Posted on 04/29/2013 4:18:02 AM PDT by markomalley
The Confessional is not a ‘dry cleaners’ where our sins are automatically washed away and Jesus is not waiting there to ‘beat us up’, but to forgive us with the tenderness of a father for our sins. Moreover, being ashamed of our sins is not only natural, it’s a virtue that helps prepare us for God's forgiveness. This was the central message of Pope Francis’ homily Monday morning during Mass celebrated with staff from the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) and religious present in Casa Santa Marta. Emer McCarthy reports:
Commenting on the First Letter of St. John, which states " God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all," Francis Pope pointed out that "we all have darkness in our lives," moments "where everything, even our consciousness, is in the dark”, but this - he pointed out - does not mean we walk in darkness:
"Walking in darkness means being overly pleased with ourselves, believing that we do not need salvation. That is darkness! When we continue on this road of darkness, it is not easy to turn back. Therefore, John continues, because this way of thinking made him reflect: 'If we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us'. Look to your sins, to our sins, we are all sinners, all of us ... This is the starting point. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful, He is so just He forgives us our sins, cleansing us from all unrighteousness…The Lord who is so good, so faithful, so just that He forgives. "
"When the Lord forgives us, He does justice" - continued the Pope - first to himself, "because He came to save and forgive", welcoming us with the tenderness of a Father for his children: "The Lord is tender towards those who fear, to those who come to Him "and with tenderness," He always understand us”. He wants to gift us the peace that only He gives. " "This is what happens in the Sacrament of Reconciliation" even though "many times we think that going to confession is like going to the dry cleaner" to clean the dirt from our clothes:
"But Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner: it is an encounter with Jesus, but with this Jesus who waits for us, who waits for us just as we are. “But, Lord, look ... this is how I am”, we are often ashamed to tell the truth: 'I did this, I thought this'. But shame is a true Christian virtue, and even human ... the ability to be ashamed: I do not know if there is a similar saying in Italian, but in our country to those who are never ashamed are called “sin vergüenza’: this means ‘the unashamed ', because they are people who do not have the ability to be ashamed and to be ashamed is a virtue of the humble, of the man and the woman who are humble. "
Pope Francis continued: “ we must have trust, because when we sin we have an advocate with the Father, "Jesus Christ the righteous." And He "supports us before the Father" and defends us in front of our weaknesses. But you need to stand in front of the Lord "with our truth of sinners", "with confidence, even with joy, without masquerading... We must never masquerade before God." And shame is a virtue: "blessed shame." "This is the virtue that Jesus asks of us: humility and meekness".
"Humility and meekness are like the frame of a Christian life. A Christian must always be so, humble and meek. And Jesus waits for us to forgive us. We can ask Him a question: Is going to confession like to a torture session? No! It is going to praise God, because I, a sinner , have been saved by Him. And is He waiting for me to beat me? No, with tenderness to forgive me. And if tomorrow I do the same? Go again, and go and go and go .... He always waits for us. This tenderness of the Lord, this humility, this meekness .... "
This confidence, concluded Pope Francis "gives us room to breathe." "The Lord give us this grace, the courage to always go to Him with the truth, because the truth is light and not the darkness of half-truths or lies before God. It give us this grace! So be it. "
Because they are of 'the same spirit'. Think catholic caucus.
It's 'that spirit' that produced 'man made teachings' which opposes God's Word and designed for that reason.
Born again Christians are born of the Spirit of God.
My Catholic Church is my home away from home.
Then you will be at home to where it leads.
JESUS ALONE is ETERNAL life - man isn't.
Jesus is The Word.
I certainly hope so since it leads to Salvation. It is the only place where one can encounter the Real Presence of Christ, can be witness to the One Sacrifice, and be in the timeless company of all who ever received the Eucharist. I attend daily Mass for that very reason. I invite you to join us.
Peace be with you
Yes, Jesus is the Word. Yes, Jesus is the Way, Yes, Jesus is the only truth for Catholics.
Not a custom — the truth.
