Comments for In the Time of My Confession at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 32 out of 20 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:17:24 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-7154 If a person is giving a Face to Face confession (by appointment) should that person be on their knees while doing so? And can you clasp your hands together and keep them down, or how? - Jennifer Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:59:30 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-6222 In the confessional, the depth of God's love is made manifest. Emerging from the confessional, one is confronted with peace that passeth all understanding. The sacrament of reconciliation(confessing to the preist ) and the catholic priesthood are great gifts given to catholics( in deed the chriatian world ) by God, which non-catholics can not appreciate from their distant station from Rome. - Uche Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:20:31 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-6122 I am late to this string and will likely be unread. But, at age 49, I began the practice of at least monthly confession, and have been fairly consistent over the last three years. When times are tough, I go more frequently. The examination of conscience prepares me to face, in honesty, my defects of love. While I sometimes pull on only the small strings of venial minutia, I am always eventually confronted with the essential questions: Have I loved? Can I love? Will I love? And these questions are, if anything, the sturdy lifelines that help tie me to the Mystical Body of Christ. I emerge from my participation in the sacrament more aware, more forgiving, more patient, and more open to the souls of the persons I encounter. I decrease but God increases in many unusual ways - from the mutually recognizable goodwill of many strangers to small but intense moments of mutual forgiveness between loved ones and myself. I think that is where God lays: between the recognition of one's sinfulness and the suffering attainment of a State of Grace. With Grace, I am more honest, open, less fearful and more hopeful. I am, for a brief time, a small saint. It seems a whiff of heaven. - Noah Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:25:37 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-6031 Re the need for physical confession to a priest: As a human being comprising a unity of body and soul, confessing out loud in person to Jesus' authorized agent provides physical dimensions to repentance, humility, sorrow, forgiveness and reconciliation not available through a spiritual confession alone (although like other Catholics I do confess directly to Jesus through prayer as well). - Christian Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:31:20 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5953 dear mr. constantine and all protestants who may be reading this site, first of all, let me bow to the excellent teaching Lee and Kevin have simply stated in a very small space. i have only this to offer; it was today's (Sunday, Feb 6th) 2nd reading. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God." this AM i was the Lector at my Church. i do not know why this happened; i certainly did not plan it. but upon proclaiming the Word i became physically struck with the Holy Spirit breathing His Word to all of us (of course, He always does this, i just don't personally experience Him in my physical body, ALL my senses...): "..that your faith may not rest on human wisdom, but on the power of GOD." it is in fact this very POWER OF GOD WHO comes and cleanses my soul of my sins in the Sacraments. human beings like to reason and argue and debate and study and find out "why" and that is how God made us and is fine. However, when we stop there, when we refuse to step out in Faith and take Christ Jesus the Lord at His Word, whether we understand with our mind or not, we lose. we lose the POWER OF GOD. i do not mean to be "graphic" but honestly, receiving All Christ bestowed upon us through the Church He established, is a Union of Body Spirit Soul, Mind Will Emotion, Natural and Supernatural Life, a complete and total self-giving and receiving of all. No less than a Bride abandons all of Herself with all Her Being to the embrace of her Husband who gives all of Himself, the very seed of Eternal Life- All for Her-There is No Other. This Union - This Communion can be ours in the Holy Spirit only by offering all of our being to Him HIS WAY. Let me know NOTHING but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Let all persuasive words, all human wisdom, melt before the Power Of God Who joins me to Him through His Love poured out on the Cross and bestowed to me by the Lavish Boundless Forgiveness He bathes me in in Confession and Holy Eucharist. Constantine, come all the way Home to Rome. He waits for you. p.s. you too Grump, if you're still on...praying for you both. - debby Sun, 06 Feb 2011 06:50:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5952 The Sacrament of Confession has been the most difficult part of being a practicing Catholic after a late-in-life conversion to the Church. Some of this is simply emotional or psychological -- revealing sin and weaknesses to someone I don't know. A young seminarian assured me that finding a father confessor that we can trust is often a matter of