Nobody at Confession...Everyone for Eucharist?

[JoeyWarren]

This does not mean we have to give up all the pleasures of life for active prayer time.

I don’t think I implied that.

I will ask the question again since no one has answered it yet:

**Let me pose this question to anyone?

What would you be doing with your time if all technology was lost because the production of Electricity had disappeared? What would you be doing with your mind to replace the void left by the absence of Music, Television, and the Computer and othe things that take your attention span away from God?

What would happened if the entire planet was hit with an EMP weapon? Imagine your life without any Utilities in your home? How many of you would not survive?

My honest opinion in post #44 is based (name removed by moderator)art on this premise.**

 

[Pug]

What would happened if the entire planet was hit with an EMP weapon? Imagine your life without any Utilities in your home? How many of you would not survive?

There are several changes this would cause in my life. First, I would freeze without utilities. I cannot go out and chop wood. I need someone else to do those things for me. Also, I would spend a much larger time on things like getting clothing washed, etc. But surely that wasn’t what you meant?

Second, I would no longer come to Catholic Answers nor read Church documents online. So I would end up buying a few more things, like some hardcopies. I’m not sure what I would do to replace the socialization here at CA. Probably it would not be replaced, unless I went to live with someone else on account of the utilities. So, the likely substitution could be novels, which currently I don’t read. Prayer and study require a keen mind, which I rarely have, hence my presence here. I find it easy enough to pray for a poster now and then, though.

Third, I’d no longer have email at work. Yea!! Yippee!!

 

[LilyM]

Well gee, what if shock horror everything I do today is pleasurable? - if I enjoy my sleep, enjoy eating, enjoy my work, enjoy my tv, computer and other leisure activities, enjoy talking to my friends?

By your logic I have to spend twelve hours praying to ‘make up’ for it. As if enjoying God’s creation and the good things he has given us isn’t loving Him who gave them as well.

I do think you have it all wrong Joey. And yes, in your scenario I might find it difficult, though hardly impossible, to adjust to life without the things I’m used to. Not because I love them, let alone loving them more than God. Simply because I’m used to them and human beings are creatures of habit.

 

[Tom317]

Here’s the thing about confession in many parishes: It is not difficult to run the numbers.

If the parish has 4,000 families, and only 10 people a week show-up for confession (very common), then there is a very good likelihood that a very large percentage of the parishioners are not even going to confession once a year (10 X 52 = 520; many of those 520 are repeat goers, so that means something less then 10% of the parishiners go to confession at least once a year…not a good thing).

My question is: Since the numbers are easy to run, why aren’t the Priests clamoring for people to go to confession? I really think a lot of Catholics believe it is a dead sacrament, meant only for kids.

 

[Rara_Avis]

Seriously though, I agree w/ pnewton that a mortal sin isn’t easy for a faithful Catholic to commit.

I think the key word there is “faithful” … I am pretty sure that most Catholics on this forum consider themselves “Faithful” - that is why they even take the time to chat here because their religion is something relevent in their lives.

But seriously folks the statistics are RAMPANT - I wish I had a few at my finger tips to rattle off for you. The percentage of Catholics that believe in abortion, evolution, practice birth control, are divorced (or having affairs), pre marital sex and all those other sins of the flesh, deny doctrines etc. or hey here is a real common one - lack of refraining from eating meat on Friday or doing an act of charity or penance in its place … how many people do you think practice THAT - and like it or not that is a MORTAL sin.

 

[Rara_Avis]

I really think a lot of Catholics believe it is a dead sacrament, meant only for kids.

I really think that the Catholic Church as been so busy telling everyone how good and wonderful they are … that they actually believe they are - so there is no need for Confession.

Truth is an absolute - and this thought as pretty much been abolished too. Truth is now what ever you want it to be… and we are paying for it.

 

[pnewton]

Again go get “Larry Richards” “Confession” CD at the Mary Foundation.

Or just read the catechism. That is the source of Catholic teaching on the matter. Full consent of the will is a requirement of mortal sin (along with grave matter).

