marigold Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I just saw this, and don't mind admitting it was very moving: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2014/03/remarkable-image-pope-francis-goes-to-confession/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneLine Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Thank you, Marigold! And don't be surprised if we all start getting questions about 'what is that confession thing' from your non-Catholic friends - so have your answers ready! I've already started getting them.... Which leads me to post this -- was from a link on the article that Marigold cited above.... from last November. Here's the cite: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2013/11/pope-calls-on-priests-to-be-servants-of-the-sacrament-of-forgiveness/ and a large portion of the article, because it is so beautiful... Pope calls on priests to be “servants of the sacrament†of forgiveness, says he goes to confession every two weeks From his Wednesday audience (from Nov 2013): ..... Speaking to the the faithful during the weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said the Church accompanies us on our journey of conversion for the whole of our lives, calling us to experience reconciliation in its communal and ecclesial dimension. He said that we receive forgiveness through priests who are the servants of this sacrament, and that they must recognise – he said – that they too are are in need of forgiveness and healing and thus they must exercise their ministry in humility and mercy. Below, please find Pope Francis’ remarks to English speaking pilgrims, read out in English by an assistant: Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today I would like to speak again on the forgiveness of sins by reflecting on the power of the keys, which is a biblical symbol of the mission Jesus entrusted to the Apostles. First and foremost, we recall that the source of the forgiveness of sins is the Holy Spirit, whom the Risen Jesus bestowed upon the Apostles. Hence, he made the Church the guardian of the keys, of this power. The Church, however, is not the master of forgiveness, but its servant. The Church accompanies us on our journey of conversion for the whole of our lives and calls us to experience reconciliation in its communal and ecclesial dimension. We receive forgiveness through the priest. Through his ministry, God has given us a brother to bring us forgiveness in the name of the Church. Priests, who are the servants of this sacrament, must recognize that they also are in need of forgiveness and healing, and so they must exercise their ministry in humility and mercy. Let us then remember always that God never tires of forgiving us. Let us truly value this sacrament and rejoice in the gifPope Francis said he goes to confession every two weeks, knowing that God never tires of forgiving those who repent, but also knowing that having a priest say “I absolve you†reinforces belief in God’s mercy. Using the literal Italian translation of a Spanish saying, “It’s better to turn red once than yellow a thousand times,†Pope Francis said he knows some people are embarrassed to confess their sins to a priest, but it is the best path to spiritual healing and health. “Certainly, God forgives every repentant sinner, but the Christian is bound to Christ and Christ is united to his church,†the pope said. “God, in his sovereign mercy, forgives everyone, but he wanted those who belong to Christ and his church to receive forgiveness through the community’s ministers.†“Priests, too, need confession, even bishops. We are all sinners. Even the pope goes to confession every two weeks because the pope, too, is a sinner,†he said. “My confessor hears what I say, offers me advice and forgives me. We all need this.†Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 We can expect, on one hand people (even Catholics) to be asking: "you mean Catholics still do that?" And on the other hand, someone's gonna gripe that he wasn't there long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneLine Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 And both of those are part of my point. We need to really be ready to respond, "Yes, Catholics still do that... and this is why "I" still do it.... the graces that it brings, the healing, the witness..." yup, we need to be ready to take up the relay when the baton is passed to us. AND... to witness to the value of even a short confession.... after all, isn't the internet filled with 'tldr' -- a 30 minute video of the pope going to confession wouldn't make the news... a 3 minute one did.... It has been the WITNESS of several phatmassers regarding this sacrament that got ME into more regular use of this sacrament... so yes, there is a WITNESS and humiliity component here.... (and now I will climb down from my soapbox....) heheheh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I used to have confessions that lasted thirty minutes. Trust me when I tell you that two minutes is better than thirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristinaTherese Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 a) Videos have a right to cut through most of the confession. I mean, do we really want to wait listening to music for the real amount of time? (With that chant, I do. And longer, please. But that's beside the point.) b) I've been in a line where the priest seemed to take maybe 15 or more minutes on everyone. I had four people waiting in front of me when I entered the line. It was a really long wait, and then I gave up and went to one of the other priests around. Another priest saw us and heard the other people who had been behind me. So, long confessions aren't necessarily because of the penitent taking forever.... Some priests just take A. Long. Time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Why does Pope Francis going to confession surprise people? I don't get it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 a) Videos have a right to cut through most of the confession. I mean, do we really want to wait listening to music for the real amount of time? (With that chant, I do. And longer, please. But that's beside the point.) b) I've been in a line where the priest seemed to take maybe 15 or more minutes on everyone. I had four people waiting in front of me when I entered the line. It was a really long wait, and then I gave up and went to one of the other priests around. Another priest saw us and heard the other people who had been behind me. So, long confessions aren't necessarily because of the penitent taking forever.... Some priests just take A. Long. Time. My favorite confessor in the whole world takes forever in