SPLIT: Why confess to a priest?

[Pax]

Confession to a priest? I usually answer with the following:

In the book of Genesis we read all about the fall of Adam and Eve and about Cain killing Able. While God knew exactly what had happened and what sins had been committed, God still asks Adam and Eve [see Gen 3:11-14] what they had done. Again, when Cain kills Able in Gen 4:10, God asks Cain “What have you done?” God wants us to confess and it is therefore necessary for us to do so.

So where does the priest fit in? In Leviticus 5:5-6 we have a solid prefiguring/foreshadowing of confession and this is carried over into the New Covenant. In Lev. 5:5-6 it says, “When a man is guilty in any of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed, and he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for the sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.” Note how the penitent must confess and take his sin offering to the priest, and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. This requires knowledge of the sin on the part of the priest.

In the New Testament we have a number of verses that refer to the authority to forgive sins. In Matthew 9:6-8, we read “But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he then said to the paralytic --“Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." Notice how scripture says that such authority had been given to men. This is significant and is not merely a coincidence. This is the inspired word of God.

The question of authority and power to forgive sin is given obviously to Jesus and this is further affirmed in Matthew 28:18 where we are told, "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

So just how is this authority transfered to the apostles and their successors? In John 20:21-23 "Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” This is an incredible set of verses. They are rich in meaning and power. Notice that Jesus sends the apostles in the same way that the Father sent Him. The Father sent Jesus with all power and authority which included the power to forgive sins. So also Jesus sends the apostles. Jesus breathes on the apostles and says, “receive the Holy Spirit.” There is only one other time in all of scripture where God breathes on man, and that is in Genesis when God breathes life into Adam. This is a significant moment in the upper room and it is at this moment that Jesus says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven: if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”

Later in the new testament scriptures we find additional verses that speak to confession and reconciliation. The most significant are the following:

2 Corinthians 5: 17-20
Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

James 5:14-15
Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters [priests] of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (“presbyter” is the root word from which we get the term priest)

James 5:16
Therefore confess you sins to one another….

Matthew 18:18
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (In Jewish culture and faith the power to bind and loose carries a juridical dimension and has application to the forgiveness of sin)

**credit for much of this must be given to apologist John Martignoni.

 

[mtr01]

You’d have to ask Jesus, since He’s the one Who instituted the sacrament of reconciliation. But we don’t confess TO a priest. We confess TO God THROUGH a priest.

St. Paul also talks about this in 2 Cor 5:

18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.

 

[Eileen_T]

All serious sin ultimately stem from PRIDE. Thomas Aquinas wrote "inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin …the root of pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule."

Confession of one’s sins to a priest, OTOH requires humility. It also gives great peace to hear the priest say in Jesus’ name “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

when I have been away from Confession for a couple of months or so, when I come out I feel so light I could be floating.

 

[Mimi]

In the New Testament we have a number of verses that refer to the authority to forgive sins. In Matthew 9:6-8, we read “But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”–he then said to the paralytic --“Rise, take up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." Notice how scripture says that such authority had been given to men. This is significant and is not merely a coincidence. This is the inspired word of God.

Questions such as these usually come down to Authority.

Peace,
Mimi

 

[mercygate]

Fr. John Hollerman, who appeared on The Journey Home on August 20, talked about his first confession as “giving blood.” It isn’t always easy. The first one is often perfect purgatory, which, come to think of it, is what it should be.

But the hard grace of a good confession sure brings home the point that sin is not just a matter of me-and-my-all-loving-all-forgiving-God. All of that spiritual generosity came at a very high price: the Blood of the Cross. Aside from the scriptural warrant to confess to a Priest (BTW, we confess to a Priest rather than to any-old-body because only to the Priesthood is the authority of absolution committed), the emotional and moral force of Confession bears mighty fruit in conversion of life.

 

[VociMike]

Hi All
Confession is very important. I believe that Jesus wanted us to confess our sins for two very important reasons

1. He wanted us to “OWN UP” to the things we have done wrong.
2. If we practice confession, the embarrassment of telling someone about our failures should be enough to help us not give into temptations.

Nowhere in Scripture does it tell that the only person we can confess our sins to is a priest.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said,*** I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD;*** and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Yes, you can confess your sins to anybody you want, and as you point out, there are benefits to doing so.

But only a priest can grant you God’s forgiveness.

 

[VociMike]

I think Protestants try to get off too supeficially by merely confessing to God. There is more accountability when we do it through human beings He has provided.

In a bizarre distortion of reality, some Protestants claim that it’s Catholics who have “easy forgiveness” due to the Sacrament of Confession. To which my reply is, OK, if it’s so easy, go to a priest yourself and confess your sins. He can’t give you absolution since you’re Catholic, but go try it, and then come back and tell us how easy it is.

 

[Subrosa]

I don’t know about yall, but it’s so hard for me to confess that I have to pray for the strength to make my confession and I tremble until I have made it. Afterward it is like stepping out into a clear garden after a rain storm. I feel that that time spent in sin was some kind of insanity and I am relieved and thankful to be rid of it. Absolution is something I am so helpless about. I am so grateful that God forgives me.

When my teenager was going through the Confirmation process he was required to make a confession. We both went on the given day and there were two priests taking confessions. I went to one and he the other at the same time. I finished first and waited for him in the aisle. When he emerged we started to walk down the aisle. He suddenly looked up at me and said, “I feel lighter!”

In John 20:23 Jesus says to His disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” These words are very difficult to misunderstand. Also, it takes a very active imagination to state that they do not mean what they say.

