Priest response to TLM leaves me stunned

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ProVobis said:
I don’t know about your particular priest but I think a priest who asks for too many details or gives harsh penances (not that he shouldn’t) isn’t going to get popular too fast.
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I had a priest raise his voice at me once and said, “I cannot grant you forgiveness unless you are absolutely sure that you will never, ever do that again!!!” I was never seen at that parish ever again :eek:
 
ConstantineTG said:
I had a priest raise his voice at me once and said, “I cannot grant you forgiveness unless you are absolutely sure that you will never, ever do that again!!!” I was never seen at that parish ever again :eek:
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Well, you have to be resolved not to sin again but we still are human and don’t like to add that extra stress into the forgiving process. It’s almost like promising someone you absolutely won’t get a traffic ticket again. I don’t blame you for going elsewhere.
 
Pro Vobis,

**You wrote: ** *Well, you have to be resolved not to sin again but we still are human and don’t like to add that extra stress into the forgiving process. It’s almost like promising someone you absolutely won’t get a traffic ticket again. I don’t blame you for going elsewhere. *​

Questions like these so often lead to tensions between Pelagianism, on the one hand, either the priest or the penitent thinking that one can resist sin again successfully by his own efforts, including the fault of scrupulosity, an obsession with minutiae of right and wrong down to the most tiny infractions that can trivialise the whole matter of sin, involving that “stress” of which you wrote, or, on the other hand, to blithe Antinomian indifference to the seriousness of sin, which can lead us to coddle ourselves unjustifiably.

Confession should be a blessing, however many times we fall prey to the same, tiresome old sins, and not be a torment to endure. A priest, like a penitent, really should realise that it is not our efforts alone that prevent and avoid sin and to remember that our merciful Lord is willing to forgive, even over and over again, not just to be a stern and inexorable Judge. Rigour has its faults, too, and can lead to the sinner despairing, to losing hope, as does dismissal of how sin offends God, which can make one careless. The Confessional and the confessor is there for every step of our battles, not just for some elusive final victory.

Pax, Jerry
 
Not for anything, folks, but isn’t it time for a new thread? This one started out in the EF and is now in Penance. Two different Sacraments. Two different threads. Just my :twocents: and MHO.
 
Hey rben20,

Just curious if you have any updates? I am and I’m sure others are curious to know how things thing progresses. Please keep us informed, perhaps by starting another thread–this one has gone off in too many directions.

Thanks and you’re in my prayers!🙂
 
Malphono,

**You wrote: ** Not for anything, folks, but isn’t it time for a new thread? This one started out in the EF and is now in Penance. Two different Sacraments. Two different threads. Just my and MHO.​

You’re right, of course, but there is a common thread, i.e. the matter of worthy reception of the Holy Sacrament, without becoming too obsessed with scrupulosity on that matter. The Eucharist is a sacrament, above all, of Grace. On the other hand, that has less to do with the matter of the T.L.M. vs. the Novus Ordo, so, you’re right for other reasons.

Pax, Jerry Parker
 
If you wish to continue the discussion on penance, feel free to start a thread under that heading. This thread is CLOSED. Thank you for participating.
 
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