 

[LilyM]

You really think the Church alone is at fault? Much as it may be lacking in catechesis in the areas of sin and personal responsibility for same, the Catholic Church is still probably the place where you have by far the best chance of hearing such things even whispered about or hinted at.

 

[JoeyWarren]

Full Consent of the Will.

We are called to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
We are called to have no other Gods.

What is the implication of those two above? It means you cannot skip a day in your worship of God and if prayer is the only way to worship God on a day that you don’t go to mass, then prayer to God is what is needed to fulfill the 1st commandment.

Forgetting to give glory and praise to God on any giving day is a mortal sin. Because something during the course of that day caused you not to give praise and glory to God and that Something became an “Other God”

 

[JoeyWarren]

Well gee, what if shock horror everything I do today is pleasurable? - if I enjoy my sleep, enjoy eating, enjoy my work, enjoy my tv, computer and other leisure activities, enjoy talking to my friends?

Lets evaluate each one:

Sleep : A neccessity given by God. It’s not a pleasure alone.

Eating : A neccessity given by God. It’s not a pleasure alone.

Work : A neccessity for Survival. It’s not a pleasure alone.

Talking to Friends : A necessity. unless if it causes you not to give God his due… It’s not a pleasure alone.

Child Care : A necessity by God’s design of us. It’s not a pleasure alone.

TV, Computer, Other Liesure Activities : These are WANTS, Not NEEDS. These are not required by God’s design of us.

How about making the distinction between things that are pleasureable and necessary and those things that are pleasureable and not necessary?

 

[pnewton]

Full Consent of the Will.

We are called to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
We are called to have no other Gods.

What is the implication of those two above? It means you cannot skip a day in your worship of God and if prayer is the only way to worship God on a day that you don’t go to mass, then prayer to God is what is needed to fulfill the 1st commandment.

Forgetting to give glory and praise to God on any giving day is a mortal sin. Because something during the course of that day caused you not to give praise and glory to God and that Something became an “Other God”

I understand what you are saying and will agree that it is sinful. But your syllogism had nothing to do with the will. It only shows that this neglect is sinful. One can not accidently or negligently commit mortal sin.

In any case, in reference to the original poster, since the catechism and catholic theology do not agree with your idea that mortal sin is always occuring, then perhaps this is why many do not feel in such a state of mortal sin.

Another point, what is so special about one day? Could not the same syllogism be applied to a one hour period, or a one minute period? Or a year?

 

[T1Catholic]

I’m reading various books on Church history and there were times early on when confession was only given once in a lifetime, near death for example. Same with baptism, it wasn’t something that was always done as an infant. I’m sure if you ask the apologists on CA, they would be able to confirm that such differences have existed throughout time. To think that the way we are used to things is the only way things have ever been done throughout the Church’s history is not really the case.

 

[fix]

I’m reading various books on Church history and there were times early on when confession was only given once in a lifetime, near death for example. Same with baptism, it wasn’t something that was always done as an infant. I’m sure if you ask the apologists on CA, they would be able to confirm that such differences have existed throughout time. To think that the way we are used to things is the only way things have ever been done throughout the Church’s history is not really the case.

There is used to be public confession in some cases and very harsh penances as well. But, that things were once one way does not mean it is the only way or the correct way for today. The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. We are not simply holy archeologists.

 

[JoeyWarren]

By your logic I have to spend twelve hours praying to ‘make up’ for it. As if enjoying God’s creation and the good things he has given us isn’t loving Him who gave them as well.

Not so. One needs to make an evaluation of what they do in a course of a day. How conducting an experiment? For one month, document every non-essential activity and document how much time you give to God in prayerful worship.

Here is a list of Essential and Neccesary Items:

Work, Eating, Sleeping, Child Rearing, Fellowship with Children, Fellowship with Spouse, and Fellowship with Friends.

PS. I got PM and accused of being self-Righteous. Hell No! I just recognize what mortal sin is and people with our modern technologies which cause us to forget about God and lose sight of what a mortal sin is. I think this comment proves that point.

