Protestants how to you get by without confession

[Tommy999]

I can not speak for the Orthodox, but this is very wrong from a Catholic perspective. A Catholic priest can not require someone to turn them selves in as a penance, nor can they deny absolution until a person agrees to turn themselves in. It can only be encouraged.

For those interested, here is a reply from Fr. Charles Grondin in the “ask a apologist” forum:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=834297

Thanks for correcting that, CatholicSheila.

By the way, are most Catholic confessions done face to face with a priest or is there some sort of screen or covered booth that prevents the two from seeing each other like I saw in some old Catholic cathedrals in Europe? Just curious.

 

[byzantium]

The “Protetants” as they call themselves, dont have a valid priesthood. Therefore their sacraments are invalid. Its just a man or even women dressed up to look like a priest, he/she has no more power to forgive sins than i do.

 

[benhur]

benhur;12246182:

I found when I was a Protestant I would justify every poor choice when I didn’t have the guidance of confession. When I would confess without a priest I would here a background voice say things like “everyone does that it isn’t a real sin”, “you only have to go to church to get fed”, “porn will improve your marriage it isn’t sinful”. So now talking to a church authority I can clearly know what is a voice from God or an evil one

And as a priest once asked me, could not Jesus and the Holy Spirit tell you that stuff (pretty basic stuff) or as Augustine said, He teaches us, not withstanding good teaching , from the pulpit or scripture study ?

 

[SteveVH]

I can not speak for the Orthodox, but this is very wrong from a Catholic perspective. A Catholic priest can not require someone to turn them selves in as a penance, nor can they deny absolution until a person agrees to turn themselves in. It can only be encouraged.

For those interested, here is a reply from Fr. Charles Grondin in the “ask a apologist” forum:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=834297

What you say is true, however a priest can deny absolution if the person confessing expresses no intention of stopping a particular behavior. This is very common where we have two people living together out of wedlock. They may want to confess but unless they intend to change the situation the priest may not grant absolution. There must be an express intent to repent; to stop the behavior and turn to God.

“I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin, amen.” (Act of Contrition)

If we have a serial bank robber the same would apply. But the priest can never require, as a requirement for absolution, that the person confess his sin to another.

 

[Tomyris]

What you say is true, however a priest can deny absolution if the person confessing expresses no intention of stopping a particular behavior. This is very common where we have two people living together out of wedlock. They may want to confess but unless they intend to change the situation the priest may not grant absolution. There must be an express intent to repent; to stop the behavior and turn to God.

“I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin, amen.” (Act of Contrition)

If we have a serial bank robber the same would apply. But the priest can never require, as a requirement for absolution, that the person confess his sin to another.

I think there is such a thing as restitution. He does not get to keep the money. He owes society a debt, and he would be turning himself in to acknowledge that, not to his detriment, but to his improvement.

Perhaps I left something out, not being Orthodox. Since we are talking about Catholic practice here, what would the priest say about the bag of loot the robber brought into the confessional?

 

[dronald]

The “Protetants” as they call themselves, dont have a valid priesthood. Therefore their sacraments are invalid. Its just a man or even women dressed up to look like a priest, he/she has no more power to forgive sins than i do.

This seems like an odd concept to me; the idea that a man can sincerely be upset about one’s sins and confess to the person while seeking forgiveness from God, then in turn God says, “sorry, but that man isn’t good enough to forgive your sins so tough luck.”

 

[QNDNNDQDCE]

But that really doesn’t relate to the OP’s question. The fact that the way we as Lutherans practice and participate in the sacrament of Confession/Holy Absolution differs in part because we view mortal and venial sins differently, though not in the manner that you describe in the last sentence.

You are probably right that what I said does not accurately represent Lutheran teaching on “the keys,” but I think that is probably at least the thought of most Protestants who practice private confession. It is hard to be completely fair when you are trying to make broad generalizations.

