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jwashu
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| Joined: | Wed Apr 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Arkansas USA |
| Posts: | 14 |
| First Name: | Joe | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Baptist, Presbyterian, starting RCIA |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 04:48 pm |
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On the Catholic Answers forums a person asked about going to confession again the next day because he committed the same moral sin again... as I was typing my answer I thought I should seek some clarification. I have done the "ask and apologist" but recieved no response so I thought I could come here. As a budding amature apologist myself I want to make sure I'm not going against the CCC.
My question is, can mortal sins be forgiven without going to a Priest?
Now before you answer let me explain that by saying that, I'm not suggesting that the forgivness of Christ (which the Priest gives as well) should exclude someone from participating in the Sacrament of Penance.
What I am saying is that we usually don't go to confession daily... some Catholics I know barley go yearly. Once I join I plan on going monthly... perhapse more if it's been a bad month, lol 
Seriously though, as a former Youth Minister and a person who has studied the Scriptures and been a professing Christian since age 7 (Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at birth though) I can tell you that for all those things, for all the good things the Lord has enabled me to do, I have failed Him often, more often that I would like to admit to myself sometimes.
Yet I know with 100% clarity that Christ is in my life and has been leading me and my family home to the Roman Catholic Church.
As a Protestant I have not had the ability to confess my sins to a Priest with 1 exception in High School while working on a Catholic Youth Retreat. Yet, I know and I believe most people would say that they can see Christ in my life.
So if only a Priest can forgive Mortal sins, how is Christ in my life with the Holy Spirit leading me? I know that my sins are forgiven when I ask for that forgivness with sincerity and repentance, be those mortal or venial.
Now... here would have been my answer to that fellow. From my readings I would tell him to ask Jesus Christ for forgivness, sincerely and truly work to repent of that sin... just as the Priest would tell him to do. At that point, he is "forgiven" of that sin in that it won't keep him form Salvation.
Yet Mortal sins usually effect more than 1 person. They often effect the entire Body, especially at the Parish level. Thus it is still his duty to ask the Priest for forgivness before taking the Euchrist again. For at that moment the forgivness is complete in that he is forgiven in Heaven and Earth by following what Christ's Church is teaching...
Does that make sense? am I off base?
Thanks!
Joe
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2277 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 11:28 pm |
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Joe, here are some relevant paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC 1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.”
1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.
1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.
Regarding the situation of a non-Catholic, it is similar to the question of salvation, which you examined in another thread. A person who has been given the grace to repent with perfect contrition (as defined above) is forgiven on condition that should it ever become possible for him to receive the sacrament of penance in the Catholic Church for this particular sin, he has an obligation to do so.
David
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jwashu
Member
| Joined: | Wed Apr 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Arkansas USA |
| Posts: | 14 |
| First Name: | Joe | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Baptist, Presbyterian, starting RCIA |
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 12:18 pm |
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David,
Ok that makes sense to me. So based upon what the CCC is saying, I would have been correct in suggesting to that individual for them to ask for forgivenss with the full intention of completing the Sacrament of Penance ASAP.
Yet since I was outside the Church previously... still am for a while (unless I'm able to come into full communion before Easter - which I hope for) then I wasn't able to have the full yet since I hoenstly believed in my heart that was the best I could get at the time.
Thanks!
Joe
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