The Seal of Confession and The Virtue of Religion

The Hermeneutic of Continuity ^ | 8/17/11 | Fr. Tim Finnigan

[marshmallow]

So why is the seal of confession inviolable? Why does the seal bind under such a grave obligation that the Church excommunicates any confessor who directly violates it? (See: The seal of confession: some basics)

There are two principal reasons why the priest must preserve the seal: the virtue of justice and the virtue of religion. The motive of justice is evident because the penitent, by the very fact of entering the confessional, or asking the priest to hear his confession (we’ll deal with “reconciliation rooms” another day) rightly expects that the priest will observe the seal. This is a contract entered into by the fact of the priest agreeing to hear a person’s confession. To mandate the violation of the seal is in effect to prohibit the celebration of the sacrament of Penance.

Much more grave than the obligation of justice towards the penitent is the obligation of religion due to the sacrament. The Catholic Encyclopaedia gives a brief explanation of the virtue of religion which essentially summarises the teaching of St Thomas Aquinas. (Summa Theologica 2a 2ae q.81) Religion is a moral virtue by which we give to God what is His due; it is, as St Thomas says, a part of justice. In the case of the sacrament of Penance, instituted by Christ, Fr Felix Cappello explains things well [my translation]:

By the very fact that Christ permitted, nay ordered, that all baptised sinners should use the sacrament and consequently make a secret confession, he granted an absolutely inviolable right, transcending the order of natural justice, to use this remedy. Therefore the knowledge which was their own before confession, after the communication made in confession, remains their own for every non-sacramental use, and that by a power altogether sacred, which no contrary human law can strike out, since every human law is of an inferior order: whence this right cannot be taken away or overridden by any means, or any pretext, or any motive.

The penitent confesses his sins to God through the priest. If the seal were to be broken under some circumstances, it would put people off the sacrament and thereby prevent them from receiving the grace that they need in order to repent and amend their lives. It would also, and far more importantly, obstruct the will of God for sinners to make use of the sacrament of Penance and thereby enjoy eternal life. The grace of the sacrament is absolutely necessary for anyone who commits a mortal sin. To mandate the violation of the seal is in effect to prohibit the practice of the Catholic faith. Some secular commentators have spoken of the seal of confession as being somehow a right or privilege of the priest. That is a preposterous misrepresentation: it is a sacred and inviolable duty that the priest must fulfil for the sake of the penitent and for the sake of God's will to redeem sinners.

A possibly misleading phrase in this context is where theologians say that the penitent is confessing his sins as if to God "ut Deo." (You can easily imagine secularists deriding the idea that the priest makes himself to be a god etc.) In truth, the penitent is confessing his sins before God. The priest acts as the minister of Christ in a sacred trust which he may not violate for any cause - precisely because he is not in fact God. By virtue of the penitent’s confession ut Deo, the priest absolves the penitent and, if mortal sin is involved, thereby readmits him to Holy Communion.

There will be more to follow on the sacrament of confession. As I mentioned in my previous post, this series is not intended as a guide for making a devout confession but rather as an introduction to some canonical and theological questions regarding the sacrament which have become important recently. (For a leaflet on how to make a good confession, see my parish website.)

I have been told that the threat in Ireland to introduce a law compelling priests to violate the seal of confession has been withdrawn, at least for the time being. Nevertheless, I will continue with these posts because I think that the Irish proposal will be picked up by other secularists and may pose a problem for us. Further posts will look at the proper place, time and vesture for hearing confessions, one or two more particular crimes in canon law, the question of jurisdiction and the much misused expression “Ecclesia supplet”, and, of course, what to do if the civil authority tries to compel a priest to break the seal.

[bkaycee]

So how do you know Jesus as Savior in the Roman Church?

[Iscool]

As I asked above, where do you get the idea that Catholics do not KNOW Christ?

For one, you use a verse to prove that Christians can lose their salvation that has nothing to do with Christians...

Most of you deny being indwelt with the Spirit of Jesus Christ...And you mock and belittle those of us who do have the Spirit of Christ within us...

[Iscool]

We don’t get saved by works. We don’t stay saved by works. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Exactly...Jesus didn't save us for the good that we do...And he won't condemn us for the bad that we do...

[Quix]

Certainly confession for sins, of sins to God in behalf of their being covered by Christ's Blood for forgiveness of sins is supremely critical.

As is FORGIVING ALL OTHERS.

Nevertheless, that's not what this Scripture is saying--James 5:16:

New International Version (©1984) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. New Living Translation (©2007) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. English Standard Version (©2001) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. New American Standard Bible (©1995) Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. International Standard Version (©2008) Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God's approval are effective. King James Bible Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. American King James Version Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. American Standard Version Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Bible in Basic English So then, make a statement of your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well. The prayer of a good man is full of power in its working. Darby Bible Translation Confess therefore your offences to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The fervent supplication of the righteous man has much power. English Revised Version Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Webster's Bible Translation Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much. Weymouth New Testament Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. The heartfelt supplication of a righteous man exerts a mighty influence. World English Bible Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. Young's Literal Translation Be confessing to one another the trespasses, and be praying for one another, that ye may be healed; very strong is a working supplication of a righteous man;

We can dance all around the facts but that Scripture is reasonably clear. And by and large, Proddys don't OBEY GOD'S WORD on that score. RC's too often play absurd, grossly distorted pseudo-fancy power-mongering games with it but Proddys ignore it wholesale.

