Reconciliation the old way?

[followerofGod]

I was listening to someone talking about how the Sacrament of penance came to be and how it was done in the old testament.
from bringing a clean animal sacrifice and going before the Priest and all the public where you would have to announce your sins to all and then kill the animal and hand it piece by piece to the priest so he could offer it. and something like you could do this only 3 times ever.

I understand why we don’t need the animal sacrifice anymore because of Jesus, but I don’t understand why we no longer have to confess them publicly. and where did 3 times to receive this sacrament come from and how did it become infinite times?

peace.

 

[jediliz]

I’m not a “Traditionalist” Catholic, but I’ve never heard of this before. I do believe there’s something about the confidentiality of confessional that forbids the priest to even tell the authorities if a murderer confessed.

Why would anyone want their sins publicly announced?

 

[newone]

I’m not a “Traditionalist” Catholic, but I’ve never heard of this before. I do believe there’s something about the confidentiality of confessional that forbids the priest to even tell the authorities if a murderer confessed.

Why would anyone want their sins publicly announced?

It was an act of humility. someone who had to confess sin in public was well as anyone can guess really humiliated. made the experience much more harsh. You would do it if you were worried about your soul.

Now the priest is under oath to not speak about any confessions made by anyone. I don’t really know why the public tradition changed.

 

[mchale]

There was no sacrament of penance in the Old Testament. All the sacraments were instituted by Jesus. Even marriage which has existed since the beginning of mankind was not a sacrament until the wedding feast of Cana.

In any case, it is true that the regulations for penance have changed over time. Originally you got one shot and may have had to do it publicly… now we can go frequently. Ultimately, the Church recognized that the earlier regulations on the sacrament encouraged people to put off confession until shortly before death or worse, to rationalize away their sins. Dispensing the grace of the sacrament is far more important than doing it in a way that brings attention to others of the penitant’s sinfulness.

–
Bill