the sacraments

[curiousone]

I am a Catholic trying to learn more about my faith. I understand the scriptural basis and necessity of the Eucharist, Baptism, and Holy orders. What I do not understand is the necessity of confirmation and reconciliation. Why do we HAVE to confess our sins to a priest? I know the scripture that supports doing it and that it is a good thing, that I do not dispute. Where I am fuzzy is why it is mandatory. The same thing with confirmation? Any thoughts or observations are greatly appreciated.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

curiousone:

I am a Catholic trying to learn more about my faith. I understand the scriptural basis and necessity of the Eucharist, Baptism, and Holy orders. What I do not understand is the necessity of confirmation and reconciliation. Why do we HAVE to confess our sins to a priest? I know the scripture that supports doing it and that it is a good thing, that I do not dispute. Where I am fuzzy is why it is mandatory. The same thing with confirmation? Any thoughts or observations are greatly appreciated.

The Sacraments are gifts from Christ for our use on our spiritual journey. The Church says that only Baptism is necessary for salvation. Reconciliation is the normal means for forgiveness of Mortal sins after Baptism, it’s not taught that it is the only means.

 

[Mickey]

curiousone:

I am a Catholic trying to learn more about my faith. I understand the scriptural basis and necessity of the Eucharist, Baptism, and Holy orders. What I do not understand is the necessity of confirmation and reconciliation. Why do we HAVE to confess our sins to a priest? I know the scripture that supports doing it and that it is a good thing, that I do not dispute. Where I am fuzzy is why it is mandatory. The same thing with confirmation? Any thoughts or observations are greatly appreciated.

Here are some article for you to read:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp

http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

http://www.catholic.com/library/Confirmation.asp

 

[puzzleannie]

Confirmation completes our baptism, obeying the scriptural injunction for baptism with water and with the Holy Spirit. In Acts we clearly see that those baptized with water were anointed with the Holy Spirit at the earliest opportunity, and those anointed without water baptism were baptized with water at the earliest opportunity. In the early Church when the normal practice became baptism and confirmation at EAster the two were so closely linked as to be one sacrament with two liturgical actions, with the bishop as the minister.

Only as the Church grew were presbyters given the faculty to baptize, but in the West confirmation remained the perogative of the bishop, so the timing of the sacraments no longer coincided. The East for the most part retained the earlier practice and order of the sacraments and priests had faculties to do both. It is the hope of many that the restored RCIA will when fully implemented return us to that ancient practice.

We confess our sins to the priest because it is Christ’s command and intent when he gave the faculty to forgive sins to the apostles.

 

[Prodigal_Son]

A hypothetical:

Imagine if they made getting a driver’s license optional. What kind of people would fail to get a license? Not the responsible people, I’m sure. No, the ones who wanted to avoid potential responsibility would go without a license – JUST IN CASE they wanted an easy out.

As an often irresponsible person, I will tell you how often I would go to confession if it weren’t required: maybe once. Maybe never.

As it is “required” I make it once or twice a year. Not good, but OK. (Better than hell.)

Can God save people who don’t go to confession? Of course he can, if in His wisdom He so chooses.

But what kind of signal would it send to our prodigal souls to say that you ought to go to confession, but it isn’t really necessary? What kind of father says, “You should always tell me the truth, but I’ll always bail you out if you don’t”?

No – confession is wonderful, and painful, and required. Only God can forgive sins, but only man can humble himself to accept that forgiveness.

 

[MariaG]

Reconcilliation:

Christ told us to! The first thing Christ did after rising from the dead was to institute the Sacrament of Reconcilliation.

John 20: 21-23

21{Jesus} said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained.”



Confirmation does not have Scripture that touches MY heart in the same way, yet there is Scripture that talks of it. It is in the very fine articles that were linked to your in the above posts.

I just love John 20:21-23 and never pass up a chance to repeat it as much as possible!

God Bless,
Maria

 

[Anonymous_1]

I think that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a profound gift that is unique to the Catholic Church.

Why do we have to goto confession? Well, it keeps us in examination of conscience, it is a means of grace, keeps us humble.

It is the normal means of reconciliation for those in a state of mortal sin. The other means I believe, correct me if i am wrong, are an act of perfect love for God or a perfect act of contrition. However, because we are unable to be certain if our act of contrition before God in prayer is perfect, it seems only right to follow it up with Reconcilliation.

I also propose that we should take the perspective that it is a wonderful and profound gift rather than an obligation.