As for Lutherans in particular, if not in official doctrine, what I said nevertheless appears to be the case in practice. From my own observation, the practice of private confession is entirely neglected or at best rarely practiced among most Lutherans. As to Lutheran doctrine, my understanding is that even Lutherans with a high regard for the sacrament of confession (or as they prefer it, absolution) would not hold that it is necessary for salvation as Catholics do. That was really what I was getting at. My point is not that Protestants can’t counsel each other because of their diverging views and practices, which might be inferred from the OP, but rather that Protestants, even if they do practice private confession, as Andrew pointed out, do not believe the same things about it as Catholics, so they have a parallel thing and not the same thing as Catholics. That’s all I meant. Nothing more or less.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

You are probably right that what I said does not accurately represent Lutheran teaching on “the keys,” but I think that is probably at least the thought of most Protestants who practice private confession. It is hard to be completely fair when you are trying to make broad generalizations.

As for Lutherans in particular, if not in official doctrine, what I said nevertheless appears to be the case in practice. From my own observation, the practice of private confession is entirely neglected or at best rarely practiced among most Lutherans. As to Lutheran doctrine, my understanding is that even Lutherans with a high regard for the sacrament of confession (or as they prefer it, absolution) would not hold that it is necessary for salvation as Catholics do. That was really what I was getting at. My point is not that Protestants can’t counsel each other because of their diverging views and practices, which might be inferred from the OP, but rather that Protestants, even if they do practice private confession, as Andrew pointed out, do not believe the same things about it as Catholics, so they have a parallel thing and not the same thing as Catholics. That’s all I meant. Nothing more or less.

You make some interesting points. Could you identify where Lutheran and Catholic teaching varies concerning private confession?

And you are correct about Lutheran irregularity in the confessional. My own parish and probably most local Lutherans offer Holy Absolution before Mass or other times during the week but there are no lines like one would see in a Catholic parish. Often the sacrament is practiced at the bedside of those hospitalized; both Confession and Communion and always at retreats.

Lutherans believe/ practice the Seal of Confession.

 

[QNDNNDQDCE]

You make some interesting points. Could you identify where Lutheran and Catholic teaching varies concerning private confession?

And you are correct about Lutheran irregularity in the confessional. My own parish and probably most local Lutherans offer Holy Absolution before Mass or other times during the week but there are no lines like one would see in a Catholic parish. Often the sacrament is practiced at the bedside of those hospitalized; both Confession and Communion and always at retreats.

Lutherans believe/ practice the Seal of Confession.

I am definitely not the person to whom you ought to ask that question since I don’t fully understand what Lutherans believe.

Luther’s Small Catechism states,

Confession embraces two parts: the one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no wise doubt, but firmly believe, that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.
bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#confession

Taken alone, this would seem to be an affirmation of the Catholic view of the sacrament. However, this is complicated by the fact the Catholic view of the sacrament is seemingly rejected in every other place in which it is discussed. Luther in the Smalcald Articles denies the obligation for Christians to specifically enumerate sins.

But the enumeration of sins ought to be free to every one, as to what he wishes to enumerate or not to enumerate. For as long as we are in the flesh, we shall not lie when we say: “I am a poor man *, full of sin.” Rom. 7:23: I see another law in my members, etc. For since private absolution originates in the Office of the Keys, it should not be despised [neglected], but greatly and highly esteemed [of the greatest worth], as [also] all other offices of the Christian Church.
(III.8.2)

This is treated at greater length in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession. On the other hand, the Council of Trent says,

If any one saith, that, in the sacrament of Penance, it is not necessary, of divine right, for the remission of sins, to confess all and singular the mortal sins which after due and diligent previous meditation are remembered, even those (mortal sins) which are secret, and those which are opposed to the two last commandments of the Decalogue, as also the circumstances which change the species of a sin; but (saith) that such confession is only useful to instruct and console the penitent, and that it was of old only observed in order to impose a canonical satisfaction; or saith that they, who strive to confess all their sins, wish to leave nothing to the divine mercy to pardon ; or, finally, that it is not lawful to confess venial sins ; let him be anathema.
(Session 14, “On Penance,” Canon 7)

You can read Luther’s “Brief Admonition to Confession,” which is sometimes grouped with his Large Catechism. It raises some questions in my mind, such as, do Lutherans view private confession before a priest as something substantially different from saying a prayer alone or a liturgical Confiteor? Do Lutherans view a priest’s role in confession as something different from that which could be exercised by a layman? The sacrament of penance often comes across more as one useful form of counseling among many equally valid methods to reassure weak consciences than as a “second plank after shipwreck.”

bookofconcord.org/exhortationConfession.php

The teaching of the Lutheran Confession is obscured by the fact that they too often devolve into vulgar polemics against “the papists” and “the tyranny of the pope.” St. Francis de Sales wrote, “You read the writings of Calvin, of Zwingle, of Luther. Take out of these, I beg you, the railings, calumnies, insults, detraction, ridicule and buffoonery which they contain against the Pope and the Holy See of Rome, and you will find that nothing will remain.”