searching. Conversely, as someone who did enter therapy as a young man, I had a similar diffculty laying open my life to someone that not only did I not know, but whose values and beliefs were also completely unknown. I once sat silently through an hour session. Benedict XVI rightly has wondered aloud why rational secularist rarely seem to question total faith in a stranger. At least a priest, especially one who has supervised the RCIA classes, is someone who shares faith, belief, and a Catholic world view. Trust is far more rational in this sacramental context. That said, so far I'm averaging one confession every year and half. Not good enough. As for that feeling of lightness and relief that so many attest to, I've found that forgiveness begins with the act of reconciliation. It doesn't end after I walk out of the confessional (which, has now been converted into a room with two chairs, a table -- all of which looks like a mini-therapy office except for the comforting presence of a crucifix.) - Graham Combs Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:32:00 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5951 When Jesus' words are recorded, it is important for the reader to distinguish whether He is speaking to the crowd or only, in private, to His Apostles. Words spoken to the crowd do not bear the same significance as words spoken only to the Apostles, who are the first Bishops of the Church and who are given the task of passing them on in their fullest meaning to their successors. That is a distinction that I never heard made in my Protestant days. - Louise Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:28:08 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5950 Constantine's final lines reveal a misunderstanding of Catholic practice that is the basis for so many of the fundamental disagreements between Protestant and Catholic Christians: he believes that Catholics believe that the priest (the man himself) is somehow forgiving the sins of the repentant sinner. This is incorrect. The priest functions through all of the sacraments "in persona Christi", i.e., as Christ Himself, hence the priest functioning as a man has no power on his own to forgive sins. But acting as the person of Christ and hearing the confession of the Catholic sinner, he follows Christ's exact instructions to the Eleven on the Pentecost, as Dr. Beckwith refers to in this article; he goes out and forgives or retains sins as Christ, not as Father So-and-So. The words of the sacrament of confession bear this out, for the priest says, "I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Christ speaks those words of absolution--the priest is only His instrument. The same is the case when the priest confects the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood during the consecration at Mass--he is only an instrument for Christ and speaking in Christ's name to call down the Holy Spirit to perform the miracle of the consecration. No man has the power to confect the Eucharist on his own. - Kevin in Texas Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:37:44 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5949 Mr. Constantine, you write,"For Catholics to maintain that any man is instrumental in the forgiveness of sins is to take the side of the Pharisees and not the side of Christ." "The angel does not argue. He gives with pleasure. What he gives is not proof, but tidings." You are mistaken. In the confessional we confess our sins to Jesus Christ, and the priest in the person of Jesus Christ absolves us of them. You have no idea of what the Catholic priesthood is. "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.... Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:23). Such are the tidings we offer you. How are you going to explain the scriptures to us? On what authority? In all charity, who sent you? We have the teaching about Confession from the apostles and their successors. We don't listen to other voices, for Christ said, "He who hears you, hears me." And -aside from all other considerations- we recognize his voice. - Lee Gilbert Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:29:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5948 (later) All these Bible verses, these "proof texts" that get tossed around to prove whatever anyone wants to prove, prove only one thing: when you try to stand on a one-legged stool, you fall on your face--or your backside. :) The Church that Jesus founded stands steadily and securely on three legs: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Jesus' own, unbroken promise to Peter, aka: the Magisterium. Without all three legs under a person, a person can fall off in any direction. Even the devil can quote Scripture--and did. But, as I said, "It's 'The Catholic Thing.' " - Louise Sat, 05 Feb 2011 07:27:41 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5947 Thank you for your good wishes, Mr. Constantine, I wish you well, also. Re: Sacramental confession: We can just say that it's part of "The Catholic Thing." - Louise Sat, 05 Feb 2011 05:26:42 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5946 "Thus, it became clear to me that Christianity requires some way to deal with post-baptismal sin...." There is the idea that once you are saved you NO LONGER SIN. The idea of being free from "sin" not just its consequences. 