Guilty as Sin

Catholic Exchange ^ | July 2, ,2005 | Russell Shaw

[NYer]

Why don't Catholics go to confession any more — or, more precisely, why do so many go so seldom? Here is an old problem that doesn't seem to be getting better. Evidently we need to dig deeper into its causes and solutions.

In a book-length interview called God and the World (Ignatius Press, 2002), Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger — now Pope Benedict XVI — acknowledged that the "misuse of guilt feelings" can occur. But something even worse, he said, was "to extinguish the capacity for recognizing guilt." The Nazis sought systematically to do that.

Are we once again reaching that point? A Catholic friend once informed me he hadn't been to confession in years and added, "I don't feel any need for it." To be sure. The relevant question is: Why not?

I can think of several possible reasons.

One is the idea that sin — sin in general and my sin in particular — doesn't amount to much. Is it so? "If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?" That's Psalm 130 speaking, and the same question is repeated over and over in the psalms and the Old Testament. As for the New Testament: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn 1:8). Are we to think the Bible is pulling our legs?

Another reason for skipping confession is the notion that God forgives sins outside the sacrament of penance. And so He does. But a Catholic who accepts the Church's teaching that Christ instituted this sacrament for the forgiveness of sin must accept the corollary that this is how Christ ordinarily wants our sins to be forgiven and is, exceptional circumstances aside, the necessary means of forgiveness in the case of mortal sin.

People who resort to this rationalization also need to ponder this question: If God forgives my sins outside the sacrament of penance, just when does that forgiving take place? Shall we suppose that if enough time elapses, the fact that we have sinned will slip God's mind? It seems a great deal more likely that we will forget than that He will.

A third reason offered for skipping the sacrament is that nobody goes to hell — either because there is no hell or because no one goes there in actual fact. The only reasonable reply to this is: How can you be sure?

On this point, too, Scripture's testimony is profoundly different. Jesus speaks about hell and about people being there — the rich man in the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man; a disturbingly large number of people in the Last Judgment account in Matthew 25. Not to put too fine a point on it, the casual denial of hell appears to be one more aspect of the corrosive sentimentality currently corrupting so much religious thought.

What can be done about these confused attitudes and bad ideas? One thing that could and should occur is a return to regular preaching about the sacrament of penance and the reason it's needed — sin. These matters are seldom discussed from many pulpits today. But if confession is going to make a comeback, earnest pastoral salesmanship will be required.

In the interview mentioned above, Cardinal Ratzinger spoke of how hard it is for people to "cross the threshold of personal confession" in this individualistic age. Still, he insisted, it "can be learned anew. Above all because this is not an admission of guilt before men, but before God, and because it ends with the word of forgiveness."

[NYer]

One thing that could and should occur is a return to regular preaching about the sacrament of penance and the reason it's needed — sin. These matters are seldom discussed from many pulpits today. But if confession is going to make a comeback, earnest pastoral salesmanship will be required.

In this "I'm okay; you're okay" world, it is not surprising that many catholics no longer recognize their actions as sins. That said, a solid homily on what constitutes sin would also be useful.

For those who need a refresher course, start here:

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

[RKBA Democrat]

I don't understand why some Catholics avoid going to confession. I look forward to it.

I guess it's just another thing I'll get to scratch my head over. Maybe a cradle Catholic can better understand it.

[samiam1972]

I'm hoping to get to confession today! My plan is once a month but I'm averaging every other month. It's better than the 10 year plan I was on several years ago! I love going to confession now even though I still feel anxious before I enter the confessional.

[NYer]

I don't understand why some Catholics avoid going to confession. I look forward to it.

I truly believe that many catholics no longer recognize their actions as sin. Several months ago, our pastor related how someone approached him to go to confession. The individual went down a list of other's faults, acknowledging that he had never done these. IOW, his (or her) understanding of sin was predicated on the faults of others, for which he (or she) was not guilty. After completing the list, Father told the individual that he/she had given him nothing to absolve.

For some, it's easier to see the faults of others and thank God for not being in that state of sin. Hence the posted link which gives a very thorough examination of conscience.

One suggestion that makes good sense is to do a daily examination of conscience. In this way, one is more aware of their faults than to wait 6 months or so and then try to recall their sins. Your approach of monthly or bi-monthly confession is far better.