The whole process of the Sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation, Penance) has a very real effect, as demonstrated by my son’s statement after his confession. Making a good confession begins the healing process and reminds us that we are fallible even though we are saved. The Sacrament reconciles us with Christ and is intended to do so by Christ Himself whose intention it was when he established the Tradition in John 20:23.

I, too, was once afraid to approach a priest and confess. But with my understanding that it was initiated by Christ Himself in order to become closer to Him, I now look forward to it and am happy to do it. There is nothing like the emotion I get once the priest says, “I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Subrosa

 

[YinYangMom]

Catholic Answers has in their library the following article from This Rock addressing this very issue. You can read the article here.

 

[Subrosa]

The parable of the prodigal son demonstrates the effect of confession…

The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 11:52)

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

"The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

"But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
" ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ "

 

[pismopal]

When thinking about the differences between Catholic and non Catholic Christian denominations, I generally come to the same conclusion. The non Catholics don’t have the Sacrament of Reconcilliation and they can’t, even if they wanted to. They are believers and sincere believers, most of them…just like Catholics but the split left them without most of the Catholic Sacraments so what do they do…tell their members " sorry, if you want the Sacraments go back to the Church that has them"…no, they tell their flock that they aren’t necessary or un bibical or whatever.
As a convert I consider the Sacrament of Confession to be a Blessing…a refreshing, brilliant…direct way of dealing with sin and even if it weren’t a Sacrament I would love the feeling of telling my confessor what I had done and getting it right.
When you buy a car that is not equipted with something you want, the salesman is going to tell you that it isn’t necessary. Forgive me for being blunt but this is the way I see it and I can’t think of a way to sugar coat it.

 

[Teflon93]

Why do Catholics believe that one must confess to a priest ( a human)… Why not cut out the middle man and go straight to GOD?
…doesn’t make sense to me…

How do you explain Jesus’ granting of binding and loosing authority to the apostles otherwise?

 

[Italia_Petrone]

Why do Catholics believe that one must confess to a priest ( a human)… Why not cut out the middle man and go straight to GOD?
…doesn’t make sense to me…/QUOTE

Today I went to see a priest after so many years I had left the catholic church. He said that if I want to go back to the church I need to go to confession.

 

[pismopal]

Italia Petrone

I am praying for you and welcoming you back home.

 

[Joel_Tunnah]

Hi, I don’t know about your parish, but in mine the entire congregation says the Penitential Rite every sunday, at the beginning of mass.

“I confess, to you my brothers and sisters…”

Doesn’t this satisfy most, if not all, of the scripture references posted above?

 

[YinYangMom]

Hi, I don’t know about your parish, but in mine the entire congregation says the Penitential Rite every sunday, at the beginning of mass.

“I confess, to you my brothers and sisters…”

Doesn’t this satisfy most, if not all, of the scripture references posted above?

That satisfies venial sins, not mortal.
Mortal requires the confessional.
Some venials benefit from the confessional in that the grace conferred in that sacrament is conferred upon the penitent and thus the person walks out of the confessional stronger to resist repeating the sin again.

I’ve always felt the humility necessary to partake in the sacrament of reconciliation is the most important part. Jesus knew what he was doing when he told us to seek forgiveness from the apostles (priests). It is a humbling experience to have to speak one’s sins out loud. Confessing to God in our thoughts or words is easy - too easy - thus we fall into the sin again and again. But when we have to face a confessor, the motivation to not have to experience that humility again serves as a weapon against sin.

So, the act of confession teaches us humility and it confers upon us grace to help us avoid the next occasion of sin.

 

[afitz211]

I think one of the big secrets to confessing to a priest is that you are now accountable to someone else besides yourself. I know that just because I have someone that can make me accountable it does a lot for me becoming a better person and avoiding sin, someone that really cares about the condition of my soul.
The thing I worry about without priestly confession is that you can hear what you want to hear and not really grow from your contact with God. Priestly Confession, at least good priestly confession, helps a person to grow because it’s not what you want it becomes what God wants for your life.
And after a confession I always feel so much better because of the sacramental grace bestowed on me, it feels kind of nice.

 

[Subrosa]

Hi, I don’t know about your parish, but in mine the entire congregation says the Penitential Rite every sunday, at the beginning of mass.

“I confess, to you my brothers and sisters…”

Doesn’t this satisfy most, if not all, of the scripture references posted above?

It does not have the efficacy of priestly confession where absolution is given when honesty and self openess are present. However, It is a general admission and less deadly sins are forgiven.

Sub

 

[Subrosa]

dthurmond;2602541:

Why do Catholics believe that one must confess to a priest ( a human)… Why not cut out the middle man and go straight to GOD?
…doesn’t make sense to me…

Today I went to see a priest after so many years I had left the catholic church. He said that if I want to go back to the church I need to go to confession.

God bless you my brother.

Recently a professor named Dr. Beckwith returned to the Church after many years of seperation. He also received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. rightreason.ektopos.com/archives/2007/05/my_return_to_th.html

May your walk with Christ bring you to the same conclusion,
Subrosa

 

[Teflon93]

Why do Catholics believe that one must confess to a priest ( a human)… Why not cut out the middle man and go straight to GOD?
…doesn’t make sense to me…

One of the things which has mystified me about the Protestant take on Confession is that many Protestants have in fact confessed their sins to other people—they simply call it “counseling” or “therapy” or “advice-seeking” or whatever.

When my wife and I were considering joining a United Methodist Church, I went to one of the pastors and had a long discussion which also involved me sharing some of my shortcomings and areas where I desired to grow spiritually. It was less formal than Confession, of course, but quite similar in nature.

Does anyone truly keep their sins between them and God alone, confiding in no one else, asking advice from no one else, seeking reassurance from no one else?

Would not the primary characteristic of someone so doing be overweening pride?