People out there who are catholic say that praying to god is good to cleanse you of sins, but confessing to a priest is also equally good. And doing both would be . . . well . . . awesome.
But there are some people on here that do not believe in confessions and argue about it not being true.
I am a Catholic but I am extremely confused about this, I have been taught that confession and Penance is a way but people here have been playing a tug of war on my faith because of the dispute over confession.
It even says in the bible confessions through a holy man (who are tools of god and messengers for him) is accepted . . .
Please help me.
2006-10-19 19:01:39 · 7 answers · asked by Roy G 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as shall, in the exercise of penance, return into the unity of the Church, these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ" (Letter to the Philadelphians 3 [A.D. 110]).
2006-10-19 19:16:26 · update #1
Sounds to me like you have put everything together well.
The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."
When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.
Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.
Here are some Bible verses on orally confessing sins:
James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Acts 19:18 - Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.
Matthew 3:5-6 - At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
Mark 1:5 - People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
1 Timothy 6:12 - Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 John 1:9 - If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
Numbers 5:6-7 - "Tell the Israelites: If a man (or a woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus breaking faith with the LORD, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restore his ill-gotten goods in full, and in addition give one fifth of their value to the one he has wronged."
Nehemiah 9:2 - Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers.
Sirach 4:26 - Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.
Keep the faith!
With love in Christ.
2006-10-21 15:07:24 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
.Your belief is your help! The only authoritive source for our belief is the bible. In order to accept the bible as the ultimate authoritive source you must also believe that it was written under the influence of God, so that only truth is within the pages.
If this is not your belief, then there is no reason to discuss any idea, part, belief, issues surrounding Hebrew or Christian faith. That also includes Islam because their faith is founded on the Old Testament.
Your issues seem to be that you do not READ the bible. You may have read some chapters but you have not read the book.
Before Christ rose into heaven, He told Peter, "you are the rock upon which I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Who so ever sins are forgiven, are forgiven, who so ever sins are retained, are retained".
In the last book it is written, these are the words of GOD, nothing shall be added and nothing shall be taken away!
The priest never does the work of God or Jesus by himself, as a man. The Eucharist/Holy Communion, baptism, confession are all done by Christ acting thru the priest before you.
Do you think that man alone could offer the Eucharist? How should a man, by himself change water into wine and bread into the body of Christ?
If you believe and except the Eucharist, baptism, walking on water, rises after three days, and all of the mericals done by the disciples in Christ’s name, why do you have issues with the merical of confession? Unless you do not believe that the church is the same church that Christ created and promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
You need to sort out where your own belief, if any, is. The world cannot help you do that
2006-10-20 02:46:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. I'm a practicing catholic and I go to confession at least once a month. Christ, is the high priest and through His Church he gave man{catholic priests} the formula and the power to forgive sins. When a priest says "I absolve you" the invisible Christ is really the One saying these words using the priest's vocal chordes. So like when Christ was on earth 2000 years ago forgiving sins, He is still doing it now 'till the end of the world. Confession is a sort of mystery just like how can Jesus be present in the Eucharist. This is how Christ established the sacraments for us to benefit from. Its really Jesus forgiving you not the priest, but Christ wanted catholic priests to be His instruments. It started with the apostles. You are really hearing Christ through the vocal chordes of a catholic priest when he says "I absolve you of your sins. I promise you that everytime you go to confession you will feel inner peace and best of all you will be cleansed of all the filth that was on your soul. So please just do it. Only good can come of it. Confession is proof of God's Mercy.
2006-10-20 02:23:23 · answer #3 · answered by injesu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excuse me, it does not say that confessions through a "holy man" is accepted. The bible says this: "for there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ". The bible does say confess your sins one to another, but that isn't in the role of the confessor that Catholics have made it. It means for us to tell each other (believers) about things we are stuggling with, that we may pray for each other.
2006-10-20 02:04:52 · answer #4 · answered by Esther 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible says that there is on meidator between us and God, and that is Christ , it also says if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us. So why should we confess our sins to another man when Christ is our meidator between us and God? Who is the one that is going to forgive you, the priest or Christ. Who's name do you call on to get saved? The priest or Christ? We can't save ourselves and the priest can't save us , Romans 10:13 says that WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, so since he is the one that died for our sins and we are to call on him to be saved, then who do we confess our sins to? Who is holier Christ or a priest or pastor? Just some points to ponder and study out.
2006-10-20 02:19:08 · answer #5 · answered by judy_derr38565 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True Christians PRAY and Confess to GOD via JESUS ALONE............not even HIS mom gets involved!
NO ONE is to be called FATHER except GOD-- THAT is in The BIBLE.
The Bible also states that we (True Christians) are ALL Priests!
Better read the URL below-- even more info.>>
2006-10-20 02:06:13 · answer #6 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
do three holy fathers and six hail marys
2006-10-20 02:02:55 · answer #7 · answered by jqdsilva 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