Confession And Sinning: Why Not Both?

[arfink]

 

I wrote this little bit for a blog called Team Orthodoxy today, and figured I'd share some pieces. You can see the whole thing here:

http://orthodoxcatholicism.com/2013/06/22/on-confession-and-presumption/

 

 

When we go to confession, we say our Act of Contrition. There are probably about a million variations of this prayer in English, but in every single instance we’re essentially promising to sin no more and avoid occasions of sin too. It’s part of going to confession that we have to say those words, and mean it. The obvious problem is, most of the time I can know with a very high level of certainty that I will sin again. When I try to imagine not sinning again after confession, I sometimes envision crazy life-changing miracles. Or being hit by a bus about 5 minutes after leaving the confessional. But mostly I just stare into the stark reality that in a few hours or days or weeks I’ll be right back in the same spot all over again. Does this mean that I can’t go to confession unless I really feel confident I can succeed at stopping my favorite sins?

 

[BG45]

 But how is that different from the admission that we will probably sin again? The difference is in the intent.

 

Great blog post, but that's my favorite part, because it cuts straight to the core of it all.  In RCIA, they told us "the first thing you confess, is often the last thing you will confess", at least for adult converts.

[cappie]

I usually get this question every year I came across the following quote from Benedict which I use. I like the analogy. You know that your room is going to get dirty again, that doesn't stop you from cleaning it!

 

“ It's true, in general our sins are always the same, but we clean our house, our room, at least every week, although the dirt is always the same. Confession is necessary only in the case of grave sin. But it is very useful to go to confession regularly to cultivate cleanliness and beauty of soul, and to mature little by little in life.” Pope Benedict XVI

[Gabriela]

 

I wrote this little bit for a blog called Team Orthodoxy today, and figured I'd share some pieces. You can see the whole thing here:

http://orthodoxcatholicism.com/2013/06/22/on-confession-and-presumption/

 

Wow. You make it a whole five minutes without sinning after confession?

 

I usually get this question every year I came across the following quote from Benedict which I use. I like the analogy. You know that your room is going to get dirty again, that doesn't stop you from cleaning it!

 

“ It's true, in general our sins are always the same, but we clean our house, our room, at least every week, although the dirt is always the same. Confession is necessary only in the case of grave sin. But it is very useful to go to confession regularly to cultivate cleanliness and beauty of soul, and to mature little by little in life.” Pope Benedict XVI

 

Who in the world has time to clean every week???

[AnneLine]

Really like that post....

 

 

Once was told that it made sense to add 'make a plan' to avoid (or try to avoid) the next time to that act of Contrition.  Or better yet... a plan to add something different that bypasses the dangererous territory.

 

Sometimes it is helpful to me...

 

Not that I'm successful in my plans... sadly, far from it.... but it makes me a little more thoughtful... and sometimes..... yup, things can change a little.  :)

 

Hey, it's progress!

Edited June 23, 2013 by AnneLine

[Lil Red]

this thread title makes no sense to me.