Don't fear confession

[Glaurung]

Two nights ago, my local cathedral held a unique service. They held a mini-liturgy where they sang Christmas carols and read a few Gospel passages, after which nine priests stationed themselves at various areas of the building to hear individual confessions.

Despite returning to faith somewhat recently, I had yet to reconcile myself with the Church. And if there ever were an auspicious opportunity to do so, this was it. So when the time came that the priests were ready for our confessions I walked to the (more private) confessional and nervously told the priest everything.

Far from a stern finger waving, I got a kindly old priest who was thrilled with my confession. He happily absolved me and it was finally done. I was now on a clean slate and in good standing to receive the Eucharist. Now the challenge before me is to not stuff it up.

The whole ritual only took about five minutes, and like getting an injection it hurt no where near as badly as I imagined it would. (My main fear being a refusal of absolution) I now know not to dread confession and if you are in a similar position that I was, I assure you that any half-decent priest will far from condemn you, he will be thrilled at your presence.

Staying alienated from the Church in knowledge of mortal sin hurts far more than any confession.

 

[Thana]

Two nights ago, my local cathedral held a unique service. They held a mini-liturgy where they sang Christmas carols and read a few Gospel passages, after which nine priests stationed themselves at various areas of the building to hear individual confessions.

Despite returning to faith somewhat recently, I had yet to reconcile myself with the Church. And if there ever were an auspicious opportunity to do so, this was it. So when the time came that the priests were ready for our confessions I walked to the (more private) confessional and nervously told the priest everything.

Far from a stern finger waving, I got a kindly old priest who was thrilled with my confession. He happily absolved me and it was finally done. I was now on a clean slate and in good standing to receive the Eucharist. Now the challenge before me is to not stuff it up.

The whole ritual only took about five minutes, and like getting an injection it hurt no where near as badly as I imagined it would. (My main fear being a refusal of absolution) I now know not to dread confession and if you are in a similar position that I was, I assure you that any half-decent priest will far from condemn you, he will be thrilled at you presence.

Staying alienated from the Church in knowledge of mortal sin hurts far more than any confession.

Can I ask, do Priests have the authority/ability to refuse you absolution?
Or is that just a fear you have?

 

[Glaurung]

Can I ask, do Priests have the authority/ability to refuse you absolution?

Yes. If they deem you insincere and without intention to amend your ways.

 

[Thana]

Yes. If they deem you insincere and without intention to amend your ways.

Ah, I see.
Thanks for answering

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Two nights ago, my local cathedral held a unique service. They held a mini-liturgy where they sang Christmas carols and read a few Gospel passages, after which nine priests stationed themselves at various areas of the building to hear individual confessions.

Despite returning to faith somewhat recently, I had yet to reconcile myself with the Church. And if there ever were an auspicious opportunity to do so, this was it. So when the time came that the priests were ready for our confessions I walked to the (more private) confessional and nervously told the priest everything.

Far from a stern finger waving, I got a kindly old priest who was thrilled with my confession. He happily absolved me and it was finally done. I was now on a clean slate and in good standing to receive the Eucharist. Now the challenge before me is to not stuff it up.

The whole ritual only took about five minutes, and like getting an injection it hurt no where near as badly as I imagined it would. (My main fear being a refusal of absolution) I now know not to dread confession and if you are in a similar position that I was, I assure you that any half-decent priest will far from condemn you, he will be thrilled at your presence.

Staying alienated from the Church in knowledge of mortal sin hurts far more than any confession.

Are there any sins which a person cannot be absolved of even if they truly intend to repent at heart?

 

[Glaurung]

Are there any sins which a person cannot be absolved of even if they truly intend to repent at heart?

All sins can be absolved. Of course, absolution may be conditional on rectifying one's wrongs such turning oneself in to the civil authorities in the case of a crime.

The only sin which is unforgivable (as stated in Scripture) is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is understood in the Catholic tradition as an obstinate rejection of God maintained to the very end.

 

[Timothy Bryce]

All sins can be absolved. Of course, absolution may be conditional on rectifying one's wrongs such turning oneself in to the civil authorities in the case of a crime.

The only sin which is unforgivable (as stated in Scripture) is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is understood in the Catholic tradition as an obstinate rejection of God maintained to the very end.

For which the consequence is hell?

Does this unforgivable sin only apply to people who have been presented the Catholic and rejected it up until they die or does it also apply to people who have never had an opportunity to accept the Holy Spirit in the Catholic tradition?

 

[Glaurung]

For which the consequence is hell?

