Confession and Forgiveness of sins

[Thaddaeus]

smalcald,

When the priest hears confession does he proclaim God's forgiveness, or is he proclaiming his forgiveness?

God's. but why are you asking at this point? This has been answsered at least three times by three different people.

But to let me, an Orthodox, print what the Priest says to the penitent upon repentance.

"My brother, inasmuch as thou hast come to God, and to me, be not ashamed; for thou speakest not unto me, but unto God, before whom thou standest.

My spiritual child, who hast confessed to my humble, self, I, humble and a sinner, have not power on earth to forgive sins, but god alone; yet through that divinely spoken word which came to the Apostles after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted, and whosoever sins we retain, they are retained, we too are emboldened to say: Whatsoever thou has said to my most humble self, and whatsoever thou hast not succeeded in saying, either through ignorance, or through forgetfulness, Whatever it may be: God forgive thee in this present world, and in that which is to come.

God it was who forgave David through Nathan the Prophet, when he confessed his sins, and Peter weeping bitterly for his denial, and the sinful woman in tears at his feet, and the Publican, and the Prodicgal Son; May that same God forgive thee all things, through me a sinner, both in this present world, and in that which is to come and set thee uncondemned before his dread judgment seat. And now, having no further care for the sins which thou has declared, depart in peace.

May Christ ur true God, through the prayers of his most holy Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as he is good and lovest mankind. Amen."

Edited March 12, 2007 by Thaddaeus

[Smalcald]

smalcald,

When the priest hears confession does he proclaim God's forgiveness, or is he proclaiming his forgiveness?

God's. but why are you asking at this point? This has been answsered at least three times by three different people.

But to let me, an Orthodox, print what the Priest says to the penitent upon repentance.

"My brother, inasmuch as thou hast come to God, and to me, be not ashamed; for thou speakest not unto me, but unto God, before whom thou standest.

My spiritual child, who hast confessed to my humble, self, I, humble and a sinner, have not power on earth to forgive sins, but god alone; yet through that divinely spoken word which came to the Apostles after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted, and whosoever sins we retain, they are retained, we too are emboldened to say: Whatsoever thou has said to my most humble self, and whatsoever thou hast not succeeded in saying, either through ignorance, or through forgetfulness, Whatever it may be: God forgive thee in this present world, and in that which is to come.

God it was who forgave David through Nathan the Prophet, when he confessed his sins, and Peter weeping bitterly for his denial, and the sinful woman in tears at his feet, and the Publican, and the Prodicgal Son; May that same God forgive thee all things, through me a sinner, both in this present world, and in that which is to come and set thee uncondemned before his dread judgment seat. And now, having no further care for the sins which thou has declared, depart in peace.

May Christ ur true God, through the prayers of his most holy Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as he is good and lovest mankind. Amen."

Hi Thaddeus,

I didn't mean to try to repeat previous questions; I just jumped to the bottom of the thread, so that was just lazy on my part. Thanks for your response that is essentially what we believe about confession also. In fact those are close the same words that our pastors speak during private confession.

[firehill]

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

Christ is the High Priest and we are all priests, 'confess your sins to each other'. Man is always trying to take God's place.

[Fiosh]

Christ is the High Priest and we are all priests, 'confess your sins to each other'. Man is always trying to take God's place.

Do you believe that when we "confess your sins to each other" they are forgiven????

[firehill]

Christ is the High Priest and we are all priests, 'confess your sins to each other'. Man is always trying to take God's place.

Do you believe that when we "confess your sins to each other" they are forgiven????

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

I don't know what to make of this verse.

[Fiosh]

I have a question for our Catholic and Orthodox friends.

When the priest hears confession does he proclaim God's forgiveness, or is he proclaiming his forgiveness?

Hi Smalcald,

From the horses' mouth :

CCC 1441 - Only God forgives sins. Jesus...gives this power to men to exercise in his name.

CCC 1442...The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God".

CCC 1444 "In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins...

CCC 1465 When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep...

CCC 1446 The confessor is not the master of God's forgiveness, but its servant

[firehill]

I have a question for our Catholic and Orthodox friends.

When the priest hears confession does he proclaim God's forgiveness, or is he proclaiming his forgiveness?

Hi Smalcald,

From the horses' mouth :

CCC 1441 - Only God forgives sins. Jesus...gives this power to men to exercise in his name.

CCC 1442...The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God".

CCC 1444 "In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins...

CCC 1465 When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep...

CCC 1446 The confessor is not the master of God's forgiveness, but its servant

Ya know I find myself inable to disagree with this except that I don't believe this power is only given to catholic priests. I think that is the 'tradition of men' aspect.

[Fiosh]

I have a question for our Catholic and Orthodox friends.

When the priest hears confession does he proclaim God's forgiveness, or is he proclaiming his forgiveness?

Hi Smalcald,

From the horses' mouth :

CCC 1441 - Only God forgives sins. Jesus...gives this power to men to exercise in his name.

CCC 1442...The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God".

CCC 1444 "In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins...

CCC 1465 When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep...

CCC 1446 The confessor is not the master of God's forgiveness, but its servant

Ya know I find myself inable to disagree with this except that I don't believe this power is only given to catholic priests. I think that is the 'tradition of men' aspect.

I can respect that.

[firehill]

I have a question for our Catholic and Orthodox friends.

When the priest hears confession does he proclaim God's forgiveness, or is he proclaiming his forgiveness?

Hi Smalcald,

From the horses' mouth :

CCC 1441 - Only God forgives sins. Jesus...gives this power to men to exercise in his name.

CCC 1442...The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God".

CCC 1444 "In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins...

CCC 1465 When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep...

CCC 1446 The confessor is not the master of God's forgiveness, but its servant

Ya know I find myself inable to disagree with this except that I don't believe this power is only given to catholic priests. I think that is the 'tradition of men' aspect.

I can respect that.