The Baltimore Catechism

Revised Edition (1941)

Part Three: The Sacraments and Prayer

Confession

Lesson 31 from the Baltimore Cathechism

408. What is confession?

Confession is the telling of our sins to an authorized priest for the purpose of obtaining forgiveness.

He that hideth his sins shall not prosper; but he that shall confess and forsake them shall obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

409. Why must we confess our sins?

We must confess our sins because Jesus Christ obliges us to do so in these words, spoken to the apostles and to their successors in the priesthood: "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:22-23)

410. How do these words of Christ oblige us to confess our sins?

These words of Christ oblige us to confess our sins because the priest cannot know whether he should forgive or retain our sins unless we tell them to him.

411. Is it necessary to confess every sin?

It is necessary to confess every mortal sin which has not yet been confessed and forgiven; it is not necessary to confess our venial sins, but it is better to do so.

He that hideth his sins shall not prosper; but he that shall confess and forsake them shall obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

412. What are the chief qualities of a good confession?

The chief qualities of a good confession are three: it must be humble, sincere, and entire.

413. When is our confession humble?

Our confession is humble when we accuse ourselves of our sins with a conviction of guilt for having offended God.

O God, be merciful to me the sinner! (Luke 18:13)

414. When is our confession sincere?

Our confession is sincere when we tell our sins honestly and frankly.

415. When is our confession entire?

Our confession is entire when we confess at least all our mortal sins, telling their kind, the number of times we have committed each sin, and any circumstances changing their nature.

When a man or woman shall have committed any of all the sins that men are wont to commit, and by negligence shall have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and offended: they shall confess their sin. (Numbers 5:6-7)

416. What are we to do if without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin?

If without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin, we may receive Holy Communion, because we have made a good confession and the sin is forgiven; but we must tell the sin in confession if it again comes to our mind.

417. What happens if we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in confession?

If we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in confession, the sins we confess are not forgiven; moreover, we commit a mortal sin of sacrilege.

418. What must a person do who has knowingly concealed a mortal sin in confession?

A person who has knowingly concealed a mortal sin in confession must confess that he has made a bad confession, tell the sin he has concealed, mention the sacraments he has received since that time, and confess all the mortal sins he has committed since his last good confession.

419. Why should a sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession?

A sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest should never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession because this is a grave sacrilege, and also because the priest, who represents Christ Himself, is bound by the seal of the sacrament of Penance never to reveal anything that has been confessed to him.

Be not ashamed to confess thy sins. (Ecclesiasticus 4:31)

420. Why does the priest give us a penance after confession?

The priest gives us a penance after confession that we may make some atonement to God for our sins, receive help to avoid them in the future, and make some satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to them.

421. What kinds of punishment are due to sin?

Two kinds of punishment are due to sin: the eternal punishment of hell, due to unforgiven mortal sins, and temporal punishment, lasting only for a time, due to venial sins and also to mortal sins after they have been forgiven.

If anyone does not abide in me, he shall be cast outside as the branch and wither; and they shall gather them up and cast them into the fire, and they shall burn. (John 15:6)

422. Does the sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always take away all punishment?

The sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always takes away all eternal punishment; but it does not always take away all temporal punishment.

Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:22-23)

423. Why does God require temporal punishment for sin?

God requires temporal punishment for sin to satisfy His justice, to teach us the great evil of sin, and to warn us not to sin again.

424. Where do we pay the debt of our temporal punishment?

We pay the debt of our temporal punishment either in this life or in purgatory.

The fire will assay the quality of everyone's work; if his work abides which he has built thereon, he will receive reward; if his work burns he will lose his reward, but himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (I Corinthians 3:13-15)

425. What are the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal punishment, besides the penance imposed after confession?

Besides the penance imposed after confession, the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal punishment are: prayer, attending Mass, fasting, almsgiving, the works of mercy, the patient endurance of sufferings, and indulgences.

Prayer is good with fasting and alms; more than to lay up treasures of gold. (Tobias 12:8)

1 posted on 04/21/2013 12:16:49 PM PDT by Salvation

2 posted on 04/21/2013 12:19:06 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Baltimore Catechism Ping for Lent and Eastertide!

(Finishing this series)

3 posted on 04/21/2013 12:20:51 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

enter the Table of Contents of the Catechism of the Catholic Church here

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.

4 posted on 04/21/2013 12:24:46 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Relating to one’s own God is made so much easier by having a committee approved mission statement/platform paper to defer to when times get rough. I was raised Catholic, was an Altar boy when the Mass was ONLY said in Latin. I am thankful for the morals that guide my life and happiness...yet I now find myself to be a very happy agnostic. Happiness occurs between the ears. If you’re not happy it’s your own damned fault.