If one dies unrepentant of mortal sin one goes to Hell. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is in essence, an intractable unrepentance.

Does this unforgivable sin only apply to people who have been presented the Catholic and rejected it up until they die or does it also apply to people who have never had an opportunity to accept the Holy Spirit in the Catholic tradition?

The Church teaches that there is no salvation outside of her. That is to say, that anyone who knows Christ and the Church and culpably refuses to enter is necessarily damned. The Scriptures make it clear that not only is Christ is the sole means for human salvation, but that Christ founded a Church. The Catholic Church maintains that she is that Church and holds the keys of Hades.

This does not mean that non-Catholics are damned. It's a question of culpability which only God can judge. But it does mean that those who wilfully reject God to the degree that they understand God and do so until their dying breath will be. Not because God's mercy has limits, but because God will not forgive those who refuse to repent.

 

[Timothy Bryce]

If one dies unrepentant of mortal sin one goes to Hell. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is in essence, an intractable unrepentance.

The Church teaches that there is no salvation outside of her. That is to say, that anyone who knows Christ and the Church and culpably refuses to enter is necessarily damned. The Scriptures make it clear that not only is Christ is the sole means for human salvation, but that Christ founded a Church. The Catholic Church maintains that she is that Church and holds the keys of Hades.

This doesn't mean non-Catholics are damned. But it does mean that those who wilfully reject God to the degree that they understand God and do so until their dying breath will be. Not because God's mercy has limits, but because God will not forgive those who refuse to repent.

And what, then, of a person "who wilfully reject(s) God to the degree that they understand God" at a point where they might hold the potential to retract that position before some unforeseen event happens, rendering said person without any capacity to comprehend these measures (i.e. severe brain damage, Alzheimer's)? Does God doom the intellectually disabled on the basis of their beliefs before their disability?

What you have led me to understand about "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" involves the acceptance of a man made institution that requires all individuals to discover and accept without critical analysis (what appears to amount to blasphemy) and a consequence being eternal damnation. Is this correct?

 

[Glaurung]

And what, then, of a person who "who wilfully reject God to the degree that they understand God" at a point where they might hold the potential to retract that position before some unforeseen event happens, rendering said person without any capacity to comprehend these measures (i.e. severe brain damage, Alzheimer's)? Does God doom the intellectually disabled on the basis of their beliefs before their disability?

God is omniscient, he knows our souls with complete clarity. Everyone has the opportunity to repent, even if that opportunity is an extraordinary exercise of God's grace at the moment of death. We just cannot know what goes on between a soul and God at judgement. But we can be confident that God's understanding of our moral state is complete. The point is, that no one who ends up in Hell ends up there undeservedly. We end up there when our wills have become fixed forever against God and everything that he is.

What you have led me to understand about "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" involves the acceptance of a man made institution that requires all individuals to discover and accept without critical analysis (what appears to amount to blasphemy) and a consequence being eternal damnation. Is this correct?

The Catholic Church isn't a man made institution; it is the Church founded by God incarnate. The Church may be run by man (no matter how flawed) but despite this it is though her we obtain the sacraments that are necessary for salvific grace. (Particularly baptism and the Eucharist) Christianity is a truth claim. That God has incarnated as man and though that man we can restore our relationship with God and obtain our salvation. Accepting Christ means accepting the Church, even if imperfectly as in the case of a sincere Protestant.

Again, it's up to God to determine our culpability before him.

 

[Timothy Bryce]

God is omniscient, he knows our souls with complete clarity. Everyone has the opportunity to repent, even if that opportunity is an extraordinary exercise of God's grace at the moment of death. We just cannot know what goes on between a soul and God at judgement. But we can be confident that God's understanding of our moral state is complete. The point is, that no one who ends up in Hell ends up there undeservedly. We end up there when our wills have become fixed forever against God and everything that he is.

So, short answer is: yes? You're delving into the realm of discussing what a soul necessarily is. Everything you've said in this thread indicates that salvation, or rather "safety from eternal damnation," requires a comprehension of God and a total Catholic acceptance of it; to reduce this point to a metaphorical discussion between "a soul" and "god" is nothing further than a cop out.

The Catholic Church isn't a man made institution; it is the Church founded by God incarnate. The Church may be run by man (no matter how flawed) but despite this it is though her we obtain the sacraments that are necessary for salvific grace. (Particularly baptism and the Eucharist) Christianity is a truth claim. That God has incarnated as man and though that man we can restore our relationship with God and obtain our salvation. Accepting Christ means accepting the Church, even if imperfectly as in the case of a sincere Protestant.