confession, and that's what I love about him. Even if you only confess having eaten too many cookies on Tuesday night, he'll talk to you about each sin you confessed in detail, giving you advice and helping you with your spiritual life. I don't like the drive-through confessions that are so rampant today; I want a personal confession that will help me with my spiritual life not just by absolving me of my sins, but by helping me to avoid them in the future. That being said, am I the only one who absolutely loves going to confession? Everyone else I know hates going. But I love going and confessing my sins and talking to the priest, so much so that I always go face-to-face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysostom Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 My favorite confessor in the whole world takes forever in confession, and that's what I love about him. Even if you only confess having eaten too many cookies on Tuesday night, he'll talk to you about each sin you confessed in detail, giving you advice and helping you with your spiritual life. I don't like the drive-through confessions that are so rampant today; I want a personal confession that will help me with my spiritual life not just by absolving me of my sins, but by helping me to avoid them in the future. That being said, am I the only one who absolutely loves going to confession? Everyone else I know hates going. But I love going and confessing my sins and talking to the priest, so much so that I always go face-to-face. In my short time as a Catholic I've never had a confession experience like that. I would love that! I love most the feeling as I walk out of Confession, haha... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 In my short time as a Catholic I've never had a confession experience like that. I would love that! I love most the feeling as I walk out of Confession, haha... That's what people always say, but I'm always kind of sad when I'm walking out, because then it's over. If I could go to confession for an hour, I totally would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysostom Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) That's what people always say, but I'm always kind of sad when I'm walking out, because then it's over. If I could go to confession for an hour, I totally would. I guess I just haven't encountered the confessors you have! :) Plus, I don't know...I'm usually so focused on sorrowful contrition that it never feels great in the moment. That isn't to say I don't ardently desire it. Also, I am really quite a new Catholic and my conscience, in all honesty, is not nearly as sensitive to venial sin as I would wish - I haven't had a lifelong habit of nightly examination of conscience! But one thing at a time... Edited March 31, 2014 by chrysostom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I guess I just haven't encountered the confessors you have! :) Plus, I don't know...I'm usually so focused on sorrowful contrition that it never feels great in the moment. That isn't to say I don't ardently desire it. Also, I am really quite a new Catholic and my conscience, in all honesty, is not nearly as sensitive to venial sin as I would wish - I haven't had a lifelong habit of nightly examination of conscience! But one thing at a time... Oh, it's not because you're new, trust me. Lifelong Catholics tell me they dread and have always dreaded confession. I'm just an incredibly open person, and I don't really feel shame in sharing my secrets and sins with other people. I feel shame in my sins when I commit them, but not when I confess them. Committing them is when you should feel shame, but confessing them is the happy part! It's not about shaming you for committing them, but about coming to Christ and being absolved of your sins. Being absolved is a happy occasion, so why be sad and ashamed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysostom Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Oh, it's not because you're new, trust me. Lifelong Catholics tell me they dread and have always dreaded confession. I'm just an incredibly open person, and I don't really feel shame in sharing my secrets and sins with other people. I feel shame in my sins when I commit them, but not when I confess them. Committing them is when you should feel shame, but confessing them is the happy part! It's not about shaming you for committing them, but about coming to Christ and being absolved of your sins. Being absolved is a happy occasion, so why be sad and ashamed? Truth - but I really don't feel enough shame in my sins when I commit them! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Truth - but I really don't feel enough shame in my sins when I commit them! :( People really do over-value feelings. As long as you know what you did was wrong and sincerely never want to do them again, that's all that matters. God commends the man who intellectually knows what he did was wrong and swears to never do it again more than the man who weeps every time he sins but never plans to stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristinaTherese Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 My favorite confessor in the whole world takes forever in confession, and that's what I love about him. Even if you only confess having eaten too many cookies on Tuesday night, he'll talk to you about each sin you confessed in detail, giving you advice and helping you with your spiritual life. I don't like the drive-through confessions that are so rampant today; I want a personal confession that will help me with my spiritual life not just by absolving me of my sins, but by helping me to avoid them in the future. That being said, am I the only one who absolutely loves going to confession? Everyone else I know hates going. But I love going and confessing my sins and talking to the priest, so much so that I always go face-to-face. I'm not saying I wouldn't like the priest taking forever with me. All I was meaning to say is that long doesn't necessarily mean there was a lot to confess. And the only reason I was kind of annoyed was that I waited an hour, was the last person waiting in the entire church, and spent all of Adoration either examining my conscience or waiting in line for confession. But if I had been in, I'll bet I would have liked it. Does that make sense? Like, I'm not sure I minded that he was taking so long with everyone, I just didn't want to wait an entire hour. But my point is stated above, and the cause of my annoyance is irrelevant. I don't like examining my conscience. But going to confession is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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