To: Mrs. Don-o
The Sacrament is effective ex opere operato --- that is, "by the work worked." Jesus gives the absolution: it is not based on the priest's merit.One has to assume then that the priest has received a supernatural power to know whether the confessor is telling the truth...
66 posted on
11/15/2014 11:24:25 PM PST by
Iscool
To: Iscool
One has to assume then that the priest has received a supernatural power to know whether the confessor is telling the truth... Seriously? If you are not making a sincere confession than it is not valid. Why on earth would someone go to make a confession and then lie during it?
71 posted on
11/16/2014 4:39:54 AM PST by
verga
(You anger Catholics by telling them a lie, you anger protestants by telling them the truth.)
To: Iscool
"One has to assume then that the priest has received a supernatural power to know whether the confessor is telling the truth.." Three comments:
- I'm not sure what you envision here. Are you saying a person would lie and say he had committed a sin when he hadn't? I don't see the point of that.
- Any intentional concealment of a mortal sin invalidates the whole Sacrament. In that case, none of his confessed sins are forgiven, and he has compounded it all with yet another grave sin, the abuse of a Sacrament.
- Two Saints that I know of DID have the supernatural power to know if a confessing penitent were telling the truth: St. John (Jean) Vianney, and St. Pius of Pietrelino ("Padre Pio"). IIRC true of St. Benedict of Nursia as well.
72 posted on
11/16/2014 5:54:09 AM PST by
Mrs. Don-o
("Justice and judment are the foundation of His throne." - Psalm 89:14)
To: Iscool
One has to assume then that the priest has received a supernatural power to know whether the confessor is telling the truth... Hey!
They can forgive sins!
Not even Mary can do THAT!
118 posted on
11/19/2014 9:27:40 AM PST by
Elsie
( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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