Question for Catholics

[Rosehip]

Do you go to confession regularly (or occasionally or not at all)? Do you like confessing?

I have not gone in probably 15+ years, since my confirmation, I believe.

I have been coming very slowly more intrigued and involved in fits and starts since my first was born 4 years ago. Though I am not totally comfortable with some of the teachings at this point, I feel as though my faith is growing, and certainly my desire to be part of the Catholic community, both locally and in a broader sense.

In any event, over the past several years, I'm occasionally felt a longing to go to confession. I really like the idea of repentance and redemption, and learning from one's mistakes. I do have some reservations about the process - the idea of a priest as intermediary strikes me as, I don't know, perhaps voyeuristic? I've also got a little, silly fear that when I say "It has been 17 years..." the priest will say, "WHAT?!? Public flogging for you!" Ok, not really, but you get the point.

So, I'm not sure what I'm looking for here, but can you give me your thoughts or guidance on confession maybe?

[FiveLittleMonkeys]

In the last few years, I have gotten back to regularly going to confession. I found that when my oldest made her First Communion a few years back, I couldn't ask her to go to Reconciliation and not go myself.

It wasn't anything like I remembered it from when we were forced to go once a week in school. It's more like a talk about what I'm struggling with, and advice on how to lead a more holy life.

It had been at least 15 years since my last confession, and the priest said nothing about it. It was scary that first time, but I actually like going now. More importantly, I feel like I am setting a good example for our kids, and they like going as well.

[spero]

Love the Sacramental practice of speaking to the Lord about my sins, and asking forgiveness. I do it regularly. I don't practice the ritual of private confession though a priest, however.

[sagewinna]

We go at least 2 times a year, during Advent and Lent. Sometimes more often.

Even though I feel nervous before hand, I feel really light and free afterward, like a great burden is lifted. My kids love going as well, my DH gets really anxious about it.

[moonshoes]

I receive the Sacrament regularly, and I can tell you that when I went for the first time after 20 years away, it was such an amazing spiritual awakening I wished I hadn't put it off for so long!

There is no judgement,only forgiveness. If you feel called to receive the Sacrament, don't be afraid. You will find peace and strength..

I would like to add that confession with a priest is not a ritual, it is a Sacrament and thus integral to our spiritual practice as Catholics.

[Rosehip]

Thanks for all the replies. In thinking about this tonight, I remembered at least part of the reason for my nervousness. As a kid, I remember panicking before confession - WHAT would I confess?? EVERYTHING? Jaywalking? Is that a sin? I would go blank, and try to think of things that I'd done wrong, in an anxious "I've got to give a presentation in 5 minutes and I haven't got a single thing planned" kind of way.

It was like I needed to keep a notepad with me at all times to record my sins. I'm imperfect, on a daily basis. Is not putting a quarter in the parking meter b/c I'll only be in the store a minute a sin? Where does this stop and start?

Whew - this brought back a mini flood of 3rd grade anxiety!

[Deir]

Toasty toes- I am right there with you!!!

[claddaghmom]

I guess not real regularly....it's not the most easily accessible sacrament...


I always tend to put it off for a month or so, but when I do go, it feels really good.

Penance is just like all the other sacraments...God uses objects as symbols and a human as His representative.

[Bluegoat]

For people who haven't been for a long time, they don't usually ask you to provide every little sin. You can concentrate on big ones (murder, adultery) and ones that are an ongoing problem (anger.)

[kapatasana]

I remember the last time I went to confession was when I was around 15 (I no longer practice Christianity). The priest was a good friend of my family and spent most of the time telling me what a nice young lady I was
Not what I expected (though I was a really really well behaved non-rebellious teenager).
The first time I went when I was 9 I was so nervous I forgot the act of contrition and the priest had to go through it line by line with me. Then I cried. A lot.

[spero]

Originally Posted by moonshoes

I would like to add that confession with a priest is not a ritual, it is a Sacrament and thus integral to our spiritual practice as Catholics.

The confession to God and asking forgiveness is the Sacrament. Using the priest as an intermediary is the ritual.

A ritual never produces a Sacrament; rather, it's the mirror of the Sacrament that has already taken place.

The Catholic Church was in existence for 400+ years before private confession to a priest was instituted, so it's not one of those things that "always was".

[KYCat]

I do NOT go regularly but always feel better after I do. I just wanted to discuss the role of the priest. The way that it was described to me was that the priest was the representative for the church community. So while you can obviously speak directly to God to ask forgiveness, the priest is there to grant forgiveness in the name of the community to help with your repentance.

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by spero

The confession to God and asking forgiveness is the Sacrament. Using the priest as an intermediary is the ritual.

A ritual never produces a Sacrament; rather, it's the mirror of the Sacrament that has already taken place.

The Catholic Church was in existence for 400+ years before private confession to a priest was instituted, so it's not one of those things that "always was".

I suppose you could confess as directed by James 5: 16 which is to discuss your sins with the entire congregation.

I have to admit I'm a little surprised by your opinion. Does your parish as a whole accept the same view or is it just your own?

[spero]

It isn't my opinion, it is Church history and teaching.