My question is: Since the numbers are easy to run, why aren’t the Priests clamoring for people to go to confession?** I really think a lot of Catholics believe it is a dead sacrament, meant only for kids.**

TV, Computer, and other technology based activities may be the basis for a decline of confession use. People just don’t see that these things have become the other Gods.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Lets evaluate each one:

TV, Computer, Other Liesure Activities : These are WANTS, Not NEEDS. These are not required by God’s design of us.

So at the time of this post you were on the computer instead of praying.

Well, looks like acording to your theology, you love the computer more than God and are committing mortal sin.

Don’t recieve Communion until you’ve been to confession.

 

[JoeyWarren]

JoeyWarren;1585681:

Lets evaluate each one:
TV, Computer, Other Liesure Activities : These are WANTS, Not NEEDS. These are not required by God’s design of us.

So you’re on the computer instead of praying. Well, looks like acording to your theology, you love the computer more than God and are committing mortal sin.

I am at work. I am an Infomations Systems Professional.

And you missed the point. Evaluate how much time you spend on the computer outside of work and compare it how much time you spend in worshipful prayer and/or prayerful worship of God.

You will find that you, I, and others fall short on the latter when compared. But the vast majority of Catholics don’t think it is a sin, so the we have an eventual decline in confession going.

 

[JoeyWarren]

And since we are on the subject of work and computers?

I get an hour for lunch and 2 fifteen minute breaks. So I am alotted 90 minutes of commenting here at Catholic Answers.

If I use more than my 90 minutes to comment here at Catholic Answers then I am stealing from my company. Some say this is only a venial sin to make themselves feel better. But if you look at it on the larger scale, it’s a Mortal Sin. Why? Let’s say you do 100 minutes instead 90. That’s 10 minutes of theft. So assuming 48 weeks of Work (allowing 4 weeks vacation) that 2400 minutes. that equals to 40 hours. And at 12.50 an hour that equates to Grand Larceny. Most Catholics still don’t think that is a Mortal Sin. Now lets say you have 100 employees that steal 40 hrs each. That’s $20,000 of theft. That must be recovered someway or another. 98% the consumer picks up the tab for this loss.

Either they don’t recognize it as a mortal sin or Confession is truely a dead sacrament.

 

[Pug]

TV, Computer, Other Liesure Activities : These are WANTS, Not NEEDS. These are not required by God’s design of us.

God did not design us to need leisure time, have I understood your point? Or is your point that God did not design us to need leisure time any more often than every seventh day?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

And since we are on the subject of work and computers?

I get an hour for lunch and 2 fifteen minute breaks. So I am alotted 90 minutes of commenting here at Catholic Answers.

If I use more than my 90 minutes to comment here at Catholic Answers then I am stealing from my company. Some say this is only a venial sin to make themselves feel better. But if you look at it on the larger scale, it’s a Mortal Sin. Why? Let’s say you do 100 minutes instead 90. That’s 10 minutes of theft. So assuming 48 weeks of Work (allowing 4 weeks vacation) that 2400 minutes. that equals to 40 hours. And at 12.50 an hour that equates to Grand Larceny. Most Catholics still don’t think that is a Mortal Sin. Now lets say you have 100 employees that steal 40 hrs each. That’s $20,000 of theft. That must be recovered someway or another. 98% the consumer picks up the tab for this loss.

Either they don’t recognize it as a mortal sin or Confession is truely a dead sacrament.

But you could use that time to pray, so obviously you love comming in here more than you love God. Hence, according to your logic, you’re committing mortal sin.

 

[JoeyWarren]

God did not design us to need leisure time, have I understood your point?

Does your leisure time prevent you from giving glory and praise to God. Is your leisure time more important then giving praise and glory to God? Does your leisure time exceed that time which is given to God?

Or is your point that God did not design us to need leisure time any more often than every seventh day?

Do you believe we are only required give glory and praise to God just on the seventh day?

God created us to procreate and to worship him.