I was going to go on a different subject but if you want to understand the do’s and don’t of Catholic Confession you can’t do better than this:
Personally I’ll take a “meh” confession to no confession but either way it’s worth watching
The Best Video on Confession I’ve Seen
Posted: October 10, 2022 by datechguy in catholic, Church doctrineComments
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As a lapsed Catholic, I have a degree of familiarity with the sacrament of penance (“confession”), but I have never seen the Biblical justification for it. I know that Jesus told his disciples to “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you withhold forgiveness, it is withheld.” However, I fail to see where this Apostolic instruction is passed down to Catholic priests. Moreover, elsewhere we find James telling his audience to “confess your sins one to another…” and in Timothy, we learn that there is “one Mediator between God and man, the Lord jesus Christ.” I sincerely would like to know why it is necessary to enter a confessional and confide in a priest, and rely on that priest’s forgiveness, since we know that John states only that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” No mention of confessing to a certain other person or class of persons. Also, is confession effective when no priest is available, and death is imminent? If so, what is the difference from the ordinary situation, and why would that be so? Thank you for your answer.
That’s actually fairly easy, you’ve already noted the bound on earth bit and of course it mentions to confess your sins to each other.
the priest stands “In persona Christi” in the place of Christ, just in the same way that the disciples were sent out to preach and heal. He is the conduit of forgiveness and more importantly rather than having a conversation with yourself and convincing yourself that your sin is OK the act of actually audibly confessing to another and having your forgiveness confirmed is huge.
People have a huge capacity for self delusion and self affirmation to convince oneself of what they want, the act of confessing to another cancels that danger out and prevents the sin of presumption where you continue to sin with the presumption that you are automatically forgiven with no actual repentance. That why we have to confess our sins and it’s very different to confess to another person then talking to oneself
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. It is most appreciated. Nonetheless, I remain unconvinced, since no one comes to the Father save through Christ (John 14:6) and there is but one Mediator between God and man, that is Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Since Christ lives eternally in His very Body, I am of the conviction that there is no need for a fallen human, priest or otherwise to take His place in the confessional or any other venue. He lives and therefore, He is the One to Whom our confession must be directed. I do agree, nonetheless that we are all prone to hypocrisy and recall all the times I knelt in the confessional and confessed my “lustful thoughts” and “taking God’s Name in vain” as my only sins because I was either too ashamed to be more accurate or was blissfully unaware of my failings. Plus, I hoped to avoid any penance more burdensome that three Hail Marys and two Our Fathers, the standard toll among my parish priests for those sins. Only sincere introspection and reflection, guided by the foundational principles in The Bible can reveal to us our truly sinful, wretched condition and lead to repentance and reformation. If one is not inclined to engage in that process, it makes no difference that another man is on the other side of the screen; only Christ can truly call us to account and only if we are willing to submit to His soulful interrogation. However, I agree that not only are we individually required to seek to discover our sins and confess them privately but there is also the need for public reflection, confession and even rebuke at times. Accountability does not come easily to us humans. Being held to account by another brother in Christ or a band of brothers if you will is both good and necessary in order to adequately address our need for correction. And yet, I recognize you and all believing Roman Catholics (and Orthodox, etc.) as brothers in Christ, who, despite doctrinal differences, are His Church on Earth and who have eternal life hereafter. I pray God’s blessings on you. Despite our differences, let us continue to maintain essential fellowship and work together toward a better world now and look forward to meeting in the hereafter. Dominus Vobiscum, my brother.