Should Christians Confess Sins to An Earthly Priest?

Reformed Bibliophile ^ | February 11, 2013 | J.C. Ryle

[ealgeone]

So yes or no to a fifth Marian dogma as it would be proclaimed by the pope? You in favor or not. It’s a simple question.

[ealgeone]

Mary stood at the foot of the cross, suffering with Jesus. And Jesus gave Mary to John as his mother. (This is proof that Mary did not have other children, because legally, they would have been responsible for Mary.) John’s biological mother was still alive, and she was a different woman, so Jesus was not merely reminding John to take care of his mother.

This proves nothing of the sort. At this time his brothers and sisters were hostile to Jesus. He left His mom in care of John as he was a believer. He was the disciple Jesus was closest to.

Did you study Greek when you were in seminary?

[Salvation]

Why did Jesus give his mother to John?

Simple answer: He had no brothers and sisters.

[Arthur McGowan]

Few things are more boring than discussing the theories of bizarre, fever-swamp editions of Christianity.

The belief of the Church, from the earliest days, based on Old Testament types alluded to in the gospels—the Garden of Eden, the Ark of the Covenant, the Queen Mother of several kings, etc.—and on assertions by the disciples of the apostles—e.g., Ignatius of Antioch—is that Mary was a perpetual virgin. Many Fathers of the Church expressed outrage that anyone would suggest that Joseph would dare to violate Mary’s virginity.

[Arthur McGowan]

This proves nothing of the sort. At this time his brothers and sisters were hostile to Jesus.

And this would dispense them from the legal obligation to care for their mother why?

[Arthur McGowan]

The Fathers of the Church are unanimous: It was an OUTRAGE for anyone to suggest that St. Joseph would have considered for a moment violating the perpetual virginity of Mary. The idea of her womb carrying any other child after carrying the Incarnate Word of God...

The Protestants’ complete loss of the spiritual sense of the Old Testament, and their incredibly shallow, proof-texty reading of the New Testament, is nowhere clearer than in their pert pronouncements about Mary.

[Arthur McGowan]

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2C.HTM

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Catechism of the Catholic Church


IntraText - Text

• PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
  • SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS
    • CHAPTER THREE I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
      • Article 9 "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH"
        • Paragraph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

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Paragraph 6. MARY - MOTHER OF CHRIST, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

963 Since the Virgin Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. "The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer.... She is 'clearly the mother of the members of Christ' ... since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head."⁵⁰⁰ "Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church."⁵⁰¹

I. MARY'S MOTHERHOOD WITH REGARD TO THE CHURCH

Wholly united with her Son . . .

964 Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. "This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to his death";⁵⁰² it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion:

Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim, born of her: to be given, by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple, with these words: "Woman, behold your son."⁵⁰³

965 After her Son's Ascension, Mary "aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers."⁵⁰⁴ In her association with the apostles and several women, "we also see Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation."⁵⁰⁵

. . . also in her Assumption

966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."⁵⁰⁶ The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:

In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.⁵⁰⁷

. . . she is our Mother in the order of grace

967 By her complete adherence to the Father's will, to his Son's redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church's model of faith and charity. Thus she is a "preeminent and . . . wholly unique member of the Church"; indeed, she is the "exemplary realization" (typus)⁵⁰⁸ of the Church.

968 Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further. "In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior's work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace."⁵⁰⁹

969 "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfilment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation .... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."⁵¹⁰

970 "Mary's function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin's salutary influence on men . . . flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it."⁵¹¹ "No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source."⁵¹²

II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

971 "All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."⁵¹³ The Church rightly honors "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.... This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration."⁵¹⁴ The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an "epitome of the whole Gospel," express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.⁵¹⁵

III. MARY - ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON OF THE CHURCH

972 After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to Mary. In her we contemplate what the Church already is in her mystery on her own "pilgrimage of faith," and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, "in the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity," "in the communion of all the saints,"⁵¹⁶ The Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.