There IS a difference between a Sacrament and a ritual. A ritual can never produce a Sacrament, nor does lack of ritual deny a Sacrament. Have you never heard of Spiritual Communion (for those who are physically unable to partake of the Communion ritual)?

St. Patrick (who wasn't even Catholic) instituted the practice of private confession to a priest in the 5th century.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by spero

It isn't my opinion, it is Church history and teaching.

There IS a difference between a Sacrament and a ritual. A ritual can never produce a Sacrament, nor does lack of ritual deny a Sacrament. Have you never heard of Spiritual Communion (for those who are physically unable to partake of the Communion ritual)?

St. Patrick (who wasn't even Catholic) instituted the practice of private confession to a priest in the 5th century.

You state this factually.

Is this a Biblical passage? (Although the Bible wasn't always around, so I guess that isn't something you use?)

Is this in the CCC?

Or is this a definition you arrived at individually?

[BMG580]

Originally Posted by spero

It isn't my opinion, it is Church history and teaching.

:

I would love to see some of your sources. Maybe we are discussing two different things here - I am discussing the need for Reconciliation with the Church, you are discussing forgiveness of your sins from God. Both are an integral part of the process of admitting to sin and being sincerely sorry for it, being forgiven by God, performing penance and being reunited with the body of Christ.

Here are several snippets from texts written very early in the history of the Church:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

The CCC discusses the history of reconciliation in the Church until now, and the function of reconciliation as a Sacrament. I just referenced paragraphs 1440-1448 and reread what the Church teaches.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by Charbeau

:

I would love to see some of your sources. Maybe we are discussing two different things here - I am discussing the need for Reconciliation with the Church, you are discussing forgiveness of your sins from God. Both are an integral part of the process of admitting to sin and being sincerely sorry for it, being forgiven by God, performing penance and being reunited with the body of Christ.

Here are several snippets from texts written very early in the history of the Church:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

The CCC discusses the history of reconciliation in the Church until now, and the function of reconciliation as a Sacrament. I just referenced paragraphs 1440-1448 and reread what the Church teaches.

Hmm, yeah I would too. As far as I can tell:

From John's Gospel:

21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

From the Catechism

1456 Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: "All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly."

In the early Church, the sickness and death of a Christian was sometimes the result of his own sinful behavior. (See Acts 5:1-10; 1 Corinthians 11:30) The Bible tells the sick (and sinful) Christian not to just pray privately but to call for the elders (priests) of the Church and confess his sins and have them pray over him (and anoint him with oil, in the name of the Lord) that he might be healed and his sins forgiven. (James 5:14-16)

There's ton more...but if Spero is attempting to argue that 400 years before official declaration makes something wrong...then we can't use the Bible????

[spero]

Community confession/The Act of Penitence within the context of the liturgy and Penance Services serve the purpose of Reconciliation IMO.

I don't exepct any diehards to agree, that's OK. I was just answering the OP.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by spero

Community confession/The Act of Penitence within the context of the liturgy and Penance Services serve the purpose of Reconciliation IMO.

I don't exepct any diehards to agree, that's OK. I was just answering the OP.

Okay, but you keep stating this as a fact, not as a personal interpretation. I think that's on the low when you're talking to people who may not be familiar with their religious teachings. That's misleading.

If you have a personal opinion, that's one thing. But saying "the church teaches X" or implying it, isn't fair to the person trying to learn.

[moonshoes]

Originally Posted by spero

It isn't my opinion, it is Church history and teaching.

There IS a difference between a Sacrament and a ritual. A ritual can never produce a Sacrament, nor does lack of ritual deny a Sacrament. Have you never heard of Spiritual Communion (for those who are physically unable to partake of the Communion ritual)?

St. Patrick (who wasn't even Catholic) instituted the practice of private confession to a priest in the 5th century.

Of course there is a difference between a ritual and a Sacrament. And the Sacrament of Penance is a Sacrament according to Church teaching. It does not matter how/when it was instituted, it matters that it is one of the Seven Sacraments of the Church. We can discuss all day long about how it changed over the centuries and it would be an interesting discussion. HOwever, if one is calling the practice of confessing with a priest simply a ritual, one does not understand Church teaching or what it means to receive sacraments. If I felt I didn't need a priest at my marriage, have I received the Sacrament of Marriage simply by exchanging vows with my husband? Does my child receive the sacrament of baptism if I and my husband pour oil on its head and recite prayers? I think not.

This is of course not an "offical source" but it may be useful. From catholic.org:

"THE CHURCH THUS TEACHES:

The Church has the power to forgive all sins. This forgiveness of sins is a true sacrament instituted by Christ, different from baptism, particularly on account of its judicial form. Sins are forgiven only by the sacrament of penance. Sins are forgiven by absolution which can only be given by an authorized priest. It is a real judicial pardon. The Church has the power to reserve certain cases.


Confession must cover all mortal sins committed since baptism and not previously confessed. Venial sins, and sins already confessed can validly be confessed. And satisfaction. The effect of the sacrament is reconciliation with God, that is, the remission of sins and the eternal punishment but not all the temporal punishment."

My goodness, do not our priests receive Holy Orders from God?? Are we to be so proud that we do not need our priests?