Confession and Forgiveness of sins

[GardenDove]

The advantage of confession to a priest is that they are bound by the seal of secrecy and are never to reveal anything to anyone regarding a confession they hear. You would never find me confessing to a fellow parishioner, unless I wanted my confession repeated to at least one person, who would then repeat it to another person.

[Metropolitan]

And so how about the penance? Is reciting the prayers like "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" is considered to be a penance?If so, is this scriptural?

[GardenDove]

And so how about the penance? Is reciting the prayers like "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" is considered to be a penance?If so, is this scriptural?

I think these are symbolic penances. Sometimes priests are more creative. The Hail Mary prayer is based on scripture, and of course the Our Father is the holiest prayer for Christians.

[Metropolitan]

And so how about the penance? Is reciting the prayers like "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" is considered to be a penance?If so, is this scriptural?

I think these are symbolic penances. Sometimes priests are more creative. The Hail Mary prayer is based on scripture, and of course the Our Father is the holiest prayer for Christians.

I think, you may have not understood my query correctly...While I am aware about the prayers, what I wanted to know is whether the reciting of these prayers as a penance is scriptural...like reciting these prayers for 10 or 50 times as demanded by the priests?

[GardenDove]

And so how about the penance? Is reciting the prayers like "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" is considered to be a penance?If so, is this scriptural?

I think these are symbolic penances. Sometimes priests are more creative. The Hail Mary prayer is based on scripture, and of course the Our Father is the holiest prayer for Christians.

I think, you may have not understood my query correctly...While I am aware about the prayers, what I wanted to know is whether the reciting of these prayers as a penance is scriptural...like reciting these prayers for 10 or 50 times as demanded by the priests?

I haven't encountered that so I can't answer. I do know that our Church isn't Sola Scriptura, but has developed traditions over time, so that would not be a litmus test for us.

Edited March 8, 2007 by GardenDove

[Thaddaeus]

GardenDove,

You would never find me confessing to a fellow parishioner, unless I wanted my confession repeated to at least one person, who would then repeat it to another person.

I'm not sure if you are replying to the text of James 5:16. This is not a confession as to a priest, but a confession of your particular sin against that very person, if you in fact have sinned against him/her. So it is not something that the other person already does not know about. It is ending the animosity, the indifference, the built up anger or whatever that an offense might have caused to another.

The most common is gossip. Are you familiar with that little enemy?

[Thaddaeus]

horizoneast,

The Catholic dogma that her priests have the authority to forgive the sins of men is blasphemy. Only God knows the hearts of men

[Kansasdad]

John 20 : 23 says " If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven, if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven"

From this verse it is quite clear that Jesus gave his disciples the power to forgive the sins of others

James 5 : 16 says " Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed .The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective"

I have not always agreed to the Catholic ritual of confessing their sins in front of their priests, as I believe that only God has the power to forgive us our sins...And I also do not believe that the so called 'successors of the apostles' in this case the priests , has the authority to forgive our sins...I feel the above passages have been wrongly interpreted by the RC church to defend their ministerial duties, as I believe the power to absolve sins comes from God and God ONLY!

I wish to get some more insight into these, from my brethren in this forum!

In Christ Jesus

Your question is

[Kansasdad]

And so how about the penance? Is reciting the prayers like "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" is considered to be a penance?If so, is this scriptural?

I think these are symbolic penances. Sometimes priests are more creative. The Hail Mary prayer is based on scripture, and of course the Our Father is the holiest prayer for Christians.

I think, you may have not understood my query correctly...While I am aware about the prayers, what I wanted to know is whether the reciting of these prayers as a penance is scriptural...like reciting these prayers for 10 or 50 times as demanded by the priests?

Here is scripture that supports penance:

Luke 13: 1-5

1 And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? 3 No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

[Metropolitan]

And so how about the penance? Is reciting the prayers like "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" is considered to be a penance?If so, is this scriptural?

I think these are symbolic penances. Sometimes priests are more creative. The Hail Mary prayer is based on scripture, and of course the Our Father is the holiest prayer for Christians.

I think, you may have not understood my query correctly...While I am aware about the prayers, what I wanted to know is whether the reciting of these prayers as a penance is scriptural...like reciting these prayers for 10 or 50 times as demanded by the priests?

Here is scripture that supports penance:

Luke 13: 1-5

1 And there were present, at that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answering, said to them: Think you that these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they suffered such things? 3 No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

KD...I dont know which version of the bible you have quoted ...But both the KJV and the NIV says it is 'repent' and not 'penance' as quoted by you..Here is the verse in NIV

Luk 13: 3 " I tell you no, But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

where does it say to do penance or confess to a priest, and he will forgive your sins??

I dont know if its blasphemy or not, but surely, Horizon has a point!

Edited March 10, 2007 by Metropolitan