Pope alarmed by decline in confessions

TimesOnline ^ | 6/19/09 | Richard Owen

[bdeaner]

Pope Benedict XVI has raised the alarm over the decline in confessions, urging priests not to become "resigned to empty confessionals" but rather to help the faithful rediscover "the beauty of the sacrament", which answered "a deep and humble longing for forgiveness".

[Iscool]

Now, this woman could have gone to some cave somewhere, or ducked away under a tree, and secretly confessed her sins directly to the Almighty, who is certainly omnipresent. But, no, she goes directly to the Incarnate Lord, the Son, in the flesh. She is able to see Him, hear Him, touch Him. She can hear the words erupt from His mouth, "Your sins are forgiven." That is Confession--hearing the words of the Lord, "you are forgiven," spoken through (not by) the priest.

What a pitiful distortion of the scriptures...Do you guys also annoint your priests with ointment and wash their feet with your tears and dry their feet with your hair???

Like I said, pitiful...

The woman wasn't confessing to a priest...She was ministering to God, not a priest...The woman wasn't going thru Jesus to get to God...She was washing the feet of GOD...And she knew it...The Pharisees are the PRIESTS...

For those of you who missed it, Jesus is God in the flesh...This woman knew it...You don't?????

[Salvation]

The Confiteor (New Advent)

Confiteor

The Confiteor.(so called from the first word, confiteor, I confess) is a general confession of sins; it is used in the Roman Rite at the beginning of Mass and on various other occasions as a preparation for the reception of some grace.

 

 

[goat granny]

I am still have a problem understanding even after I went to your link **It states:

What about those outside the Church who belong to other Christian faiths or world religions? I do not have enough space here to give an adequate answer to this question. I strongly recommend studying the Catechism's coverage of this matter in nos. 836-845. The opening statement is instructive: "All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by grace to salvation" (no. 836).

Members of other Christian churches who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are in a certain, though imperfect, union with the Catholic Church. With the Orthodox churches, this union is so close that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Eucharist.

The Church maintains a special relationship with the Jewish people. As the People of God in the New Covenant, the Church has a deep link with the Jewish people, who were the first to hear God's Word. "Unlike other non-Christian religions, the Jewish faith is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant." Regarding the Messiah, Jews and Catholics have similar goals about the future.

Catholics await the return of the Messiah, who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God.

Jews await the coming of a messiah whose features remain hidden until the end of time. Their expectation, therefore, is accompanied by the mystery of their not knowing or misunderstanding Jesus Christ when He comes again. The Catechism proceeds to discuss the Church's positive relationships with the Muslims and other non-Christian religions that developed quite independently of Judaism and Christianity. "The Catholic Church rejects nothing which is true and holy in these religions" which "often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men" (Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, no. 2). The commitment of the Church to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue with other believers is a major effort to fulfill the Father's will that all people be gathered together into His Son's Church.*****

"

The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation," St. Augustine wrote (Sermon 96, 7). "The Church is the world reconciled. She is the bark which in the full sail of the Lord's Gross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It seems to me that this link explains some things but that the church still thinks it is the true church and other christian denominations are just slightly less than the perfection of the Catholic Church via this paragraph:

Members of other Christian churches who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are in a certain, though imperfect, union with the Catholic Church. With the Orthodox churches, this union is so close that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Eucharist.

Where have I misunderstood this paragraph?

[Salvation]

The present form is as follows:

Text in Latin Confiteor Deo omnipotenti et vobis, fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, opere, et omissióne: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Vírginem, omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

1973 ICEL translation I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

 

The form in the 1962 Roman Missal (in Latin) is longer and was said twice, first by the priest in the following form, then by the altar server, who replaced the words "et vobis, fratres", "et vos, fratres" (and you, brethren) with "et tibi, pater" and "et te, pater" (and you, Father).

Text (in Latin) Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Ioanni Baptistæ, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres: quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Ioannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.[1]

An English translation (unofficial) I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you brethren, to pray to the Lord our God for me.[2]

Note from me -- with the Liturgical changes coming in the Mass we will once again say in English, "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievious fault."

[SuziQ]

*snort* Too sadly true!

[bdeaner]

For those of you who missed it, Jesus is God in the flesh...This woman knew it...You don't?????

Of course we know it! That's why we go to Confession. Christ came in the flesh, and his flesh is extended in the Mystical Body of Christ which is the Church. Didn't you read what I wrote? The woman went to Christ. We go to the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the extension of His incarnated flesh on earth.

Acts 9:1-5:
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting..."

Here, Saul is persecuting the Church, and Christ asks why Saul is persecuting Him. To persecute the Church is to persecute Christ. As St. Paul explains:

1 Cor. 12:12-14:
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Just as the woman goes to Christ for confession, we go to the Mystical Body of Christ, His Church, for Confession, as He instituted the practice (see my other posts above).

