Pope alarmed by decline in confessions

TimesOnline ^ | 6/19/09 | Richard Owen

[bdeaner]

Pope Benedict XVI has raised the alarm over the decline in confessions, urging priests not to become "resigned to empty confessionals" but rather to help the faithful rediscover "the beauty of the sacrament", which answered "a deep and humble longing for forgiveness".

[bdeaner]

St. John Mary Vianney

The Pope urged priests to learn from St. John Mary Vianney to "put our unfailing trust in the Sacrament of Penance, to set it once more at the centre of our pastoral concerns, and to take up the 'dialogue of salvation,' which it entails".

[BeerLover NYC]

He’d be very disappointed in me.....haven’t been in years and years.

[garyhope]

I’m alarmed by the decline in humility.

And the giant increase of hubris.

[stuartcr]

It’s 2009, ocviously our views on humility have changed.

[bdeaner]

He’d be very disappointed in me.....haven’t been in years and years.

Up until a few years ago, it had been more than two decades since my last confession. When I finally returned to the sacrament of reconciliation, it was an incredible feeling --like a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

If you want to take my advice, run don't walk to the nearest confessional. You won't be disappointed.

[bdeaner]

Indeed, very sad.

[b4its2late]

Me too. I can’t remember the last time I went. I figure cut out the middle man and go straight to the top.

[Alex Murphy]

Pope Benedict XVI has raised the alarm over the decline in confessions

Ping for later

[SkyDancer]

They actually keep score? Do they turn in reports once a week?

[Nihil Obstat]

Why not use the way Jesus provided? (John 20:21-23)

[bdeaner]

They actually keep score? Do they turn in reports once a week?

LOL. He was responding to a survey that came out in the Italian newspaper.

A survey in La Repubblica of practising Italian Catholics today said that only 2 per cent went to confession more than once a month. 10 per cent went once a month, 58 per cent "once or twice a year", and 30 per cent "never."

[Kolokotronis]

A magnificent Mystery of The Church. Without it, how does one worthily receive communion?

[bdeaner]

I figure cut out the middle man and go straight to the top.

The Catholic Church teaches that confession is not the only way to acquire reconciliation with the Lord. But the sacrament of reconciliation carries a special, transformative grace with it, which I personally vouche for. I was an Evangelical Christian, and used to think the same as you. But then, after I converted to Catholicism, and since I have been going to confession on a regular basis, I am amazed at how powerful the process is. Tempations just evaporate like they never had before. It's pretty amazing. That's my personal testimony -- take it as you wish.

God bless.

[SkyDancer]

Thanks, wasn’t trying to be disrespectful ... I thought the Bible mentioned that we should confess our sins one to another ... didn’t know you had to do it officially ... so like I’d get with my girlfriends and we’d tell each other our dirty deeds ....

[BlueYonder]

Apparently even the sin industry is suffering from recession this year. The Obama economy has things all upended. /sarc

[bdeaner]

Why not use the way Jesus provided?

The Sacrament of Confession IS provided by Jesus. Jesus gave to the Apostles and their successors the power to forgive sins, reconciling sinners to God for sins committed after Baptism.

On numerous occasions, Jesus exercised the power to forgive sin.

Mk 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."

Lk 7:47
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.

Jesus scandalized some Jews of his own time by claiming to have the authority to forgive sins.

Mk 2:7
Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?

Jesus clearly stated that he had the authority to forgive sins.

Mk 2:10-12
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone.

Jesus gave the same authority to Peter.

Mt 16:19
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.

Jesus later gave the same authority to all the Apostles.

Mt 18:18
Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Apostle John, an eyewitness, recorded more directly the words of Jesus giving the power to forgive sins to all the Apostles after the testimony of the Resurrection.

Jn 20:23
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.

Many Christians ask why confession of sin is required for forgiveness. The Church responds that the need for personal confession of sin is required in order for forgiveness because that is the only way a confessor can judge whether to forgive or retain sins. A judgment cannot be made unless the sin in question is known and the disposition of the penitent is also known.

The New Testament speaks of confession of sin.

Ja 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

1 Jn 1:9
If we acknowledge (confess) our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

Other New Testament scriptures bear witness that the Apostolic Church acknowledged the use of the power to forgive sins.

Acts 2:38
Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit."

1 Jn 1:9
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

1 Jn 2:12
I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake.

God bless.

[bdeaner]

That’s alright. We’d all be in big trouble if we lost our sense of humor. I can just imagine the Pope tabulating confession score cards from all over the planet, and keeping tabs on the numbers in his Vatican computer database. LOL. Ain’t gonna happen.

[nina0113]

Tempations just evaporate like they never had before.

Do they really evaporate, as in disappear, or is it that the prospect of having to confess the sin if you go on and commit it adds enough discouragement to help you overcome the temptation?

[kosta50]

Rings familiar of our recent discussion...

[Desron13]

Maybe people just aren't sinning as much as they used to. Yeah right. ;-)