Just my own thoughts.*

 

[SteveVH]

This seems like an odd concept to me; the idea that a man can sincerely be upset about one’s sins and confess to the person while seeking forgiveness from God, then in turn God says, “sorry, but that man isn’t good enough to forgive your sins so tough luck.”

This is not a matter of a person not being “good enough” to forgive or not forgive. I can forgive you for an offense against me but I cannot forgive you for an offense against God or another.

Christ gave the authority to forgive sins to the Apostles and their successors, not to the general public. This is the ordinary means of forgiveness established by Christ for his Church. Unless one is validly ordained they do not have the authority to administer a sacrament. However, if one has perfect contrition for their sins (not an easy thing), through the virtue of penance (not the sacrament) one can also be forgiven. But Christ gave the Church the authority to forgive sins for a reason. This wasn’t some “off the cuff” statement. It is a shame that many Christians have no access to this most wonderful source of grace and peace. It is what Christ intended.

Peace.

Steve

 

[SteveVH]

I think there is such a thing as restitution. He does not get to keep the money. He owes society a debt, and he would be turning himself in to acknowledge that, not to his detriment, but to his improvement.

Perhaps I left something out, not being Orthodox. Since we are talking about Catholic practice here, what would the priest say about the bag of loot the robber brought into the confessional?

Yes, you are correct. Three things that are absolutely necessary in receiving absolution are contrition, confession, and satisfaction. Here is what the Catechism has to say:

1448 Beneath the changes in discipline and celebration that this sacrament has undergone over the centuries, the same fundamental structure is to be discerned. It comprises two equally essential elements: on the one hand, the acts of the man who undergoes conversion through the action of the Holy Spirit: namely, contrition, confession, and satisfaction; on the other, God’s action through the intervention of the Church. The Church, who through the bishop and his priests forgives sins in the name of Jesus Christ and determines the manner of satisfaction, also prays for the sinner and does penance with him. Thus the sinner is healed and re-established in ecclesial communion.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I am definitely not the person to whom you ought to ask that question since I don’t fully understand what Lutherans believe.

Luther’s Small Catechism states,

Confession embraces two parts: the one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no wise doubt, but firmly believe, that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.
bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#confession

Taken alone, this would seem to be an affirmation of the Catholic view of the sacrament. However, this is complicated by the fact the Catholic view of the sacrament is seemingly rejected in every other place in which it is discussed. Luther in the Smalcald Articles denies the obligation for Christians to specifically enumerate sins.

But the enumeration of sins ought to be free to every one, as to what he wishes to enumerate or not to enumerate. For as long as we are in the flesh, we shall not lie when we say: "I am a poor man , full of sin." Rom. 7:23: I see another law in my members, etc. For since private absolution originates in the Office of the Keys, it should not be despised [neglected], but greatly and highly esteemed [of the greatest worth], as [also] all other offices of the Christian Church.
(III.8.2)

This is treated at greater length in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession. On the other hand, the Council of Trent says,

If any one saith, that, in the sacrament of Penance, it is not necessary, of divine right, for the remission of sins, to confess all and singular the mortal sins which after due and diligent previous meditation are remembered, even those (mortal sins) which are secret, and those which are opposed to the two last commandments of the Decalogue, as also the circumstances which change the species of a sin; but (saith) that such confession is only useful to instruct and console the penitent, and that it was of old only observed in order to impose a canonical satisfaction; or saith that they, who strive to confess all their sins, wish to leave nothing to the divine mercy to pardon ; or, finally, that it is not lawful to confess venial sins ; let him be anathema.
(Session 14, “On Penance,” Canon 7)

