question about Catholic doctrine of penance...?

Question

what is the doctrine behind gaining penance and forgiveness through the "Hail Mary" prayer? first- i understand the "rosary" and it's deca-cycles so please dont explain that. just wondering why not go straight to Christ, redeemer of our sins, for forgiveness rather than focus alot, not all but alot, of prayer toward the Holy Mother during our confessions of sins?

all good answers, but what is the scripture stating that Mary is said "lawyer." was she ever addressed as an "intercesor" in Bible? alot of people thing we should follow Christs example, scripture, and add nothing else...

Answer 1

First of all it helps if you get the facts about Catholics from Catholics then you don't get a crazy mixed up story.

Confession has nothing to do with the Hail Mary. Confession is the act of going to a priest who listens to your sins on behalf of the community. Yes you should go to God but you also should ask forgiveness from all the people that your sin affected because the repercussions of your sin could reverberate in the world around you for a long time. Instead you go to a priest who stands in for all that may have been effected.

You also get a free listening ear and you have someone on this earth to whom you are now accountable. the idea that the sins are just between you and God is a real unsafe way to live as you could just stay in your rut of sin and slowly loose your relationship with Jesus.

The saying "confession is good for the soul" is more true than you can imagine until you have experienced it. FYI confession is a sacrament that you do not have to be Catholic to partake of. It is good for anyone who needs to clear the air or get something off their chest and be reassured of God's forgiveness in Christ.

The Hail Mary is taken from scripture and is a plea for intercessory prayer from the Holy Mother of Jesus who is happy to intercede for you. ANYONE who ascribes more power to Mary than this is a heretic and not a good representative of the Catholic Church. ANYONE who says that Catholics believe in more than one God is a heretic also. Many people became saints fighting against these heresies and even gave up thier lives so that we would have the truth of the Gospel message.

Answer 2

A priest is going to give you a penance that is appropriate for the sins you have committed. It can be quite a range of things such as apologizing to a person you've offended or doing something to fix the problem. Too often our sins mainly hurt ourselves and the priest may feel that we need time to spend with God in a meditative mode since it can make us more receptive to the Holy Spirit. The "Hail Mary" is very repetative and is a good meditative tool it is also a call to Mary to intercede on your behalf. As a Lutheran and former Catholic I would say they are asking for Mary to urge the Holy Spirit to come to them and strengthen them. Of course as a Lutheran I now just ask Him to come myself but we are a little more comfortable with "free form" prayer.

I always thought the "focus" on Mary was just because she was wholely human like us and might somehow be a little more understanding not being "GOD" and all! I have a different understanding now.

Answer 3

first, ur not forgiven for praying the Rosary, second. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all disorders caused by sin. While we are not capable of truly satisfying God for the evil we have done and its consequences, we must make satisfaction for our sin through some action or prayer that will express our desire to make amends and to repair something of the disorder, damage or harm which our sinful actions have brought into the world. The penance imposed takes into account the penitent's personal situation and serves to support his or her spiritual good. It corresponds as much as possible to the gravity of the sins confessed. It may be a prayer, an offering, works of mercy, sacrifices or service to another. But this penance is in a real way our share in the Cross and helps us to be more closely joined to

Answer 4

Because Jesus gave his Apostles the power to forgive Sins. He wouldn't have given them that power if He didn't intend it to be used. In any case, the Priest acts only as a proxy or an ambassador, Jesus is the one who forgives our sins in the Sacrament of Reconcilliation (Confession).

Penance does not cleanse us of our sins. Penance helps us to get back on the right track after losing our way. It is done after the Sacrament of Reconcilliation is finished. Saying the Hail Mary as penance helps us by asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to lead us back to her Son.

Answer 5

the 'Hail Mary' prayer is one of several prayers, not exclusively a penance prayer, nor is it the only one. For example, my first confession I was told to say the 'Our Father,' going, as you suggested, towards the Trinity itself. Some of the logic of proceeding through the Holy Mother is that she prays for us and is our role-model in a sinless life. Also, humans are often more comfortable prayer through her, a 'mere' human like us, whose sole merit was acceping Jesus into her life and living purely by this same acceptance. We turn to Mary because she influences Jesus- he respects and listens to the petitions of His Holy Mother. Just think, for example, of the wedding at Cana- his first miracle was prompted by her, despite his hesitations.

Answer 6

Catholics believe that a penitent person asking God for forgiveness:

+ Is contrite of heart. Contrition is sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.

+ Confesses his or her sins. Through such an admission the penitent person looks squarely at the sins he is guilty of, takes responsibility for them, and thereby opens himself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible.

+ Practices complete humility and fruitful satisfaction. God takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.
.....+ One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm against your neighbor (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries).
.....+ Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his own full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must make satisfaction for his sins. This satisfaction is also called "penance."

Penance can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we must bear. Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

You don't understand what the Rosary is.

The Rosary is a CONTEMPLATIVE prayer. Time spend in the Rosary is a quiet time to contemplate and reflect on the major events of the life of JESUS CHRIST as recorded in the Gospels.

We go to Jesus through his mother, Mary. Much the same as the servents did at the wedding at Cana. and then she tells us the same as she told them, "now do whatever He tell you."

Answer 8

because Mary is the Mediatrix of all graces. praying the Hail Mary is like asking the Blessed Virgin Mother to intercede for people who pray for forgiveness. the Virgin Mary is the most powerful intercessor before God, her being the daughter of God the Father, spouse of the Holy Spirit, and the mother of Jesus the Christ. by virtue of these relationships, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the most powerful in heaven next to the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit)

the power of the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession was first seen in the wedding at Cana. you can read up on that and see how Jesus did as His mother asked Him to do.. Jesus can never say no to Mother Mary.

Answer 9

You got it right!!

You can go straight to God (the Father, son Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit) and talk to Him like He is your best friend...because He IS!!

You don't need to go through any station such as Mother Mary, your priest or your pastor to get your prayers through to God. He knows what's inside your thoughts anyway. You just need to communicate directly with Him!!

Blessings to you!

Answer 10

It depends on the fashion of where you are for who is the saint of the hour for taking your sins to.

For example, if you're in Ireland, you might rely on St. Patrick more, or in France, St. Joan of Arc, or some other area there could be a favorite saint, like we had German families that rely on St. Therese of the Little Flower. It just depends on whom you feel most comfortable with or like telling your problems to. You can even sanctify your mother BEFORE she dies; many an Italian prays to his 'sainted mother' even though she's in the next room . . . .

It's a way to have minor gods in the religion, so that Christianity could effectively replace the pagan religions and be all things to all people.