Again, it's up to God to determine our culpability before him

I guarantee that I will concede your point and accept Catholicism if you can prove to me empirically that the Catholic Church is not a man made institution and rather the Church founded by God incarnate.

I look forward to you response.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

So, short answer is: yes? You're delving into the realm of discussing what a soul necessarily is. Everything you've said in this thread indicates that salvation, or rather "safety from eternal damnation," requires a comprehension of God and a total Catholic acceptance of it; to reduce this point to a metaphorical discussion between "a soul" and "god" is nothing further than a cop out.



I guarantee that I will concede your point and accept Catholicism if you can prove to me empirically that the Catholic Church is not a man made institution and rather the Church founded by God incarnate.

I look forward to you response.

This is a DIR. You're not supposed to be debating in here. It's derailing his thread, too. Should move your exchange to the Debate forum.

 

[Glaurung]

This is a DIR. You're not supposed to be debating in here. It's derailing his thread, too. Should move your exchange to the Debate forum.

Thanks. I was about to state that before your post notification popped up. I will respond a final time after lunch then if Doctor wants to carry on he can create his own thread.

And is it just me, or has the default font just changed all the sudden?

 

[Timothy Bryce]

I apologise for my ignorance with regards to RF. I haven't been here long. This will be my final post in this thread accordingly.

Tlaloc, I still welcome any response; I might make a new thread in a more appropriate forum, but I would welcome a PM just as much.

 

[Serenity Now]

I would like to add a few things:

1. The Church teaches that there is salvation outside of it. Protestants are not damned for not being Catholic, the Church recognizes that salvation is possible for Jews through the 1st convenant (although it is a mystery of faith), and those that do not have the opportunity to learn about God have the possibility of salvation if their heart desires God and live a good life.

2. When receiving Absolution we are absolved of the quilt of sin but the temporal punishment remains. Now the temporal punishment can be removed through penance, good works and indulgences but we never know (only God does) to what extent. We should always remember that God has infinite mercy we just have to ask for it.

The Act of Reconcilation is a beautiful sacrament and has graces attached that enrich our lives. I'm grateful to God for our Church and the sacraments and can't imagine life without them.

 

[Glaurung]

1. The Church teaches that there is salvation outside of it. Protestants are not damned for not being Catholic, the Church recognizes that salvation is possible for Jews through the 1st convenant (although it is a mystery of faith), and those that do not have the opportunity to learn about God have the possibility of salvation if their heart desires God and live a good life.

I would caution the way you word this.

The Church teaches that there is salvation outside of it.

It is true that non-Catholics are not ipso facto damned. Nonetheless once the Gospel has been presented all souls without exception are morally obliged to accept it. There are no alternative paths to salvation but through Christ. This is the explicit teaching of Scripture.

So while we can always hope for the salvation of non-Christians (as there are no limits to the mercy of God) it is dangerous to downplay the necessity of the Chruch. It leads to a mentality that Christ is optional; that we can earn our salvation by being "good". And that is (frankly put) an error.

 

[Serenity Now]

I would caution the way you word this.

It is true that non-Catholics are not ipso facto damned. Nonetheless once the Gospel has been presented all souls without exception are morally obliged to accept it. There are no alternative paths to salvation but through Christ. This is the explicit teaching of Scripture.

So while we can always hope for the salvation of non-Christians (as there are no limits to the mercy of God) it is dangerous to downplay the necessity of the Chruch. It leads to a mentality that Christ is optional; that we can earn our salvation by being "good". And that is (frankly put) an error.

I don't disagree with you and for clarity here are some relevant excerpts from the Catecism:

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."

 

[Glaurung]

I don't disagree with you and for clarity here are some relevant excerpts from the Catecism:

I'm not saying you did. I know what you meant, I just took issue with how you stated it.

If we say that salvation exists outside the Chruch, then taken to its logical end it would mean that one is better off not being a Christian. Luke 12:48

All we can say, is that we have cause to hope for the salvation of those outside the visible Chruch, but through the Chruch in some way known only to God. Independent salvation does not exist.

 

[Serenity Now]

I'm not saying you did. I know what you meant, I just took issue with how you stated it.

If we say that salvation exists outside the Chruch, then taken to its logical end it would mean that one is better off not being a Christian. Luke 12:48

Your point was well taken and appreciated.

 

[ZooGirl02]

I am glad that you posted this. I would hope that no Catholic would fear going to Confession. It is such a truly wonderful sacrament. It is the sacrament that Jesus Christ gave us so that we could be reconciled to Him and His Church.