You can read Luther’s “Brief Admonition to Confession,” which is sometimes grouped with his Large Catechism. It raises some questions in my mind, such as, do Lutherans view private confession before a priest as something substantially different from saying a prayer alone or a liturgical Confiteor? Do Lutherans view a priest’s role in confession as something different from that which could be exercised by a layman? The sacrament of penance often comes across more as one useful form of counseling among many equally valid methods to reassure weak consciences than as a “second plank after shipwreck.”

bookofconcord.org/exhortationConfession.php

The teaching of the Lutheran Confession is obscured by the fact that they too often devolve into vulgar polemics against “the papists” and “the tyranny of the pope.” St. Francis de Sales wrote, “You read the writings of Calvin, of Zwingle, of Luther. Take out of these, I beg you, the railings, calumnies, insults, detraction, ridicule and buffoonery which they contain against the Pope and the Holy See of Rome, and you will find that nothing will remain.”

Just my own thoughts.

Thank you, that is a wealth of information. The ordination vow includes absolving sins. Why would Lutherans practice holy Absolution if a layman could do it? I believe, however that a layman could say the words of assurance, in the absence of a pastor. I need Jon’s insight.

 

[dronald]

This is not a matter of a person not being “good enough” to forgive or not forgive. I can forgive you for an offense against me but I cannot forgive you for an offense against God or another.

Christ gave the authority to forgive sins to the Apostles and their successors, not to the general public. This is the ordinary means of forgiveness established by Christ for his Church. Unless one is validly ordained they do not have the authority to administer a sacrament. However, if one has perfect contrition for their sins (not an easy thing), through the virtue of penance (not the sacrament) one can also be forgiven. But Christ gave the Church the authority to forgive sins for a reason. This wasn’t some “off the cuff” statement. It is a shame that many Christians have no access to this most wonderful source of grace and peace. It is what Christ intended.

Peace.

Steve

I understand what you believe, I just don’t believe God holds your sins against you depending on who you confess to.

I believe a sincere heart seeking repentance and forgiveness shall be forgiven by God. Just seems like a pretty Christian concept to me.

 

[SteveVH]

I understand what you believe, I just don’t believe God holds your sins against you depending on who you confess to.

I believe a sincere heart seeking repentance and forgiveness shall be forgiven by God. Just seems like a pretty Christian concept to me.

Why do you think Christ said to his Apostles:

"Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)

Jesus sent the Apostles just as He had been sent by the Father and with that he gave them his own authority. He then breathes on them, only the second time God breathed upon mankind. Very significant. He gives them the Holy Spirit and simultaneously the authority to forgive sins.

You must deal with this fact. This was an incredibly important moment and we cannot just ignore it and say “well I believe this instead”.

 

[dronald]

Why do you think Christ said to his Apostles:

"Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)

Jesus sent the Apostles just as He had been sent by the Father and with that he gave them his own authority. He then breathes on them, only the second time God breathed upon mankind. Very significant. He gives them the Holy Spirit and simultaneously the authority to forgive sins.

You must deal with this fact. This was an incredibly important moment and we cannot just ignore it and say “well I believe this instead”.

Aren’t we all a Priesthood? Don’t we all receive the Holy Spirit?

 

[Starrsmother]

All good info. Just curious, SteveVH. Can you describe what some of these aids to confession are and you do have any links to them? I am always open to confessing my sins more effectively to God.

I can only speak for myself, but I meditate on my life before I confess my sins to God and do an in-depth examination of conscience to the best of my ability, but occasionally I may overlook a sin when I confess to God in prayer only to remember it later. Then I do a quick P.S. prayer. If I were Catholic, I’d have to go back to the parish priest, right?

I see definite benefits in “the confessing of sins to one another” and I see a lot of value and truth in the Catholic Sacrament of Confession. However, I sometimes wonder how Catholics escape the trap of Scrupulosity, from which many Catholics suffer, or so I’ve heard.

Since the Catholic belief is that some sins are mortal and can cause a person to fall from God’s grace and cause serious problems to their standing with God if a Catholic commits one and then dies before he/she is able to go to Confession/Reconciliation, I could see why some Catholic Christians would risk being in a constant state of worry and therefore seek frequent appointments to see a priest for confession during the week.

Those who tend to have OCD issues would be particularly vulnerable to this, I would think, but maybe I’m wrong on that.

I don’t know of many protestants with scupulosity issues, although the other side of the coin is that some protestants tend to rationalize away certain sins, like you and Adamski described, which is also dangerous to one’s spiritual well being.

