go to confession and intend to go at the first opportunity. It seems that this would be rare, but possible in areas where priests were scarce and only available for brief periods.
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Yep. That’s why I said “except in rare circumstances”. I think there might be one or two related instances, but generally, in the RCC, sacramental confession (= auricular, individual confession), is required. Anyway, it is better for a RC to explain this, than for an AC.
However, let’s not forget what mortal sin is - a grave matter done with full consent. One should not receive the Body and Blood of Christ in this state, for their own sake (cf 1 Cor. 11:29-30).

Blessings
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Absolutely. As is said in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

GKC
 
Whether it’s a Roman Catholic going to the confession boot to get his sins forgiven,a protestant using 1 John 1:9 (which is a passage to the lost and not to the saved) to get forgiven of his sins, or a Jew sacrificing a bull or a goat to get his sins forgiven, all are denying the reality of the New Covenant.

The Bible says that without the shedding of Blood, there is no Forgiveness. The Bible also says that Jesus will not come back to bear sins but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. He’s not going to die again. When we are doing something to get forgiven, we are as the book of Hebrews says “trampling the Son of God underfoot.”

When I sin, I confess it (agree with God) and I acknowledge that the reason I sinned was because I wasn’t trusting Him. After all, the root of sin is unbelief. Romans says that everything that’s not of faith is sin. I then ask him to renew my mind and teach me to trust him. I also make an effort to aplogize and and ask forgiveness from the person I have offended, if I have offended anyone. But I am done asking God to forgive me or do anything else to get forgiveness. I will not continue to insult my Lord and Saviour and call him a liar when he said “it is finished!”
 
One other thing to consider. If we have to do something to get forgiven of our sins (confess to a priest, 1 John 1:9 ourselves), how in the world can we be sure that we got every sin covered? I don’t about you folks, and I don’t say this with pride, I sin in thought, word, and deed frequently. I don’t even remember some of the sins I committ.

As I said in my previous post, The Bible says that everything that’s not of faith is sin. Jesus said that if you lust after a woman, you’ve committed adultery, and if you’re angry with your brother, you’re just as guilty as a murderer. If this is true, we are all in big trouble. But praise be to God for the Cross of Christ, because this is where our sin (all of it) was taken away!
 
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chrisb:
In nomine Jesu I offer you peace,

This appears to be just how the Catholic Church does it to. I’ve been in Mass when they offer a public (i.e. general) confession of sinfulness and ask for forgiveness. This is always right after the Opening Prayer of the Mass. We have Reconcilation but are only required to do that once a year now-a-days. Do you find that the “Luturgical” Churches are actually moving closer together with regard to general practices? I feel this is so ever since Vatican II.

Peace.
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There is always the option the going to Confession more frequently. The Pastor in my TAC Parish has been encouraging that, and he seems to be having some success with the idea.

Karl Jung claimed that if Catholics used the Confession for ALL of their sins, and were thorough in their introspections beforehand, they would bankrupt most psychiatrists!

I think my Pastor may be trying to see if he can get my parish to try that out.

In Jesus, Michael
 
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QuicumqueVult:
Here is the first of two Rites for auricular confession (Reconciliation of Penitents) in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (ECUSA). It is the one I prefer when hearing confessions (the penitent may choose which rite to use).

Form One

The Penitent begins

Bless me, for I have sinned.

The Priest says

The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips that you may
truly and humbly confess your sins: In the Name of the
Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Penitent

I confess to almighty God, to his Church, and to you, that
I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially__________. For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy on me. I firmly intend
amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church, and ask you for counsel, direction, and absolution.

Here the Priest may offer counsel, direction, and comfort.

The Priest then pronounces this absolution

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to
absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of
his great mercy forgive you all your offenses; and by his
authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.

or this

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself to be sacrificed
for us to the Father, and who conferred power on his Church to forgive sins, absolve you through my ministry by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and restore you in the perfect peace of the Church. *Amen. *

The Priest adds

The Lord has put away all your sins.

Penitent Thanks be to God.

The Priest concludes

Go (or abide) in peace, and pray for me, a sinner.

*Declaration of Forgiveness *to be used by a Deacon or Lay Person

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself to be sacrificed
for us to the Father, forgives your sins by the grace of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Notice the “absolvo te” (“I absolve you from all your sins:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.”)

Hope this helps.
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What about binding sins? Layperson?
 
I was raised Lutheran, the first five minutes or so is the Confession and Absolution portion, where the Pastor reads some prayers, the congregation does some in response, there is a silence for “reflection on God’s Word and self-examination” where the people confess on a personal level individually, and then the Pastor says the Absolution. The service then moves on.
 
Absolutely. As is said in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.
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who wrote the 1928 BCP? where does it get its authority if at all? does it have any authority?
 
oat soda:
who wrote the 1928 BCP? where does it get its authority if at all? does it have any authority?
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A committee.

And I’m not aware of any book that possesses authority (obvious exception noted, bien entiendu. Authority resides in institutions and individuals.

GKC
 
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jamesclaude:
Poor things! They don’t even know Latin…
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Yeah, we generally don’t mess around with a dead language. I mean, Latin is, for all intensive purposes, a dead langauge unless you’re a historian or in the science/medical field.
 
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