And, I've noticed in the few congregations where that was practiced significantly at all--that would be one and a 1/4th given that the 2nd one didn't practice it greatly but some--there were some surprising healings as a function of obeying that Scripture.

GOD'S WORD DOES NOT RETURN VOID. THERE IS GREAT BENEFIT IN OBEYING IT.

REGARDLESS OF

Proddy . . .

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!TRADITION!

[Salvation]

You couldn’t be further than the truth. Evidently you have read nothing about the Eucharistic Miracles — in the hundereds — all over the world.....or have you.

Christ is central to the Mass.

[Iscool]

If it was not for Catholic monks rewriting the aged scrolls we would not be here with this arguement. You would not have a bible in your hand. Remember the Printing press was invented in 1490's.

That's what your monks told you...They lied...I don't read a Catholic bible...

[Iscool]

Okay, confess. Don't you have to repent, be contrite? Otherwise, you reject Christ's sacrifice.

Well of course...But that wasn't the conversation...The conversation is, can man forgive sin or reject confession to condemn one to hell???

I (we) have been pointing out that God is the one who forgives and condemns, not man...

[Iscool]

I know the Holy Spirit. I read my Bible in the Holy Spirit. You accuse others? But do you believe in 1 John4? Christ came in the flesh as God. Divinty became Flesh. Otherwise If you do not you have a big problem. You do not know Him.

That's pretty elementary...We are all well beyond that...

We're trying to get you guys to recognize the 'milk' of the word which you can't find in your Catholic religion...

[Salvation]

GOD forgives in confession too. How many times have we pointed this out?

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[Iscool]

The garments (and ad orientam - which will return shortly) are intended to emphasize the anonymity of the priest.

The guys walks around and sits with a half a grapefruit on his head while wearing a dress adorned with real jewels and real gold...He looks like no one else in the world...

And people kneel and bow when they are in his presence...

An anonymous figure??? Sure...And I've got an igloo in Arizona you may be interested in buying...

[stonehouse01]

I suggest actually learning about St. Jerome and his life. He did not do a rewrite - he did a direct translation.

St. Jerome is integral to “modern” scripture Luther, a mixed up Augustinian, deformed St. Jerome's translation - by omitting certain texts in the 1500’s. Why are Luther's later omissions more important that St. Jerome's direct translations?

[MarkBsnr]

That's what your monks told you...They lied...I don't read a Catholic bible...

Aleister Crowley and Anton LaVey would be very proud. Say hi for me when you meet them.

[johngrace]

Mark! Your too much! LOL!!

[metmom]

The balance of New Testament scripture shows that Christians, yes we can lose it. He talks in The book of Revelation to the churches how He will spit them out and take their lampstead.

And where do those verses state that the individual Christians no longer have their salvation? True, those churches no longer exist, but that doesn't damn the individual Christians in them. That's a rather loose interpretation of those passages.

Salvation is a gift. It is freely given us for the asking by nothing more than God's mercy and desire to forgive. And He's going to renege just because once we're saved we continue to not live up to the standards He established?

He didn't let us not living up to His standard keep Him from doing everything in His power to save us in the beginning. He lived for us, He died for us, He calls us, He empowers us, He gives us the Holy Spirit, He determines the exact times and places where we live so that we will seek Him and perhaps reach out to Him and find Him, He convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

He does it all, short of making the final decision for us? And He's going to abandon us to hell because we don't live up to the standard He set?

NOBODY can live that kind of life. All our righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight.

The God who imparts the righteousness of Christ to us sees us as sinless as Christ when He looks at us. We are His beloved Bride? And he's going to throw us under the bus for what? Not going to mass Sunday morning? Giving into temptation on the spur of the moment?

Our lives may be somewhat righteous, just as the Pharisees were, but God looks at the heart. The human heart is deceitful above all else and desperately wicked. No one will ever make it according to Catholic doctrine.

That's why those of us who have thrown ourselves on the mercy of the court are sure of our salvation. God will not send His own children to hell for not being perfect. Otherwise heaven will be an awfully lonely place.

My children are my children regardless of what they do and nothing will ever keep me from loving them or cause me to disown them. They may break my heart some day by their behavior but I will not disown them.

[metmom]

Let me throw this out out for consideration.

Just what is it about Christians being confident of their salvation and sure of their security in Christ that bugs you so much?

[metmom]

Sorry, let me reword that. It’s to all Catholics.....

Let me throw this out out for consideration.

Just what is it about Christians being confident of their salvation and sure of their security in Christ that bugs Catholics so much?

[Iscool]

I suggest actually learning about St. Jerome and his life. He did not do a rewrite - he did a direct translation.

Direct from what??? Jerome re-translated the Old Latin into a new version...

St. Jerome is integral to “modern” scripture Luther, a mixed up Augustinian, deformed St. Jerome's translation - by omitting certain texts in the 1500’s. Why are Luther's later omissions more important that St. Jerome's direct translations?

Naw, Marty didn't use Jerome's Latin Vulgate...

[Iscool]

Aleister Crowley and Anton LaVey would be very proud. Say hi for me when you meet them.

We obviously don't run in the same circles...I'm not familiar with your friends...Are they Catholic priests???

[Iscool]

My children are my children regardless of what they do and nothing will ever keep me from loving them or cause me to disown them. They may break my heart some day by their behavior but I will not disown them.

In fact, if you adopt children, it would be impossible to un-adopt them...

[Iscool]

Cardinal LaVey??? I believe I’ve heard of him...