Penance/Confession/Reconciliation
When my oldest son did his first Reconciliation, the priest explained that one is not confessing or reconciling with God. God already knows what we have done. He explained that the purpose was to reconcile with another human as the first step in correcting your ways.
I have paraphrased the above and it is only as accurate as my memory. However, if that is true, and it makes sense to me that that it is, couldn't one confess to another person who is not a priest? I mean in the absence of a priest. I know it's a far-fetched scenario, but in a POW setting, would one's sins be absolved by confessing to a comrade?
Originally Posted By abnk:
When my oldest son did his first Reconciliation, the priest explained that one is not confessing or reconciling with God. God already knows what we have done. He explained that the purpose was to reconcile with another human as the first step in correcting your ways.
I have paraphrased the above and it is only as accurate as my memory. However, if that is true, and it makes sense to me that that it is, couldn't one confess to another person who is not a priest? I mean in the absence of a priest. I know it's a far-fetched scenario, but in a POW setting, would one's sins be absolved by confessing to a comrade?
The simple answer is that is not true. As with so much in Catholicism, it is not an either/or proposition, but a "both/and". The catechism states:
1424 It is called the sacrament of confession,
since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential
element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a "confession"
- acknowledgment and praise - of the holiness of God and of his mercy
toward sinful man.
It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."
It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it
imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to
God." He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the
Lord's call: "Go; first be reconciled to your brother."
and
1496 The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:
- reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
- reconciliation with the Church;
- remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
- remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
- peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
- an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.
1497 Individual and integral confession of
grave sins followed by absolution remains the only ordinary means of
reconciliation with God and with the Church.
You most certainly are confessing to God, as the priest is acting in persona Christi. In a POW setting, where one desires the Sacrament, but is physically unable, he should do an examination of conscience and pray an act of contrition. This is a daily practice that everyone should engage in anyway for forgiveness of venial sins. If he dies in that situation, God being perfectly just, will judge him according. If he is released and has unconfessed mortal sins he must receive the Sacrament as soon as possible.
1484 "Individual, integral confession and
absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile
themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral
impossibility excuses from this kind of confession." There are profound
reasons for this. Christ is at work in each of the sacraments. He
personally addresses every sinner: "My son, your sins are forgiven." He
is the physician tending each one of the sick who need him to cure them.
He raises them up and reintegrates them into fraternal communion.
Personal confession is thus the form most expressive of reconciliation
with God and with the Church.
Here is a
searchable catechism where you find a lot more.
Thank you for the explanation.
Cattitude, well done answer.
As Cat said, it's a both/and issue, as is much of Catholicism (many who don't understand the RCC think it's an either/or issue). Just as sin has an eternal and temporal consequence, sin has two components, the sin against God, and the sin against His body (the Church). When we confess our sins, we must do so according to how Jesus told us to do it (John 20:23). The priest acts in the person of Christ, giving us God's forgiveness ("through the ministry of His Church, may God give you pardon and peace"), and also heals our wounded relationship with the body of Christ ("and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit").
Excellent answers.
We've all heard various forms of, "Well, I don't need confession (whether Catholic or not) because God knows I'm sorry for what I did." I know someone that said that and used a comment my priest made during his homily one Sunday (God knows our hearts better than we do) as backing. My point was that we were given specific instruction to DO THIS AND DO IT THIS WAY - not very different from the direct command to "eat my flesh and drink my blood, do this in rememberence of me." If you pay attention there are obvious times when Jesus spoke literally to give specific direction to the Apostles, and this is one of those times.
One (not necessarily from the Catichism) explanation goes something like this.
Suppose your son throws a ball through your window - and you saw him do it. You love him, you want to forgive him for it. You see the pain he is going through because he knows he did something wrong. But for healing, it is importance for him to tell you he is sorry, and most importantly - for him to accept your forgiveness.
The priest, acting in persona Christi, helps us to accept God's mercy and forgiveness. We need that sacramental help.
Originally Posted By mousehunter:
One (not necessarily from the Catichism) explanation goes something like this.
Suppose your son throws a ball through your window - and you saw him do it. You love him, you want to forgive him for it. You see the pain he is going through because he knows he did something wrong. But for healing, it is importance for him to tell you he is sorry, and most importantly - for him to accept your forgiveness.
The priest, acting in persona Christi, helps us to accept God's mercy and forgiveness. We need that sacramental help.
To go a step farther with regards to penance (I've used this here before but it still applies)...
Jr. wants some jiuce, and you tell him you'll help him in just a minute.
- He takes it upon himself to pour the juice and spills it all over the floor. He messed up and didn't obey like he should have (the sin).
- He admits what he did was wrong (the confession) and you forgive him (the mercy/grace).
- Now, he has to mop up the spill because the spiritual damage has been rectified, but the physical, worldly damage has to be address (penance).
Credit goes to the local priest for that example. It has made a quite a few people have an "Oh, I see....." moment.
Good point. Forgiveness does not mean the consequences of the action go away.