I left the church for over 30 years–have been back 3+ years. I made my first confession after 30 years on the eve of my mom’s funeral so I could go to communion at her funeral Mass. It was an “okay” confession but hardly in depth as what with the death of my mother, making funeral arrangements etc, I didn’t really have time to do any kind of in depth examination of my conscience… After that, I really began to put thought into it and remembered a couple of specific sins I felt I should have confessed and so I went back to confession in a couple of weeks and confessed those sins too. Then, as I became more and more involved in the church and prayer, it seemed like I’d wake up in the middle of the night and think “OH NO! I forgot to confess that too” and back I’d go to confessin. I’m a retired nurse practitioner and the last time I did this was when I woke up about 0300 and thought “What about all those IUDs you put in and birth control pills you prescribed?” So, back I went to confession. That time, after hearing my confession, Father told me that I was on the very verge of getting into scrupulosity and he said, “Let’s make this a general confession too. You were gone 30 years and it’s unrealistic for you to remember everything you sinned and did over 30 years. So when we finish this confession, why don’t you express sincere sorrow for all the sins of your past life–including both mortal and venial sins that are slowly coming back to you, and whether you specifically remember them or not and I’ll give you absolution and then you start fresh from today.” SO, I did that—basically said I was sincerely and heartfeltly sorry for any sin I’d committed during my time away from the church, whether I had remembered the specific sin or not. Father gave me what I’d call a “blanket absolution” for everything and then he told me that he had experienced what I was going through many times when people fell away for a long time and then came back–that there’s so much general guilt that it gets to where they never really feel they’ve made a good confession because they can always remember one more sin they committed. He sad that the important thing is that I accept that Jesus sees that I am trying to come back to Him and that He forgives me and I needed to let myself off the hook a little so that I can accept the grace of confession and move forward in my spiritual life. I hope he’s right–it did make a kind of sense to me—and I am trying very hard to be the person that God wants me to be. I now say part of the Breviary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a Rosary daily among other prayers. I go to confession monthly and to daily Mass when I can–which isn’t as often as I’d like. But I am starting to feel forgiven and to have some peace–which for a long time I didn’t.

 

[Tommy999]

I left the church for over 30 years–have been back 3+ years. I made my first confession after 30 years on the eve of my mom’s funeral so I could go to communion at her funeral Mass. It was an “okay” confession but hardly in depth as what with the death of my mother, making funeral arrangements etc, I didn’t really have time to do any kind of in depth examination of my conscience… After that, I really began to put thought into it and remembered a couple of specific sins I felt I should have confessed and so I went back to confession in a couple of weeks and confessed those sins too. Then, as I became more and more involved in the church and prayer, it seemed like I’d wake up in the middle of the night and think “OH NO! I forgot to confess that too” and back I’d go to confessin. I’m a retired nurse practitioner and the last time I did this was when I woke up about 0300 and thought “What about all those IUDs you put in and birth control pills you prescribed?” So, back I went to confession. That time, after hearing my confession, Father told me that I was on the very verge of getting into scrupulosity and he said, “Let’s make this a general confession too. You were gone 30 years and it’s unrealistic for you to remember everything you sinned and did over 30 years. So when we finish this confession, why don’t you express sincere sorrow for all the sins of your past life–including both mortal and venial sins that are slowly coming back to you, and whether you specifically remember them or not and I’ll give you absolution and then you start fresh from today.” SO, I did that—basically said I was sincerely and heartfeltly sorry for any sin I’d committed during my time away from the church, whether I had remembered the specific sin or not. Father gave me what I’d call a “blanket absolution” for everything and then he told me that he had experienced what I was going through many times when people fell away for a long time and then came back–that there’s so much general guilt that it gets to where they never really feel they’ve made a good confession because they can always remember one more sin they committed. He sad that the important thing is that I accept that Jesus sees that I am trying to come back to Him and that He forgives me and I needed to let myself off the hook a little so that I can accept the grace of confession and move forward in my spiritual life. I hope he’s right–it did make a kind of sense to me—and I am trying very hard to be the person that God wants me to be. I now say part of the Breviary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a Rosary daily among other prayers. I go to confession monthly and to daily Mass when I can–which isn’t as often as I’d like. But I am starting to feel forgiven and to have some peace–which for a long time I didn’t.

