Gary Zimak is the founder of Following The Truth Ministries (http://www.followingthetruth.com), a lay apostolate created to assist Catholics in learning more about their Faith. He is a regular guest on EWTN Radio’s “Son Rise Morning Show”, Ave Maria Radio’s “Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo” and appears frequently on several other Catholic radio programs. In addition to writing for CatholicLane. Mr. Zimak hosts a daily program on BlogTalkRadio and posts frequently on his blog, Facebook and Twitter. He is a member of Catholics United For The Faith and the Knights of Columbus and resides in New Jersey.
Catholic Ping!
Personal confession, to God, you bet it is.
We can now go boldly to the throne of God, there is no ‘veil’, its been torn.
Confession to a priest? Not so much.
Here in the Hartford area, there is only ONE parish that (I know of that) offers daily noon-time confession. I have to travel 20 minutes during my lunch break to get there.
There is always a line of 5-20 people. The wait time is 15-45 minutes, even with the priest encouraging quick but thoughtful confessions. Sometimes they bring in a second priest.
I would like to see more parishes offer at least one weekday noon penance. It is difficult (not impossible, but difficult) for working people with kids to make it to a weekend confession.
Well, in the East we still regard it as necessary: the minimum standard being 1) at least once a year; 2) to return to communion after willfully “absenting [oneself] from the synaxis” (i.e. not going to church) for a period of three weeks or more; and 3) after the commission of any grievous sin. Antiochians in North America tend to confess (when (2) and (3) don’t apply) two to four times a year, though some of our priests and hierarchs have tried to encourage monthly confession.
Of course a lot of Slavs still stick by the one-confession, one-communion rule (which sometimes leads to receiving communion of the Holy Mysteries about four times a year, but ought instead lead to more frequent confession).
We are told to confess our sins one to another. However I like to go to G-d through Yashua to be forgiven not to some mortal.
As a practicing Catholic, I think it’s a shame that a lot of Catholics no longer adhere to this Sacrament. The healing power of Absolution from confession sustains me and helps me overcome my transgressions.
If those “common objections” cited by the author are coming from Catholics, there is a serious problem with catechesis in the Church.
No greater weight has been lifted off my shoulders or burdens of a heavy heart than when I hear the words, "I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit." What a true blessing the Sacrament of Confession is!
Salvation and all who believe Jesus gave permission to forgive sins only to the apostles and their successors as this article and the Church teaches, please answer these questions.
“If I sin against you and ask you to forgive me, can you? Must you?
May God lead us to His truth, BVB
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ “
“The sacramental grace received in Confession was helping me to become a better person!”
Yes, it works for me.
The exercise of examining your conscience, confessing, being held accountable ON A REGULAR BASIS and then receiving the grace of confession does help you to become a better person.