Catholics.... Sacrament of penance?

Question

1 John 1-2
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have ONE who speaks to the Father in our defense—JESUS CHRIST, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

Given the scripture above...

1. Why do you believe that your sins should be forgiven by absolution from a priest/pope/nun/bishop??

2. why do you all replace repentance with the sacrifice of penance?

Answer 1

Only Jesus can forgive... He paid the price... Jesus Paid it All...

Answer 2

John 20:22-23: "And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Jesus bestowed on the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. He did not bestow on them, though, the gift of being able to read other people's minds.

Therefore, the only way they could know which sins to forgive or retain is if they were told what the sins actually were!

The priest does not forgive our sins. God does that, through the actions of the priest administering the sacrament.

The act of penance does not replace repentance. It involves it.

The writings of many of the earliest Christian fathers speak of the necessity of auditory confession of sins to God through a priest. For a rundown, visit the section on the sacrament of penance/reconciliation on the Catholic Answers site.

...

Answer 3

+ Reconciliation +

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.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

Oral confessing of sins is recommended over and over in both the Old and New Testaments:
+ James 5:16
+ Acts 19:18
+ Matthew 3:5-6
+ Mark 1:5
+ 1 Timothy 6:12
+ 1 John 1:9
+ Numbers 5:6-7
+ Nehemiah 9:2
+ Sirach 4:26

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name of Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

Remember all sacraments are encounters with God. This sacrament is a healing encounter between God and the penitent.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1422 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

+ Penance +

Forgiveness does not depend on penance.

When you ask God for forgiveness, with or without a priest, your sins are forgiven.

However, raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his (or her) own full spiritual health. One way to help restore your spiritual health is to do 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 us be more like Christ, who alone makes amends our sins once for all.

The Code of Canon Law, Canon 981 states: The confessor is to impose salutary and suitable penances in accord with the quality and number of sins, taking into account the condition of the penitent. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3G.HTM

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1450 and following: http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm#1450

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 4

Before I answer this question, I must tell you that nuns do not hear Confessions nor Celebrate the Mass.

Now to answer your question:

The Gospel according to St. John chapter 20, Jesus, after Rising from the Dead, Tells His Apostles "whomsoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven. And whosever sins you retain, they are retained."

Answer 5

But how can man in his weakness, regain sanctifying grace once lost?
God in His infinite wisdom and mercy, not only gave us His only Son to open the gates of Heaven for us, but He gave us Baptism as the sacrament of our assent, and through which we claim the merits of Christ. God not only gave us the sacrament of Baptism, but also gave us the sacrament of Reconciliation in which we can receive His forgiveness of our sins committed subsequently, provided that we seek His forgiveness with a sincere and penitent heart.
But the Catholic Church teaches that priests forgive mortal sins, how can that be? The Catholic Church teaches that mortal sins committed subsequent to having received Baptism, can be forgiven BY God THROUGH His priests in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We have been given His word on it as follows:
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Cf. Jn 20:21-23)
"…And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…" (Cf. 2 Cor. 5:18)

Just as Original Sin is forgiven by God in the sacrament of Baptism through His priests, mortal sin is forgiven by God in the sacrament of Reconciliation through His priests.
http://www.call2holiness.org/faith.html



But to them first that are at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance. (Cf. Acts 26:20)



http://www.call2holiness.org/faith.html

Answer 6

One-Jesus forgives

Two-We do not, you misunderstand

Three-I advise you play more bingo, dance with members of the opposite sex and play sports-HAIL MARY QUEEN OF VICTORY PRAY FOR US!

Answer 7

They will give a bunch of rigmarole about Peter watching Jesus' sheep. You will not get a clear answer from them.