Glad to hear you have peace now, Starrsmother. I am happy for you and hope all works out for you in the future. Sounds like you have a wise priest who is a good counselor.

 

[Rochester]

The sacrament of Reconciliation is not an option in the Catholic Church. It is a requirement, a minimum of once a year and immediately if one has fallen into serious sin. Monthly confession is recommended by every priest I have ever known.

Catholics cannot just pick and choose what they like and leave the rest behind because they may be uncomfortable.

I don’t know of anyone that is “comfortable” going to confession and it is easy to rationalize and procrastinate, but when you make a good confession and hear the words of absolution in the name of God, something truly amazing happens that is perceptible. I thank God for the sacrament each time I go, but always after and not so much before .

Try it. You’ll like it.

Yes, thanks Steve and you are completely right, and I used to go to confession and have peace afterwards, but gradually OCD issues got complicated and I came to dread the process of this important sacrament, so sometimes I react in anger about it on a discussion and I regret it after!

My last confession was healing and I may try it again at some point. In the meantime I don’t receive communion until that is resolved.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I feel that I can speak on this as my mother grew up Protestant and converted quite a ways into my parents’ marriage. Simply put, they believe that their faith in Jesus Christ saves them and that they can pray privately for the forgiveness that they need. My mother probably has only had one confession when she first converted a little over 10 years ago. I try to confess at least once a year, but to be honest, I don’t ever feel this pull that I am going to fall apart without a confession. I think that although I am a “cradle Catholic”, my mother did not set that example of “Catholic guilt” for me and so I don’t panic about confession (dad isn’t all that devout). I do like talking with the priest and feel better for having done it, but I can’t say that my guilt when I haven’t been in a while eats at me. I don’t know…maybe it should…

 

[SteveVH]

I left the church for over 30 years–have been back 3+ years. I made my first confession after 30 years on the eve of my mom’s funeral so I could go to communion at her funeral Mass. It was an “okay” confession but hardly in depth as what with the death of my mother, making funeral arrangements etc, I didn’t really have time to do any kind of in depth examination of my conscience… After that, I really began to put thought into it and remembered a couple of specific sins I felt I should have confessed and so I went back to confession in a couple of weeks and confessed those sins too. Then, as I became more and more involved in the church and prayer, it seemed like I’d wake up in the middle of the night and think “OH NO! I forgot to confess that too” and back I’d go to confessin. I’m a retired nurse practitioner and the last time I did this was when I woke up about 0300 and thought “What about all those IUDs you put in and birth control pills you prescribed?” So, back I went to confession. That time, after hearing my confession, Father told me that I was on the very verge of getting into scrupulosity and he said, “Let’s make this a general confession too. You were gone 30 years and it’s unrealistic for you to remember everything you sinned and did over 30 years. So when we finish this confession, why don’t you express sincere sorrow for all the sins of your past life–including both mortal and venial sins that are slowly coming back to you, and whether you specifically remember them or not and I’ll give you absolution and then you start fresh from today.” SO, I did that—basically said I was sincerely and heartfeltly sorry for any sin I’d committed during my time away from the church, whether I had remembered the specific sin or not. Father gave me what I’d call a “blanket absolution” for everything and then he told me that he had experienced what I was going through many times when people fell away for a long time and then came back–that there’s so much general guilt that it gets to where they never really feel they’ve made a good confession because they can always remember one more sin they committed. He sad that the important thing is that I accept that Jesus sees that I am trying to come back to Him and that He forgives me and I needed to let myself off the hook a little so that I can accept the grace of confession and move forward in my spiritual life. I hope he’s right–it did make a kind of sense to me—and I am trying very hard to be the person that God wants me to be. I now say part of the Breviary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a Rosary daily among other prayers. I go to confession monthly and to daily Mass when I can–which isn’t as often as I’d like. But I am starting to feel forgiven and to have some peace–which for a long time I didn’t.

Praise God! A priest once told me “God forgives your sins and remembers them no more. That’s the easy part. Now, go and live like you have been forgiven”. Sometimes it is more difficult to forgive ourselves, but we must because God has. When God no longer remembers your sin it no longer exists.