[RKBA Democrat]

"I truly believe that many catholics no longer recognize their actions as sin."

I saw a T-shirt being worn by a teenage girl yesterday. The caption said "It's All About Me."

Offensive, but brutally honest.

We're reaping the harvest of a culture that has taught it's children to have high self-esteem but not given them the theological basis for it.

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience

Right here on FR -- with many choices of lists to ponder. With an imprimatur!!

[sageb1]

"Simony (buying or selling spiritual things)"

What does this mean, please?

[NYer]

"Simony (buying or selling spiritual things)" What does this mean, please?

Simony is usually defined "a deliberate intention of buying or selling for a temporal price such things as are spiritual of annexed unto spirituals". While, this definition only speaks of purchase and sale, any exchange of spiritual for temporal things is simoniacal. Nor is the giving of the temporal as the price of the spiritual required for the existence of simony; according to a proposition condemned by Innocent XI (Denzinger-Bannwart, no. 1195) it suffices that the determining motive of the action of one party be the obtaining of compensation from the other.
Simony

[bornacatholic]

I went to Confession today at a Church I don't normally go to. The Priest whio heard my Confession had recently suffered a stroke. He has a lame arm and difficulty with speech. I confessed as we stood face to face. Beginning the absolution, the Priest placed his hands on my forehead.

It is hard for me to believe I, who was raised to Confess the old school way, am now going to a priest and confesing face-face, standing.

He is a very kind priest and I felt closer to Christ in this Confession than I ever have.

It is amazing what happens sometimes

[NYer]

He is a very kind priest and I felt closer to Christ in this Confession than I ever have. It is amazing what happens sometimes.

Thank you!!!! for posting that comment about your experience at confession today.

There are some truly extraordinary and holy priests in our midst; we need to overcome all compunctions about confessing sins and bring them to these priests.

Beginning the absolution, the Priest placed his hands on my forehead.

What a marvelous experience you had; no doubt you will return to him in the future. The action of placing his hands on your forehead is extraordinary; much like Christ who spit into the dirt and placed it over the eyes of the blind man. This is a tangible connection to forgiveness.

Though nothing to compare to yours, I had a similar experience with my Maronite pastor the first time I attended Reconciliation at our parish. We sat side by side. At the end of my confession, he told me he would pray for me and asked for my prayers for him. It was such a beautiful experience. I have prayed for him every day ever since and will do so until I die. It takes only one priest to alter our negative perceptions and remind us of Christ's love for us.

Thank you again, for your post!

[NYer]

At times the impulse comes to them to reprove them angrily, and occasionally they go so far as to indulge it and set themselves up as masters of virtue. all this is contrary to spiritual meekness.

It is so easy to fall into this trap. "They're guilty of sin but not me".

[lightman]

Beginning the absolution, the Priest placed his hands on my forehead.

Although Individual Confession and Forgiveness has fallen into terrible disuse among Lutherans, pronouncing the Absolution in this manner is the normal practice.

Reading this thread makes me realize that recovery of this Sacrament will be a very difficult uphill battle.

[johnb838]

Hey now, that T-shirt is intended to be a recognition on the part of that girl that she tends to be a princess, that she is aware of it, and that she's working on it... it's a joke. But it's a sort of confession in and of itself. So I don't really have a problem with that one.

My fear is what if I'm not ready to change? What if I go in and tell the priest I smoke, but I don't think I can quit now without screwing up my diet, or I'm just not ready to deal with that? OK, so maybe I've been at odds with God over this issue for some time and now I'm facing it square on. But can't you see how hard that is to face? How can I be absolved if I can't obey?

Same for other obsessive/compulsive sorts of things. I've whipped the drinking, drugs, sex (for now) but... I'm not pure.

[sageb1]

"There are other of these spiritual persons, again, who fall into another kind of spiritual wrath: this happens when they become irritated at the sins of others, and keep watch on those others with a sort of uneasy zeal. At times the impulse comes to them to reprove them angrily, and occasionally they go so far as to indulge it and set themselves up as masters of virtue. all this is contrary to spiritual meekness."

So very true. If someone has a tendency to irritate you frequently, it's difficult not to put them on a mental watch list. It's probably a good thing to keep in mind at FR, too. :)

[lightman]

No one sins any more, don'tcha know

Especially now that 10 Commandment monuments are verborten--what will remind folks of what is sinful?