Comments on: Confession – Is It Still Necessary?

By: caffeinepatrol

caffeinepatrol — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:24:31 +0000

What pains me is, if the Church still considers confession to be so important (I do), then why do so many parishes offer it for one hour a week or by appointment? Even with that, I’ve been turned away more than once when the priest ran out of time. I do not exaggerate here: once during Advent, the priest ran short of time and I asked if he could hear my confession after Mass. He said, I’m sorry, I have to go to a party. That stung me to the heart. I could tell he felt bad after he said it, and he agreed to hear my confession when I assured him it would be brief.
I don’t know if it’s chicken or the egg, but if the Church wants a new emphasis on the importance of Confession, it seems to me that it should be offered more frequently. Offering by appointment also takes away from anonymity for those who prefer it. I know we have a shortage of priests and many of the ones we have are short on time, but ten or fifteen minutes after daily Mass doesn’t seem like a lot to ask.

By: Warren Jewell

Warren Jewell — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:07:56 +0000

Confession also reminds us that the way to perdition is the easy, wide road six-lane interstate. The way of the Lord, is Jesus Christ, and He is the Way that is like the simple, ancient but reliable dirt back-road, difficult to find and upon which to maintain one’s progress. Jesus Christ made this clear:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few”. (Matthew 7:13:14)
Then again, this and every Sacrament reminds as well that Jesus Christ loves life passionately, loves so well as to die the one sacrifice to save us, and rose again to our inexpressible joy that we have Him now and can have Him forever.

I find that I need realistic and moral examination of conscience, humble repentance, the ‘cloister’ of the confessional, the listening, counseling (at times, even chastising) ministerial priest and Christ’s perfect attention and loving absolution only like I need breathing. Well, maybe I need breathing only in so far as it gets me to confession.

Lack of serious catechesis on Penance leads to this self-justifying, self-centered, self-absolving ‘self’ catechesis. And, maybe the serious, true catechesis should reflect on similarity to Purgatory – entered soiled, exited clean and fresh and moving toward pure virtue. That, and the simple joy and peace that comes from “Those sins? Jesus just forgot them!” Confession makes me a new man.

By: stutmann9

stutmann9 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:45:35 +0000

Did everyone know that the Blessed Virgin Mary promised to assist at the hour of death with graces necessary for salvation any and all who would embrace the practice of the Five First Saturdays? See below:

“Behold my heart surrounded with the thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude.

You at least try to console me. Announce in my name that I promise to help at the hour of death, with the graces needed for salvation, whoever on the First Saturday of five consecutive months shall:

1 confess and receive Holy Communion;

2 recite five decades of the Rosary;

3 and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.

Investigate for yourself!

http://www.theworkofgod.org/Aparitns/fatima/5firstsa.htm