What are the ‘Sweetest Words’? How about, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” ~Luke 5:20.
Or maybe you prefer, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin anymore.” ~John 8:11.
When we go to Confession, we have the opportunity to actually hear that our sins are forgiven. We hear the words of absolution said aloud. Whether we are aware of it or not, it is good for us as human beings to admit our sinfulness, to put it into words and then to be told we have been forgiven.
While Catholics are only required to go to sacramental Confession when they are aware of having committed a mortal sin, the Church urges the faithful to take advantage of the sacrament often. Once per month is a good suggestion. In preparation for fulfilling our Easter Duty to receive Holy Communion, we should first go to Confession even if we are aware only of venial sin.
The value of a Confession to our relationship with God is based on the recognition we are all sinners. That isn’t a popular statement to make today—if in fact it ever was. People want to be told they have done good, not bad. We are certainly called to lives of holiness. So . . . what is sin?
Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with Him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1440)Jesus didn’t come into the world as Our Messiah, live, preach, suffer, die, rise from the dead and ascend back into Heaven with the promise to return again because we are a race of holy angels. He did all that because we are sinners and in need of Him. We know this whenever we ponder the mystery of a crucifix, the Real Presence or the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
What are you waiting for? Want some “sweet talk”? I know just the place to go for it. And this is what you will hear:
“God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”BEAUTIFUL!
8 comments:
It does bring me peace and joy to know that I am whole through Him.
Yes! Me too!
can I go to confession even if I am not Catholic?
Yeti, I'm not ignoring your question, but I hope to give you the best answer possible. So far I've sought out several people whose experience I value. Of course I could just give you an “official” answer from the Catechism and Canon Law, which while valid is not very personal and I'm not sure how helpful it would be to you. I believe you are asking the question as a seeker and/or a penitent. Am I correct? Or is it something else altogether?
I believe that there is something very powerful in conffesing our sins to others. Something which allows us closeness to God when we hear and believe that our sins are forgiven.
But I don't really ever confess my sins except to God alone, and even that I do not do very often.
It is not that I think that I have done something so bad that I must go to a Priest if I want God to forgive me,I think God will forgive me either way, but I think that there is something beautiful about Sacramental Confession (I think you blog addresses that) and that is something I want to experience.
And part of me is just curious.
An adult can walk into a confessional at anytime. There is nothing to stop you. All you have to do is kneel or sit down and ask to be forgiven your sins. The real question becomes “why” do you want to go to confession? What is your purpose or objective? A Catholic goes to confession not just to feel better but also because he/she knows that Jesus Christ gave Peter and the apostles the authority* to absolve people of their sins in His Name. We leave the confessional knowing our souls are truly cleansed of sin. The ‘authority’ to act in persona Christi has been handed down through the ages in what is known as Apostolic Succession and in turn passed on to priests through the laying-on-of-hands during the sacrament of Holy Orders. These are things Catholics profess to believe. If you can bring yourself to believe this, ask a trusted Catholic friend to find you a pastoral priest. Catholic confession is not a counseling session but some priests will make office appointments to sit and talk with you first about your confession, answering questions and helping you discern difficult moral matters. I will pray that the Holy Spirit leads you to such a holy priest. God bless you in your journey!
*‘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 20:19-23
Interesting thoughts. thanks for sharing that, I now feel like I have a better understanding.
The Creator intended for Mary from the beginning, the decisive role of crushing with his humility, purity and obedience, the head of the serpent of evil.
www.virgemdeguadalupe.blogspot.com
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