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Posted on 01/07/2006 7:35:09 AM PST by Desdemona
Tis true. We went through RCIA last year, came into the CC at Easter Vigil. We were told, for our first confession -- 'Just think of one thing. It takes too long when people go on and on.' And we were not taught the Act of Contrition.
Later that spring, we visited a little church in NYC. I went to confession; the priest said, "Don't you know the prayer?" "No, they didn't teach us that." Duh.
Only later still, at a retreat, the priest said, "You are supposed to confess everything in your life to this point, when you come into the church. It is a new start." How much more meaningful that was.
"Would that this could be repaired." It is now up to those of us who know and care. Fr. Fessio, in his interview with Hugh Hewitt the other day, said that homeschool is like the monasteries were in the Middle Ages -- a place where the true faith and true history are taught and honored, where they are passed on to the next generation.
We need, as well, people who cherish the faith to teach the catechism classes. Does anyone know if you have to be trained/ certified to do that? (new Catholic here). Does orthodoxy have to be set by the priest in that parish?
Our priest brought in a few boys from Benedictine College today. We had the most beautiful Gregorian Chant Mass this morning. I had tears in my eyes a couple of times. Even the little ones loved it. *sigh* I'm so thankful for having found this parish in a tiny little town tucked away in the hills. It is a secret that I bet cannot be kept for much longer. I see massive growth in its future! :o)
That's true in general, but there is no guarantee that a fervent practice of Marian devotions, for example, reflects an accurate understanding of the Blessed Mother's position in the larger context of the Church. "Faith" can be "faith in something one understands wrongly."
The confirmation examination is about one's understanding of the faith, not one's sins.
Yes, I understand that, but if a pastor or Bishop is going to attach up-or-down, testing conditions to the Sacraments, it would make sense to me if it were in a Biblically relevant context.
Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation is not based on a certain level of information. The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches administer Confirmation/Chrismation to infants, who obviously have no specific knowledge of the Faith. In the Bible, we see that the Holy Spirit came upon the household of Cornelius, who had been exposed only to the basics of the Gospel, as well as upon the Apostles, whose understanding was quite parlous up to that point.
In summary, knowledge and wisdom are gifts brought by the Holy Spirit, not prerequisites for His coming upon a believer.
On the other hand, we see in the Bible and throughout Catholic Tradition that serious sin is a major impediment to receiving the Eucharist. A deadly impediment, St. Paul says. So if pastors are going to withhold the Sacraments from those who are "unworthy" or "inadequately prepared," it seems to me the obvious point to do that would be where souls are imperilled.
That is how I learned the Act of Contrition as well and this was in the 70's.
I understand many of the authors points and agree with them but I slightly disagree regarding the Act of Contrition.
Aren't Catholics supposed to be striving to confess our sins out of a love for God as opposed to a fear of Hell (Perfect Act of Contrition vs. Imperfect Act of Contrition)? Fear of Hell is a good start but it should not end there.
Thanks for the ping, this is a good read.
That's a good point. I think the author is merely stating how there is a "watering down" of the faith over the last 30 years, and the altering of the Act of Contrition is merely one sign of such watering down. I found the title of this work to be particularly intriguing (although it didn't turn out to be what I thought it would be about) because I've met some people online that actually deny that Hell exists. Apparently this is a common belief in some "Christian" sects, but I never knew that before. I found it rather distressing that a (relatively minor but still present) sign of such theological rejection may be creeping into the Catholic faith. (by omitting that part from the Act of Contrition). Call me paranoid, but I believe Satan works in subtle ways sometimes.
As far as the "perfect" vs "imperfect" contrition, you're right there's a difference and it's as you said, the perfect being because we love God, and the imperfect because we fear Him (or more preciesly Hell). However, whatever contrition is engaged, absolution is obtained in confession whether it's perfect or imperfect. The distinction is made (I believe) merely to point us in the right direction (which is love for God over all else) not really to put a gradient scale on confession or the type of absolution obtained.
(just making the point for the record, not that you were saying that)
I think I want you to write all my comments from now on. Nice and succinct.
"because of your just punishments, but most of all because..."
There is much to be said about teaching Doctrine in church.
So many sermons are given like a day time talk show.
No substance...just good feelings.
Christians should mature beyond infants in their faith and grow to be teachers.
Thank you!
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bttt
And there is the quote attributed to several saints:
"The walls of hell are lined with the skulls of bishops."
Saint John of the Cross
Saint Catherine of Siena, when given a vision of hell, stated, "....the walls of hell are lined with the skulls of bishops."
"The floor of hell is lined with the skulls of bishops." - Saint John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church
"The ceiling of Hell is lined with the skulls of bishops." - Robert Drobot
A collage of quotations supporting the last them:
The penalty men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. - Plato
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke
The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who-in a period of moral crisis-maintain neutrality. - Dante
There is no truth in their mouth: their heart is vain....They dealt deceitfully with their tongues: Judge them, O Lord. PSALM 5:10-11
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This saying really is credited to a number of saints, isn't it?
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