1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." - Jon Rowe Sat, 05 Feb 2011 05:03:58 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5945 Grump, thanks for sharing that, I too have sinned much more than I have been sinned against. I too am 'filthy rags'. My heart breaks at your words. You have a good mind and claim to have a recalcitrant heart, but if you are as bad as you say there is hope. I too can not understand the suffering of the children. On your story, I surely would not want to cause pain or pry, so forgive the intrusion please. As to your worth for salvation, there is no question. You are of incalculable intrinsic worth. It is in our pride that we cultivate habits that apparently devalue our worth and this illusion is very powerful, I should know it seems I have been given more pride than my share. I am most disheartened by the loss of your faith and I fervently pray that your suffering becomes redemptive. Leon Bloy said, “the only real tragedy is to not become a saint.” If you would like to talk to me next week by email I would very much like that, and if not, I keep you in my heart and in my prayers, please keep me in yours. It is but a splinter of light separates us at the moment. Your brother in Christ, achilles - Achilles Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:51:47 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5944 Dr. Beckwith, It is always interesting to see Catholics try to justify sacramentalism with a Marcion-like disregard for the Old Testament. In fact, a quick review of your article shows 30 citations from the New Testament and none from the Old! Did the Old Testament – which Jesus affirmed down to the smallest key stroke (Matthew 5:17-21) – have nothing to say on the matter? I think it did. God the Father, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, promised that He would create a New Covenant with “people of Israel and with the people of Judah” signifying His elect. God's promise to His covenant children is that He will “forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34). This passage is so critical that the writer of Hebrews includes it twice (Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:16-17). In all three instances, God's covenant children have their sins forgiven before the inception of the New Covenant – not after. And certainly not after some sacrament. So when one reads about the “wrongdoers” in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 one sees that Paul is talking about those outside the covenant. Likewise, those referred to in Galatians 5:19-21 as those “who live like this”. And surely one cannot read Ephesians 5 as referring to “backsliders” without erasing the surety promised to the same Ephesians in chapter 1. Those Ephesians who were chosen “before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph 1:3) and who were were “marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit GUARANTEEING our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession”(Eph. 1:13-14). To do so makes a mockery of the entire letter. And I am left wondering if you read the J.N.D. Kelly paragraph you refer to. When you say that “by the beginning of the third century, the ecclesial and theological elements on which today’s private confession is based”, Kelly says, “In spite of the ingenious arguments of certain scholars, there are still NO SIGNS OF A SACRAMENT OF PRIVATE PENANCE( i.e. confession to a priest, followed by absolution and the imposition of a penance) such as Catholic Christendom knows to-day.” (emphasis added) (Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian doctrines, 5th ed. Continuum, 2008, p. 316). And that comes directly from the page to which you linked! Are Catholics really so gullible as to fall for this sleight of hand? At any rate, here is the irony of the Catholic sacrament of confession. For those who are covenant children, the sacrament has no effect because God the Father is good to his Word and they have been forgiven, in advance. For those who are Roman Catholics that are outside of the covenant nothing they can do can override the will of God so the sacrament is nothing but the raising of false hope. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Jesus disapproves of sacramental confession in Mark 2. In this passage, seeking to prove His divinity, Jesus forgives the sins of the paralytic. The Pharisees, not realizing Christ as God, ask “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7) But Jesus is “God alone” and that is precisely why He can forgive sins (in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies!). For Catholics to maintain that any man is instrumental in the forgiveness of sins is take the side of the Pharisees and not the side of Christ. I wish you well. Peace. - Constantine Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:31:43 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5943 One thing you don't mention, Dr. Beckwith - and I'd be curious if this IS a factor for you...is the psychological component that in the Sacrament of Reconciliation you make yourself accountable verbally to another, which, for any of us - certainly 'raises the stakes' of the nature of 'confession.' Having begun with my 1st Confession in a darkened box pre-Vatican 2 terrified - then in adulthood leaving Catholicism and relishing throwing off the 'constraints' of my faith ( and ESPECIALLY Confession to a priest)....then returning