In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.⁵¹⁷

IN BRIEF

973 By pronouncing her "fiat" at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was al ready collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical Body.

974 The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son's Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body.

975 "We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ" (Paul VI, CPG # 15).

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500 LG 53; cf. St. Augustine, De virg. 6: PL 40,399.


501 Paul VI, Discourse, November 21,1964.


502 LG 57.


503 LG 58; cf. ⇒ Jn 19:26-27.


504 LG 69.


505 LG 59.


506 LG 59; cf. Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950): DS 3903; cf. ⇒ Rev 19:16.


507 Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th.


508 LG 53; 63.


509 LG 61.


510 LG 62.


511 LG 60.


512 LG 62.


513 ⇒ Lk 1:48; Paul VI, MC 56.


514 LG 66.


515 Cf. Paul VI, MC 42; SC 103.


516 LG 69.


517 LG 68; Cf. ⇒ 2 Pet 3 10.

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[verga]

I think it is very good that you keep posting these things. I used to say similar things but worse things before I reverted to the Catholic Church.

[Legatus]

You have to admit the older form puts more of the emphasis on God doing the forgiving, surely. The new formula is dramatically dumbed down.

[Legatus]

Really...ya still have to do burn time for them ..so are they REALLY forgiven ???

Why then don't repentant gluttons immediately lose the excess weight? One still has to burn the fat off.

Why don't the victims of repentant murderers resurrect? Why do sinners have to make amends for their transgressions, is it merely to show sorrow or does something have to be put right?

[Legatus]

That’s very good, and similar to the traditional Catholic form of absolution.

[trebb]

Very succinct, even if not "pithy".

God can handle our direct confessions - after all, we are only affirming what He already knows by declaring we realize who and what we are. Telling another mortal is not needed/required because it is He who has the purview over forgiveness of our sins.

That said, there is also some spiritual value in discussing such with another human being as it makes our declaration to ourselves and God more "real" when someone else also knows. Using a trusted confidant/spiritual "adviser" can have positive effects as part of our own self-examination. I ascribe to the ancient admonition that "A life un-examined is a life not worth living".

[Elsie]

Should Christians Confess Sins to An Earthly Priest?

Sure!

It's right there in the BIBLE!!

In Acts, the fifteenth chapter if I recall correctly...

[Elsie]

Turning FR into an anti-Catholic kook site, one spam post at a time.

Wah!!!

We Catholics are sure looking silly on FR!

[Elsie]

in your dreams.

Can’t you contend for the faith once given to the saints?

[Elsie]

Self righteous, not righteous — big difference.

Let ME counteract that!

 

 

 

Bernadine: …all gifts, all virtues, and all graces are dispensed by the hands of Mary to whomsoever, when, and as she pleases. O Lady, since thou art the dispenser of all graces, and since the grace of salvation can ONLY come through thy hands, OUR SALVATION DEPENDS ON THEE.

Bonaventure: …the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.

Ephem: …devotion to the divine Mother…is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.

Ambrose: …constantly pray ‘Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.

Fulgetius: …by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.

Athanasius: …And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.

Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.

Guerric: …he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there…and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.

Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.

Antoninus: …souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED.

[Elsie]

Catechism of the Catholic Church

I sense that more will be coming...

...a disturbance in the Force is detected...

[Elsie]

Any time I go to confession for a screw up, I have already talked to God about it. And, I have already been forgiven.

HMMMmmm...

"Why then do you waste your time talking to the priest?" wonders this Protestant.

[Elsie]

...the Catholic Code of Canon law 960, it stated that, “Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary way which the faithful person who is aware of serious(?) sin is reconciled with God and the Church.”

[Elsie]

Nearly 100 Christians have recently been abducted by ISIS. They will probably meet a terrible death. But hey, my brand of Christianity is better than yours and I can prove it with my HTML skills of righteousness! That's FR these days. Sad.

Yesterday, about 3,300 future Americans were killed by CHOICE.

Today; the same will happen.

Why haven't AMERICANS destroyed these TEMPLES OF DEATH?