5 posted on 04/21/2013 12:32:02 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)

You can come back to the Church. There are Masses in Latin just waiting for your attendance.

Coming Home Network

6 posted on 04/21/2013 1:19:48 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Ah, that’ll do it. Thanks.

7 posted on 04/21/2013 1:21:17 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)

When you talk straight to God, you do not know if your sins are forgiven. A little story to illustrate.

Two guys worked side by side in cubicles. The first fellow returned to the Catholic Church and urged the second fellow to do likewise.

He asked, asked, asked.

Invited, invited, invited.

Evangelized, Evangelized, Evangelized.

And asked again and again.

Finally the second guy consented to attend a Mass with him.

When they got to the church the first guy noticed that the priest was hearing Confessions and he encouraged his friend to also go to Confession. But the friend said “No” while the first guy did go to confession.

On the way home they were in an auto accident and both were killed.

The second guy sees his life flash in front of him with all the sinful acts of his life exposed, and God sends him away since he had missed so many opportunitites to worship God.

Then the first guy asked God if he was also going to see all of his sins. But God said, “I don’t remember, because you went to Confession and I forgive and forget.”

Come into heaven now.

8 posted on 04/21/2013 1:27:27 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

9 posted on 04/21/2013 1:29:44 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

10 posted on 04/21/2013 1:31:28 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

“to their successors in the priesthood”

Not commanded, instructed, nor an example of in Holy Scripture. Not necessary to circumvent going directly to God.

11 posted on 04/21/2013 2:28:28 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

“The priest gives us a penance after confession that we may make some atonement to God for our sins”

Christ already made complete atonement. This is unnecessary and not found in Holy Scripture.

12 posted on 04/21/2013 2:30:12 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

“The sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always takes away all eternal punishment; but it does not always take away all temporal punishment.”

Never happens. Only entrusting ourselves to Christ’s complete payment for our sins eliminates eternal punishment.

13 posted on 04/21/2013 2:32:45 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

The fire will assay the quality of everyone’s work; if his work abides which he has built thereon, he will receive reward; if his work burns he will lose his reward, but himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (I Corinthians 3:13-15)

The works of one’s life are tested by fire. The person is not. If there is a purgatory, this verse doesn’t teach it.

14 posted on 04/21/2013 2:34:43 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

To: aMorePerfectUnion

Catholics know we sin each and every day. We take reponsibility for it.

Yes, I know Catholics think differently. But face it.

Are you sinless? Then you might be proclaiming yourself as Jesus Christ.

15 posted on 04/21/2013 3:15:37 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: aMorePerfectUnion

Temporal punishment.

Didn’t your mom ever make you say that you were sorry for shooting out the neighbor’s window with your bb gun?

Didn’t you have to replace the window?

Hypothetical question — but you can put any situation into it.

We make reparations on earth all the time. If we don’t — well there is Purgatory.

16 posted on 04/21/2013 3:17:49 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

To: aMorePerfectUnion

But many verses do.

Purgatory

Mt 5:48 - be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect

Heb 12:14 - strive for that holiness without which cannot see God

Jam 3:2 - we all fall short in many respects

Rev 21:27 - nothing unclean shall enter heaven

Jam 1:14-15 - when sin reaches maturity gives birth to death

2Sam 12:13-14 - David, though forgiven, still punished for his sin

Mt 5:26 - you will not be released until paid last penny

Mt 12:32 - sin against Holy Spirit unforgiven in this age or next

Mt 12:36 - account for every idle word of judgment day

2Macc 12:44-46 - atoned for dead to free them from sin

1Cor 3:15 - suffer loss, but saved as through fire

1Pet 3:18-20; 4:6 - Jesus preached to spirits in prison

2Tim 1:16-18 - Paul prays for dead friend Onesiphorus

1Cor 15:29-30 - Paul mentions people baptizing for the dead

17 posted on 04/21/2013 3:25:35 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)

Salvation...
None of those verses teaches anything about Purgatory.

18 posted on 04/21/2013 4:47:35 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

“Temporal punishment.”

The post your are responding to quoted your article stating “ETERNAL punishment.” That is BOGUS.

19 posted on 04/21/2013 4:48:46 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

“Are you sinless? Then you might be proclaiming yourself as Jesus Christ.”

Of course I’m not! That’s exactly why I need a Savior. His blood covers every sin I’ve ever committed or will commit. Sins of commission and sins of omission.

20 posted on 04/21/2013 4:50:05 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Gone rogue, gone Galt, gone international, gone independent. Gone.)

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