[Aurorales]

“once a person is baptized as a Catholic you ARE ALWAYS a Catholic.”

_________________________________________

I was baptized a Catholic, and now am NOT a Catholic.

In fact, my son and I are going to be baptized in a few weeks through my Christian Church.

I don't need to talk to a priest about my faith. I know at this time I have returned to the Lord. His Arms were wide open. No appointment needed.

I consider myself a Christian. Not Catholic.

[Salvation]

If you were baptized a Catholic you are still a Catholic. And it sounds as though, deep down, you are a devoted one.

Come back to full participation in the church. If you have questions, make an appointment with a priest with whom you feel comfortable and get your questions answered.

[bdeaner]

What don't you understand? I'm not sure where you are confused.

The Church continues to recognize itself as the Church instituted by Christ, and that special, sanctifying grace is available through participation in the Church and its sacraments. But, if someone is ignorant, and does not know the Catholic Church is the One True Church, and sincerely believes He or She is following Christ, the Church leaves open the possibility that such a person, due to the Lord's mercy, could be saved.

[Salvation]

I am speaking of the gift of performing Sacramentally. Priests alone are given that gift.

I do agree with you that at Baptism and then again at Confirmation we receive the Holy Spirit, and in Confirmation are strenghtened in the Holy Spirit. But I was talking about the abilitiy to forgive sins, say Mass, administer the sacraments.

[goat granny]

thank you for the invitation, but it will never happen...

[Salvation]

You are in my prayers.

[goat granny]

To those like you that have a deep and abiding faith, I admire. Your testimony was powerful...such testimony's also happen in the non Catholic Church..

I have believed that for you, God wants you in the Catholic Church and you are faithful to his desire...

I do believe that for others, God wants them in a different christian church..They too are faithful to His desire. To a true believer, he/she has brothers and sisters in Christ in all christian church's. Its just that the Catholic Church(not necessarily the parishioners) sets itself above other denominations..I find that being prideful on the part of the catholic church..Other denominations are a little more humble about themselves..

This was not intended to insult any denominations so please don't take it that way...My husband was a devoted Catholic until the day he died. His example (tho he was not one to talk religion) brought his very best friend to the Catholic church, years after my husband passed away.. His wife became a death bed conversion to Christ, but not in the catholc church, her brother-in-law was a lay preacher in another denomination, and in her final weeks, he didn't leave her side and read the bible and taught her about Christ...One day he ask her if she was ready to die, and her words to him was and I quote **I want what Jesus wants**she died 2 days later...

I know this as she was my traveling companion after our husbands died and I was alsoclose to a couple of her kids...Also knew her brother in law quite well..

[Biggirl]

I will be going to confession latter on, as I am going to be having surgery on Wednesday next week. Plus will be recieving the Sacrement of the Sick tomorrow for peace of soul/mind. I have been nervous, never had surgery before, some major dental work, that was it. At least I will be ready.

[Tax-chick]

I can’t tell you what a wonderful thing it was to have confession that readily available.

You don't have to tell me! I've gone to Confession every week or two weeks, when I knew there'd be a priest available.

[stuartcr]

So receiving the Eucharist by anyone attending, is pretty much the norm and probably won’t/can’t change. I wouldn’t be too upset about it, as I’m sure God knows what is going on.

[stuartcr]

I can’t imagine the priest at the church I occasionally frequesnt being able to remember any but a very small percentage of those that receive Eucharist, as there are a number of masses each weekend, with lots of people in line, besides, a lot of times it’s lay people that are giving out the sacrament. I don’t imagine any of them could refuse.

[kosta50]

At the beginning of the Mass before the Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

Thank you Salvation, iow, before Kyrie? (I know Kyrie elleison because it is Greek and in Orthodoxy that is recited throught the liturgy)

No, it does not suffice for the Sacrament of Penance. It is merely offering our sorrow for our sins

I thought so. Thank you for confirming it.

[kosta50]

I confess to Almighty God...that I have sinned exceedingly, in thought, word and deed...

That is the almost the exact opening sentence of the actual confession in Orthodox Churches, the words "I confess to God and to you, venerable father, that I have sinned every day and every hour through my ingratitutde to God..."

Note from me -- with the Liturgical changes coming in the Mass we will once again say in English, "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievious fault."

I know, I can't fathom who made (and approved) the post 1964 translations. It's all part of the general issue with the post Vatican II.

Somone remaked that refusing Communion would be scandalous in the NO Church. I believe it. The evry same people who translated things in such a way that they don't even resmeble the original (i.e. "and with you" vs. "and with your spirit") have made the Holy Communion into an entitlement.

[SkyDancer]

Oh, so the common masses don’t receive it unless it’s through all those bishops and priests? Whoda thought?