as a repentent Catholic 2 years ago - that moment of looking in the face of a priest and unburdening my heart of its sins was the most freeing experience of forgiveness I ever had in my adult life. I continue with face to face Confession with this humble priest and I find that the mere fact of that kind of accountability is yet one more weapon in my possession to not be 'led into temptation'. I simply want to please my Lord with obedience and the thought of disappointing HIM and sharing this with the one in Apostolic sucession to stand in that place for me - is a great help in the process of becoming more like Jesus - our baptismal goal. Our dear Reformation-Christians have no idea of what they are missing. - Diane Peske Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:00:36 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5942 I remember my first confession, after having been a Protestant for 25 years - and with a lot of stuff to confess. I went into the confessional (this was 15 years ago) terrified. I came out - I can't tell you how it made me feel - I have tears at the memory. I wanted to run and shake my fellow Reformed mates and shout at them, "Man, you don't know what you are missing!! Run, do not walk, to the nearest priest, tell him you want to be a Catholic. Do not wait!" The Blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin - it does, and it is applied in the Confessional. I go to Confession every week now. After the Eucharist, it is the best thing the Church has to offer. - John Thayer Jensen Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:54:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5941 Rudy, do those little groups of people one confesses to as you described keep your sins secret? I'd guess you can't count on it despite instructions that "whatever is said here stays here." I got out of the Catholic Church for awhile, went to a nondenominational church and student fellowship and believed that I could confess "straight to God." It was frankly pretty useless to do so. My personal "I'm doing great" filter was just too thick. I can't tell you the indescribable joy the day I returned to the Church and made my first good confession. I have gone frequently ever since. There's nothing like it. I'm glad the Church "makes" us do it. - Kathy Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:19:11 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5939 Achilles, I do not think TCT would permit my story, even in outline form, to be printed here. I have never claimed to be "good." In fact, I would agree with God that I am "filthy rags," which is why I do not think I am worthy of salvation. I will omit details, except to say that I have sinned more than I have been sinned against. Nonetheless, like Ivan Karamazov in The Karamazov Brothers, I cannot possibly understand why God allows innocent children to suffer; adults, I can understand, but not children. It was a personal experience many years ago, and a disappointment of great proportions, that caused me to lose my faith -- a faith that I cannot seem to regain. - Grump Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:52:28 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5938 My biblical studies prof, a Catholic, went to Fuller Theological for his graduate work and in class one day as the students were reading through John in Greek they came across the passage at John 20:23- "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them. Whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." If they had ever seen that passage before, it didn't strike them then as it did now. They cornered my prof after class and questioned him closely about it. Then they went to a local Catholic Church to confess their sins, since we are the only Church (the Orthodox excepted, of course)that claims to have the power of absolution. And that, of course, is critical. Confess your sins however much you wish to your pastor, to your prayer group, to God in Heaven, until someone with the power to do so absolves you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, you have every reason to wonder whether you are absolved of your sins. - Lee Gilbert Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:24:12 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/in-the-time-of-my-confession.html#comment-5937 Thanks Grump. It seems to me that your cry is one of the good man baffled by the failed enlightenment, just as I was baffled for my first 40 years. Only I had a distinct advantage over you, I was not a good man, and in all likelihood, still am not. It is your honesty that is most compelling. I was ambushed, God pulled out the big guns with me. I met a woman 5 years ago and she invited me and my family to visit a catholic church, and I said “it will be a cold day in hell when I set foot in a catholic church.” It is a long and shameful story. St. Augustine said “foolish is the man who tries to see god with the bodily eyes, it is through the lens of the heart only that we can see God and the lens is not clear. How do we clear the lens? Through faith.” (my bad paraphrase) He was speaking of the Beatitude “Blessed are the pure in heart…” and said that living the Beatitudes that lead up to the pure in heart was the way to cleanse the lens. Grump, I would love to hear your story. Achilles - Achilles Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:22:10 +0100