Teachings on Confession

[o_o_82]

Hi,
I am interested in learning about the Sacrament of Repentance/Reconciliation (or in short Confession). I am interested in reading the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding it. I am also interested in the teaching of any saints regarding it. (E.g. St. Louis de Montfort’s – True Devotion to Mary …… so did some saint or saints specifically preach or teach regarding this sacrament.)

I don’t have much access to books, so I would prefer if the material/or teachings are online. (E.g. The Catechism and True Devotion to Mary are both online – though you might get them in print.) i.e. I am asking for links to read. 

I am not asking for personal opinions on various aspects of this sacrament. (I just did a Google search of these forums for that, and I found people have varied opinions.)

Personal Background:
I am a practicing Catholic – but I do not necessarily know much about my faith.

Background for this Question:
Though I have been a practicing Catholic, I have had a big problem with sin. Some of you may remember my post here, about 2 months ago describing my problem and asking for help from members. I got a lot of good responses and suggestions – but one suggestion that I had not tried before was frequent confession.
I then decided to learn more about confession, and some people posted links regarding this topic to my thread. I had to move my apartment – and put off looking at those links.
About 2 weeks back that entire thread was deleted (due to posts of other participating members.) I tried contacting the Forum moderator: “Julian Peters” – but I a not getting any replies. So I decided to start another thread specifically regarding this topic – and hopefully it would not get deleted.

Thanks a lot to you guys,
O.O.

P.S: I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this though

 

[teachccd]

Hi,
I am interested in learning about the Sacrament of Repentance/Reconciliation (or in short Confession). I am interested in reading the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding it. I am also interested in the teaching of any saints regarding it. (E.g. St. Louis de Montfort’s – True Devotion to Mary …… so did some saint or saints specifically preach or teach regarding this sacrament.)

I don’t have much access to books, so I would prefer if the material/or teachings are online. (E.g. The Catechism and True Devotion to Mary are both online – though you might get them in print.) i.e. I am asking for links to read.

catholicity.com/catechism/penance_and_reconciliation.html

Really the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the best resource for what you are looking for although there are a number of resources out there.You’re asking a tough question only because we don’t know what information you already examined. Here on Catholic Answers there are links to this Sacrament. For in depth reading visit:newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm

If you are a little more specific on the details of your search maybe we can narrow the links down for you… Also you may want to check out the Early Church Fathers as many wrote on this Sacrament…God Bless

 

[teachccd]

Hi,

Personal Background:
I am a practicing Catholic – but I do not necessarily know much about my faith.

That described me eight years ago. While being Catholic all of my life I really never fully understood my faith. I now am in the last year of the Master Catechist certification. I teach Junior High religious education and am the coordinator for the Junior High program. I teach many adult classes and hold talks with parish groups including the Confirmation program. I want the moderator to understand that this post is not off topic as I feel that knowing how far you can journey once you start is as important as the question at hand. Keep researching as the more you learn the more you realize that you don’t know and it’s exciting to continue the learning process. We have a full faith and you will be amazed at how fast you can have a firm grasp on the Church’s teachings. May God Bless you always…teachccd

 

[o_o_82]

If you are a little more specific on the details of your search maybe we can narrow the links down for you… Also you may want to check out the Early Church Fathers as many wrote on this Sacrament…God Bless

Dear teachccd,
Thank you for your post. I liked your second post – because that provides me with more information especially with the background on various aspects of this sacrament. (I would read that tomorrow or over the weekend though.)
I kept this a bit general, because I don’t yet know all about it i.e. I might find something that I never thought about before.

To be more specific:
From the point of view of the Church I want to know to what extent is the priest to administer the sacrament or not. By this I mean can a priest say that he does not “work” – and so will not hear your confession. (I can understand that a priest may be busy, and I am willing to come at any place and time. So can a priest still refuse?)

From my point of view I am in an addiction. So if I confess a sin, there is a chance I might repeat it again after trying my best to avoid it. Does this mean that a priest can tell me that if I cannot cure myself and stop repeating the same sin – I should not come for confession. 

I have heard that the church encourages frequent confession. Is there any place I can find this, and the rationale behind it? I am sure that most saints frequented confession often. Did any of them explain why in his or hear teachings? 

Speaking of the saints I also wonder why when they did not have any mortal sin – yet they went for confession often, while we use the fact that we don’t have any mortal sin to keep away from the sacrament. (Did any saint comment upon this anomaly?) 

I am not looking for personal opinions – rather if I can find this written somewhere.

Thanks again for responding.
O.O.

 

[cue]

	 From my point of view I am in an addiction. So if I confess a sin, there is a chance I might repeat it again after trying my best to avoid it. Does this mean that a priest can tell me that if I cannot cure myself and stop repeating the same sin – I should not come for confession.

It is possible to misuse the Sacrament of Penance so that frequent confession fulfills a disordered desire. However, in most instances, this is not the case. If you are afraid this is the case, ask your confessor. If it is, your confessor would tell you. Simply be honest and complete in the confessional. I would recommend frequent confession as the best way to confront an addiction. We are human and cannot ‘cure ourselves.’ God instituted this Sacrament for precisely this reason–to offer us His healing. The Sacraments are not for perfect people, they are for sinners who are in need of grace. On your part, embrace this Sacrament and the confessor will advise you on the rest.

