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Post by tisbearself on Sept 23, 2023 15:48:28 GMT
Part of Catholicism is getting over our personal "issues" even when we might not understand or agree with Church teaching.
"Not my will, God, but yours be done."
The priest is in persona Christi when he's in the confessional. That doesn't mean he's perfect or that he'll never say anything stupid in there, but it does mean he's the channel through which God chose to convey his grace.
It sounds like you have a personal hangup about speaking to a priest in confession that you're trying to justify. I understand this but at the same time it's something you should just get over.
By the way, if you're not going to confession, then you're NOT "making sure you're in a state of grace." Again, you need to get in a state of grace God's way, not your own way.
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Post by homeschooldad on Sept 23, 2023 20:14:20 GMT
I am a Catholic, and I believe with all my heart that this is truly the Church that Christ started. There’s only one thing that I don’t feel right about, and that is going to the confessional and confessing my sins to a humanly Priest. I don’t believe that we as Catholics HAVE to go to confession in order to be forgiven, as so many other Catholics that I have come across with who feel the same way. Believe me there’s a lot! Jesus Christ is my mediator to the Father Almighty. I will always have an issue to open myself up to a Human Being and confess my most intimate personal sins to someone who is just as much a sinner as I am! It isn’t going to happen! Venial or mortal, all my dirty sinful laundry goes to our Father Almighty through my personal prayer of contrition, confessing and asking for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He’s my personal savior, not a Priest! He’s my mediator, not a Priest! He’s the one who carried all my transgressions to the cross, not a Priest! I make sure that I am in a state of grace when I receive the Eucharist. I pray before I receive it and afterwards as well. I do believe in the Mass, and all the Sacraments. And yes I do believe in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, just not in the ritual of confessing to a humanly, sinful priest. We all fall short of the Glory of God no matter what your title is. I pray that one day the Church can reform this act of confession. Make it an option. I do understand that Jesus gave the Apostles the power of forgiveness; I get that. The church back then was in an embryonic stage. In this day and age though, people are more private and reluctant to open up to others. But where in the Bible does it state that in order to be forgiven, I have to confess to a Priest. 1 Timothy 2:5 “There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.” And that’s good enough for me. You obviously have some sincerely felt ideas about this, and I can understand why you feel this way. No condemnation or judgment here. My best advice would be to go to a priest --- doesn't necessarily have to be in the context of confession --- and tell him what you have just expressed here, then see what he tells you. We are all obliged, by precept of the Church, to go to confession at least once a year. That needs to be the first thing you get out of the way. It is my understanding that this is a grave obligation. The precept is in place for the good of souls. Also, under ordinary circumstances, mortal sin can only be forgiven by a priest in the confessional. I don't know if I'd share the opinion that in this day and age, "people are more private and reluctant to open up to others". Human nature hasn't changed. People discuss their problems and failings with each other all the time. It is stock-in-trade of many "reality" TV and radio shows nowadays, to-wit Dr Phil, Dr Laura (is she still on?), Oprah, and so on. It sounds as though you have, subconsciously or otherwise, picked up on Protestant notions of having only one mediator between God and man. Confession and absolution are firmly rooted in the Bible. |
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Post by farronwolf on Sept 23, 2023 20:39:34 GMT
As Catholics, with knowledge of the Church teachings, Confession is a requirement for forgiveness. That is pretty straight forward.
In Jewish tradition, repentance and prayer was how sins were forgiven, as they had no priest to confess to.
As to where the line is after Christ's death and resurrection, that is above my pay grade, and honestly, I don't think any mortals have a definitive answer on the matter. The majority of the people walking on this earth are not Catholic and therefor do not have the same ability to attend Confession and receive absolution from a priest as we do. How God handles their sins, again is above my pay grade.
Again, as Catholics, it is spell out for us.
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Post by theguvnor on Sept 24, 2023 19:51:07 GMT
'Part of Catholicism is getting over our personal "issues"'
As to the scriptures and Confession consider this: John 20:19-21
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 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.”
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Post by AveMaria on Sept 28, 2023 3:28:09 GMT
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