To catholics like me, is there anyway other than confession to repent?

Answer 1

What about "plenary indulgence" - just pass through the archway, and all of your sins are cleared ;););););)

Answer 2

Why Is Confession Necessary?:

Non-Catholics, and even many Catholics, often ask whether they can confess their sins directly to God, and whether God can forgive them without going through a priest. On the most basic level, of course, the answer is yes, and Catholics should make frequent acts of contrition, which are prayers in which we tell God that we are sorry for our sins and ask for His forgiveness.

But the question misses the point of the Sacrament of Confession. The sacrament, by its very nature, confers graces that help us to live a Christian life, which is why the Church requires us to receive it at least once per year. Moreover, it was instituted by Christ as the proper form for the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, we should not only be willing to receive the sacrament, but we should embrace it as a gift from a loving God.

Answer 3

The Necessity and Practice of Orally Confessing Sins
James 5:16 - James clearly teaches us that we must “confess our sins to one another,” not just privately to God. James 5:16 must be read in the context of James 5:14-15, which is referring to the healing power (both physical and spiritual) of the priests of the Church. Hence, when James says “therefore” in verse 16, he must be referring to the men he was writing about in verses 14 and 15 – these men are the ordained priests of the Church, to whom we must confess our sins.

Acts 19:18 - many came to orally confess sins and divulge their sinful practices. Oral confession was the practice of the early Church just as it is today.

Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5 - again, this shows people confessing their sins before others as an historical practice (here to John the Baptist).

1 Tim. 6:12 - this verse also refers to the historical practice of confessing both faith and sins in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - if we confess are sins, God is faithful to us and forgives us and cleanse us. But we must confess our sins to one another.

Num. 5:7 - this shows the historical practice of publicly confessing sins, and making public restitution.

2 Sam. 12:14 - even though the sin is forgiven, there is punishment due for the forgiven sin. David is forgiven but his child was still taken (the consequence of his sin).

Neh. 9:2-3 - the Israelites stood before the assembly and confessed sins publicly and interceded for each other.

Sir. 4:26 - God tells us not to be ashamed to confess our sins, and not to try to stop the current of a river. Anyone who has experienced the sacrament of reconciliation understands the import of this verse.

Baruch 1:14 - again, this shows that the people made confession in the house of the Lord, before the assembly.

1 John 5:16-17; Luke 12:47-48 - there is a distinction between mortal and venial sins. This has been the teaching of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years, but, today, most Protestants no longer agree that there is such a distinction. Mortal sins lead to death and must be absolved in the sacrament of reconciliation. Venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest, but the pious Catholic practice is to do so in order to advance in our journey to holiness.

Matt. 5:19 - Jesus teaches that breaking the least of commandments is venial sin (the person is still saved but is least in the kingdom), versus mortal sin (the person is not saved).

Answer 4

Back in the day (and they still have them in obscure places) there used to be mass confessions where the priest gave a moment of silence to the congregation during the mass to tell their sins directly to God and he then gave the absolution. So there shouldn't be any reason why you can't go directly to God. If you feel you need the absolution from a priest, try finding one of these mass confessions.

Answer 5

Sure you can ask God to forgive your sins. Really we should do this every day after examining our conscience. However, you will never know if God has forgiven you by doing that. If you go to confession then you know for sure your sins our forgiven. The Church recommends as you know that we should go confession regularly.

Don't be afraid! The priest is simply a door keeper and is forbidden to speak of your sin. I once heard an old priest encouraging young people to go confession that he has heard every sin there is apart from canabilism. The old priest then remarked if you have commited cannabilism please do come and see him.

God loves you. Please don't be afraid to go confession. God loves you and most priests really respect people who go confession especially those who have the courage to tell of bad mortal sin. God loves when we are meek and humble of heart. Don't be afraid!

God love you
Kecharitomene

Answer 6

Your choice.. No one in the Church keeps track. It is between you and Jesus. I like going to confession a few times a year.

Even after he broke away, Martin Luther sought out confession/Catholic Priests.

A Catholic

http://www.vatican.va

Answer 7

I'm not a catholic, but as a Bible believing Christian repentance is more than words. It's the intention to stop sinning reflected in one's actions.

Answer 8

Repenting means turning from your sinful life. Go to confession, receive your penance and absolution and then go and sin no more

Answer 9

Yes, you can ask God to forgive you. You must be contrite and you should do penance or reparation of some sort.

But if you have committed a mortal sin you need to go to confession.

Answer 10

yeah you can pray directly to God.

it's not like that's a secret.

but going to confession shows that you really are penitent. i mean, it's easy to confess to God, it's a bit more difficult to confess to God and a priest acting in persona christi