 

[Tomster]

Hi,
I am interested in learning about the Sacrament of Repentance/Reconciliation (or in short Confession). I am interested in reading the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding it. I am also interested in the teaching of any saints regarding it. (E.g. St. Louis de Montfort’s – True Devotion to Mary …… so did some saint or saints specifically preach or teach regarding this sacrament.)

I don’t have much access to books, so I would prefer if the material/or teachings are online. (E.g. The Catechism and True Devotion to Mary are both online – though you might get them in print.) i.e. I am asking for links to read. 

I am not asking for personal opinions on various aspects of this sacrament. (I just did a Google search of these forums for that, and I found people have varied opinions.)

Personal Background:
I am a practicing Catholic – but I do not necessarily know much about my faith.

Background for this Question:
Though I have been a practicing Catholic, I have had a big problem with sin. Some of you may remember my post here, about 2 months ago describing my problem and asking for help from members. I got a lot of good responses and suggestions – but one suggestion that I had not tried before was frequent confession.
I then decided to learn more about confession, and some people posted links regarding this topic to my thread. I had to move my apartment – and put off looking at those links.
About 2 weeks back that entire thread was deleted (due to posts of other participating members.) I tried contacting the Forum moderator: “Julian Peters” – but I a not getting any replies. So I decided to start another thread specifically regarding this topic – and hopefully it would not get deleted.

Thanks a lot to you guys,
O.O.

P.S: I am not sure if this is the correct forum for this though

www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm

 

[teachccd]

www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm

It’s one of my favorites!

 

[o_o_82]

It’s one of my favorites!

Thank you Tomster and teachccd. That’s a huge 20K word article – I have not read it in its entirety, but I would do that when I get the time.
I think my thread was a bit too general. I appreciate the information I received – but I think in the future I would start more specific threads.

About that article I did not understand the “What Sins Are To Be Confessed” section.  
I understand the first para (that deals with mortal sins) but not the second. I understand that Luther asserted that “By no means presume to confess venial sins …” – so does the Church ask us to confess venial sins?

I also did not understand that part on “Though it is not necessary to confess the same sins over again, nevertheless we regard it as salutary to repeat the confession, because of the shame it involves, which is a great part of penance; …” This seems to mean that confessing the same sin over again is recommended. (Another person recommended to me to have a look at the Ten Commandments for the Scrupulous at [mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm](http://mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm) that clearly says that you should not repeat confessing a sin that has been previously confessed.) 

Any ideas on the saints – why did they go to confession so often?

Thanks to you guys for sharing,
O.O.

 

[teachccd]

Thank you Tomster and teachccd. That’s a huge 20K word article – I have not read it in its entirety, but I would do that when I get the time.
I think my thread was a bit too general. I appreciate the information I received – but I think in the future I would start more specific threads.

About that article I did not understand the “What Sins Are To Be Confessed” section.
I understand the first para (that deals with mortal sins) but not the second. I understand that Luther asserted that “By no means presume to confess venial sins …” – so does the Church ask us to confess venial sins?

I also did not understand that part on “Though it is not necessary to confess the same sins over again, nevertheless we regard it as salutary to repeat the confession, because of the shame it involves, which is a great part of penance; …” This seems to mean that confessing the same sin over again is recommended. (Another person recommended to me to have a look at the Ten Commandments for the Scrupulous at mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm that clearly says that you should not repeat confessing a sin that has been previously confessed.)

Any ideas on the saints – why did they go to confession so often?

Thanks to you guys for sharing,
O.O.

Unfortunately I’m limited on time but I’m going to give you short answers to your questions. I will be leaving for an out of town convention ( Catholic Congress) in about ten minutes. Here goes. 1) While the Church recommends that you confess venial sins for pastoral reasons, you are not bound to confess them. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will suffice for the forgiveness of venial sins. Confessing venial sins is recommended so as to not allow them to become mortal sins. Also confessing venial sins allows us to remedy any situations that may not separate us from God but none the less offend Him. that’s always a good thing.
2)Confessing previously confessed sins is generally not recommended unless you are still struggling with the temptations for those sins. What is meant in your quote is that when you recognize your sinfulness you become more humble and while realizing God’s mercy and forgiveness you continue to reflect on your past as it relates to your future. I would not recommend this to someone like myself who is scrupulous to begin with. Sometimes it’s harder to forgive ourselves than it is for us to realize the forgiveness of God. and 3) the saints went to confession so often because the closer you are to God the more you realize how we constantly offend Him even in the smallest acts of unkindness. Without the risk of scrupulocity we all must realize that the graces received from this sacrament allow us to continually become closer to the God in the eucharist.

I have to go but may God Bless you. I’m sure that you will get very good info. from other posters here and I look forward to talking with you more. You bring out what many of us ask from time to time and it’s good to discuss this great sacrament of healing. God bless you always…teachccd

 

[o_o_82]

Thanks teachccd for your responses (-especially when you took time out of your last mins at home.)

Your first point is very clear to me. As regards to your second point, I am a bit scrupulous myself – so I would prefer not to repeat confessing my sins again. 

As regards to the third point I have started a new thread at [forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=136608](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=136608) .

I just looked at the “Scrupulous Anonymous” mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupanon.htm and the “Ten Commandments for the Scrupulous and More Information” mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupanon.htm . Reading some of this stuff, I feel that it would be difficult for me to commit a mortal sin.

So that means that I have never to go for Confession . But the saints did go for confession – so what did they think about themselves that was wrong (without obviously being scrupulous). I too might be having the same defects – so I just want to learn from the experts.

Thanks again for replying.
O.O.