Did you realize that you do not need to confess to a priest and that confessing to yourself works better?

Question

I have found that if I "confess" to myself, it works much better than priest confession. And I don't confess "sins" to myself either. I confess to myself if I've been lying to myself or supressing thoughts. It's very cathartic. I try to do it at least once a week, but sometimes daily. I just write out all my thoughts and admit things to myself that may be painful to admit, but they are more painful to keep inside and I feel much better once I can admit something to myself. I am just totally honest with myself and I pour everything out with the confidence that no one else is going to see it. My point is, it does not have to be told to another person. The priest is not necessary for confession, not even another person is necessary.
Confessing to a priest is uncomfortable, creepy and unnecessary. Besides, relying on priests is basically like granting them magic powers.
Do you confess to yourself? How does it work for you? Have you ever confessed to a priest? I did once and never again

There's no jesus, no judgement day. That is the catholics' sick revenge fantasy.

The only person that needs to forgive me is myself.

Answer 1

This sacrament is rooted in the mission God gave to Christ in his capacity as the Son of man on earth to go and forgive sins (cf. Matt. 9:6). Thus, the crowds who witnessed this new power "glorified God, who had given such authority to men" (Matt. 9:8; note the plural "men"). After his resurrection, Jesus passed on his mission to forgive sins to his ministers, telling them, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. . . . 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 20:21–23).

Since it is not possible to confess all of our many daily faults, we know that sacramental reconciliation is required only for grave or mortal sins—but it is required, or Christ would not have commanded it.

Over time, the forms in which the sacrament has been administered have changed. In the early Church, publicly known sins (such as apostasy) were often confessed openly in church, though private confession to a priest was always an option for privately committed sins. Still, confession was not just something done in silence to God alone, but something done "in church," as the Didache (A.D. 70) indicates.

Penances also tended to be performed before rather than after absolution, and they were much more strict than those of today (ten years’ penance for abortion, for example, was common in the early Church).

But the basics of the sacrament have always been there, as the following quotations reveal. Of special significance is their recognition that confession and absolution must be received by a sinner before receiving Holy Communion, for "[w]hoever . . . eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27).

The Didache

"Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [A.D. 70]).

The Letter of Barnabas

"You shall judge righteously. You shall not make a schism, but you shall pacify those that contend by bringing them together. You shall confess your sins. You shall not go to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of light" (Letter of Barnabas 19 [A.D. 74]).

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 2

I've gone only when forced. The last time I went I didn't even have to say anything bad I did, he just kind of talked to me and I just had to say "Yeah, uh-huh" the whole time (Which was nice, I had been at the Church for over an hour and that's the place I hate the most).

What I'm not sure of is why we couldn't just ask God for forgiveness. Seems a lot easier.

Answer 3

We discussed this at a recent Inquiry session. Confessing to a priest represents the "community" aspect of Catholicism, it's asking the community's forgiveness as well. She explained that most religions are "me and God", but that Catholicism is "me, God and the community".

Answer 4

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

That is why people confess to the Priests. Because Jesus gave them the authority to forgive sins...so you're not granting them "magic powers" Jesus did that Himself.

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I just thought about something for you to ponder...if it is uncomfortable for you to confess your sins to another man...how uncomfortable do you think it will be to confess them to Jesus Himself of judgment day?

Answer 5

You do not need to ask forgiveness to the preist regarding your sin. Ask forgiveness directly to God and ask apology to the person concern, I mean to the very person whom you have committed a sin, then to God.

The priest can not forgive your sin because he is also a mankind like you are and also bound to commit sin against all of us.Do not call him father because the father is in heaven.
jtm

Answer 6

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, HE (Jesus Christ) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Answer 7

That IS right in a way.
Saying them out loud is the KEY!
The more POSITIVE you are with yourself--your LIFE starts to be more positive. Have you noticed?
I GIVE YOU FOUR STARS!!

I do talk to myself BUT --when I'm having a REALLY crappy day--I may even need a hug--which I tell somebody. People are ALWAYS ready to give you a hug--because they've
BEEN THERE, you know?


You NEED to talk things out and when you say them out loud-to God --or YOURSELF--or a friend-You are getting them OFF your chest. THEN THEY"RE GONE!
I

Answer 8

Confess to God not to priest

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalms 32:5