You should read my comment again. I said "some of the statements" of the councils and then "such as", then gave canon 24 and 32 as examples from Trent. I distorted nothing. If statements from these councils cannot stand alone in defining their intent, then what good are they? The "whole" of the Canons on Justification from Trent - seeing as its primary purpose was to dispute the Reformation definition of justification by faith apart from works - clearly prescribe anathema against the doctrine as taught in Scripture. If, as you say, the Catholic doctrine teaches works "do not earn salvation" because it is by grace alone, then how can they be "necessary"? Aren't you contradicting yourself? And why are Catholics so quick to tag as a sin of "presumption" the assurance a Christian expresses that he can "know he has eternal life" as I John 5:13 promises?
JESUS IS THE WORD and HIS TRUTH is not the final authority for those with man made teachings. So it is double speak to say it's the only truth for catholics for they have 'another' truth.
'A double minded man is unstable is all his ways'. James 1:8
Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
No one can serve two masters.
God's WORD is The Final Authority.
Why are you implying those are my words w/your unless you are saying? Those are not my words - as was evident as I was only responding to them.
Christians are Christians - they follow Christ ALONE so they didn't need a name change but, obviously, Catholics did because 'man' went off the tracks doing their own thing with 'their own word'. And some people got on the wrong train and some jumped off knowing where that train is headed.
You are speaking of Catholics who are 'man' taught because born again Christians ARE The Church. A concept 'the worldly' cannot grasp.
That is what you are taught by 'man'.
can be witness to the One Sacrifice
Jesus is NOW the Risen Christ! Take Him off the Cross and anger the demons. And only The TRUE God rose, again, and HE is evil's enemy - so, of course, the daily focus would be Jesus being dead on the cross and NOT on the Risen Christ!
and be in the timeless company of all who ever received the Eucharist
All of the same mindset through 'man made' teaching. Timeless?
God's Own has HIM within 24/7 until the day they see Him face to face because God never leaves nor forsakes His Own.
HMMMmmm...
THIS sure is interesting!
I think I understand now:
We are Saved by GRACE;
but are Kept by WORKS.
That is evidently non-Scriptural:
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
How do PROTESTants justify their thinking?
We are already ‘justified’ as we already Trust in The Lord - but catholics trust in ‘man’ and their teachings.
That is not what I meant, although I admit that I really don't understand what is meant by "Kept by Works" outside of some specifically anti-Catholic polemicism. Works are not an input to the process of Salvation, but rather a necessary response to Salvation. Where they are absent so too is Salvation.
Works do, however, have an efficacious effect on Grace which is an input to Salvation. As the Holy Spirit is the manifestation op the love between the Father and the Son, Grace is the manifestation of the love between God and man. Agape is the sharing of that Grace / love, with each other. Passing on the Grace we receive, through corporeal and spiritual works of mercy, is the only way we can cooperate with and retain the Grace God gives us freely.
Peace be with you.
You have that almost right. I was taught that by the "Son of Man".
Peace and blessings.
Sounds to me like you need a whole lot more of St. John and a whole lot less of John MacArthur.
You cited 6% (2/33) of the Canons on Justification and then made your closing statement a complete mischaracterization of the Catholic teaching supported only by those partial and out of context citations. Your concluding statement is contrary to the clear statements of the entire Canon of Justification. You went on to say that even though clearly profess what we teach, we actually do not. So, actually you did. These discussions work better when all parties seek the truth.
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. - James 3:13-14
Peace be with you
It’s sounds you need JESUS and less of your focus of ‘man’.
His Holy Spirit is the Teacher of His inspired Word. Catholics are taught by ‘man’ with their ‘man made’ teachings/traditions - seems you are the last to know. There are other flavors of ‘man made’ teachings besides Catholicism; such as, Mormonism, Buddhisms, Islamism.
There is only One Truth - Jesus, The Word and only One Way - Jesus and One Who is Eternal Life - Jesus. All eyes on Jesus - the narrow gate.
The wide gate has an assortment of ‘man made’ beliefs which leads to destruction.
I have Jesus and His Bride so what need do I have of your teachings and those of any TV, radio or tent preacher? It is true, they can open the door to Jesus, but they cannot bring the complete truth.
Peace and blessings to you.
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