Following The Truth: Confession – Is It Still Necessary? (Catholic or Open)

CE.com ^ | July 28th, 2009 | Gary Zimak

[RoadGumby]

Visions? No.

Gods mind? Who can know beyond what He has revealed to us?

I did read though. Jesus did say that if we confess our sins, He’d throw them over Hos shoulder (or away) into the Sea of Forgetfulness, as far as the esat is from the west. (IF we’ll confess to a priest....., nope that part isn’t there).

Paul wrote, (under inspiration I think we can agree) that we can, ourselves, solo, go to the throne with our prayers, our confessions, we can speak directly. The veil is gone.

[kidd]

You put the kids in the car and go. Ah, just how many times a month/year do you have something to confess?

Difficult, not impossible. Try to get three boys (ages 9-12) to stop playing outside to go to church at 3 o'clock. As far as my frequency of confession, that is none of your business, but I try to make confession a regular practice.

It is easier to spend a lunch hour waiting in line during the week.

[Salvation]

You say something about what Paul wrote, but are you ignoring what JESUS said as quoted in the article? I'll take Jesus any day over St. Paul!

 For one thing, that’s how the Lord designed the sacrament. In John 20:21-23, Jesus breathed on the Apostles and said “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Careful observation of Jesus’ words will show that while He is giving the Apostles the ability to forgive sins, they are also receiving the authority to make a judgment. There are certain cases where absolution may be denied and that decision would be impossible without knowing the details of the offense. Therefore, verbal confession of sins is necessary. Another very logical argument for confessing your sins to another individual is that we tend to be very lenient with ourselves. Jesus was well aware of our human nature when He instituted the sacrament of Confession. Verbalizing your sins to another individual requires a much greater level of humility than confessing them in your own mind. Throughout the gospels, Our Lord stressed the importance of humility for His followers and this is one more way to practice that virtue.

[Mad Dawg]

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, points out that to want more opportunities for confession is to want more priestly vocations. We have our prayer work cut out for us.

We have 3,010 families, 1k students, 3 friars. They really took confession opportunities up a notch the last week of Advent including having a “confess-a-thon” (my irreverent coinage) with 6-8 friars from DC. We’re pretty well-served, especially for folks who live near the church.

[oh8eleven]

Try to get three boys (ages 9-12) to stop playing outside to go to church ...
I did, with two boys. My father did too, with three boys and three girls. His father did it with six boys and a girl.

It is easier to spend a lunch hour waiting in line during the week.
So your kids don't go?

[kidd]

I did, with two boys.

Good for you.

So your kids don't go?

Yes they do.

[bjcoop]

As a practicing Catholic, I think it’s a shame that a lot of Catholics no longer adhere to this Sacrament. The healing power of Absolution from confession sustains me and helps me overcome my transgressions.

[bjcoop]

The Bible shows how the authority of forgiveness of sins was given to Jesus’s apostles. Also, the sacrament of Confession allows us to feel the extreme shame in going in and confessing our sins. We are supposed to feel shame in hurting God. “Confessing directly” as you put it, does not have that. Going through an actual confession in the Catholic Church makes you feel that inspiring power of being unchained from one’s sins.

[Salvation]

**Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, points out that to want more opportunities for confession is to want more priestly vocations. We have our prayer work cut out for us.**

Another thing with the prayer is to have it going on 24/7 in an Adoration Chapel at your church. The repentent will come, the youth will decide to be priests or lead a religious life.

I’ve heard it said that these two things:
Long confession lines
Vocations

Are the mark of a growing church.

Our one priest had to schedule four extra days for confessions and they were all full with at least 20 or more waiting for an hour of Confession.

[Salvation]

They have no idea on all the sanctifying and actual graces flowing out of the Sacrament of Penance, do they?

[bjcoop]

No they do not. The cleansing of our soul through it is nothing that can be emulated.

[Mad Dawg]

We are working on developing perpetual Adoration. You’d think we could do it with a parish our size.

For the past two Lents we’ve had Adoration from Ash Wednesday to the Triduum. And I’m surreptitiously gathering a group to pray every day for better Eucharistic catechesis. So we’ll get there. Storm heaven, sez me.

[sayuncledave]

Actually, I go to Confession every couple of weeks or so. And thus, I take “them right to the One In Charge.” And as the article says, yes, it is still necessary. And still, and always, a blessing, Deo Gratias.

[RoadGumby]

And yet you pray to Paul. I’ll pray to Jesus. You confess to a man, I’ll confess to Jesus.

You do as you wish, work out your salvation, Salvation. I will trust in the Lord, not a man.

I picture Jesus listening to Paul saying “Jesus, Salvation has prayed for such and such.”

Jesus says “I wonder why I didn;t hear from him direct?”

[RoadGumby]

WHO are you to say what is felt at the altar? Or during confession? It is a personal time, not a community one.

You like the feeling of having a middle man between you and God? Have at it.

[RoadGumby]

Every couple weeks?

How about daily? Or perhaps even when the sin happens?

Confession is actually a pretty important part of prayer. Part of drawing near, so He will draw near to you.

[SkyDancer]

The priest is human just like anyone else. I don’t think going to a seminary and taking vows makes him any better than talking with a friend. Only Yashua can forgive sins.

[RoadGumby]

Ps 116:

I love the Lord, He hears my prayers and answers them;
He bends to listen and I shall pray to Him for as long as I live.

[Bigg Red]

We have our prayer work cut out for us.

***
Indeed, we do!

[Bigg Red]

If those “common objections” cited by the author are coming from Catholics, there is a serious problem with catechesis in the Church.