Why Confess?
Confession-why is it necessary?
© Michelle Anderson
Jan 7, 2007
If we're truly sorry for our sins, why do we have to confess them to another human being?
Confession is a powerful sacrament, as are they all really. Yet fewer Catholics are going to confession on a regular basis. By regular, I mean more than once a year. There was a time when every weekend was punctuated by not only Mass but confession, usually the Saturday before. Nowadays people think about confession before Easter or not at all.
I understand why. It’s embarrassing to confess to another person, no less a priest, that we’ve done some not so great things. It’s even worse to imagine the priest may recognize and remember you. Gosh, wouldn’t that be awful? So it’s easy to convince ourselves that since our God is a forgiving one, if we are truly sorry He will forgive our sins regardless of if we go to confession. After all, man invented confession right?
Wrong on both counts. We are instructed in James 5:16 “Confess your sins to one another that you may be healed.”
While the sacrament of confession may seem strange or unnecessary, our culture is drowned in the need for it. One need only look at any 12 Step program for recognition of that fact. Routed in the steps is the instruction to confess and make amends.
So now that we know the bible instructs us to confess, let’s get to the heart of the human question – what do we get out of it? The Catholic Encyclopedia states that confession is a means of obtaining God’s grace.
“The forgiveness of sins is the decisive gift of the Holy Spirit,” writes Dr. Julia Upton, R.S.M. and professor of Theology in a leaflet on forgiveness. She goes on to say that “God’s love will heal the wounds caused by sin…” Is that enough for you? If you’re still embarrassed, go to another parish and confess your sins to a priest who will probably never see you again. But go, you’ve only your soul to gain!
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Comments
Jan 11, 2007 8:07 PM
redback
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This is an interesting topic for this non-Catholic. To me, any worry over the perceived decline in a religious practice suggests the Church keeps track of the rate of confession among its parishioners...a priestly tally perhaps with no names no pack drill to preserve the confidentiality of the confessional. :)
On my reading, James 5:15 talks of prayer and the forgiveness of "sins" but as I read it, the quoted verse, 5:16, talks of the confession of "faults" one to another and praying one for another, that ye may be healed. Neither talk of the priest so that rule comes from elsewhere.
Chapter 5, in context, gives examples of much to apologise for, to rectify wrongs done. It makes sense to me that if you have defrauded your fellow man or caused avoidable harm in some way, to take responsibility for your own actions. "Confessing" one's faults is only step one and can be one important step in the healing process of the injured person. So, it goes beyond the selfish concept. And many people causing injury are also injured themselves.
My bible version has 2 different concepts here...of 'sin' and 'fault' which your article overlaps? Differing translations exist in Bibles and I think some of the original intention lost. But, I could be wrong.
Jan 12, 2007 7:37 AM
Michelle Anderson
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Well, you're right, it's amazing how bibles can be so different telling the same story. Of course the key here is interpretation. I can't claim to be an expert on the bible so I do place a lot of trust in my religious leaders. I do, however, go into things with an open mind. I believe God will forgive me if I am truly sorry- what would happen if a dying man alone wanted to confess his sins and couldn't? I don't believe he wouldn't be forgiven. Just like if I confess but am not sorry, it's just words. I believe God reads your heart. I do know, however, how it feels to confess your sins - out loud. It's a little scary but the process feels so good afterwards, it's the closest thing to that cliche - a burden lifting off your shoulders. I think I'd miss it if I didn't have it. Thanks for your comments-keep them coming!
Jan 13, 2007 2:45 PM
Migisi
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<i>Routed in the steps is the instruction to confess and make amends.</i>
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Does the priest instruct the person to 'make amends' to the injured party? My priests never did. All I had to do was say the prayers he assigned as penance.
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Did Jesus ever hear anyone's confession?
Jan 14, 2007 9:57 AM
Michelle Anderson
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A woman caught committing adultery was brought before Jesus. This was when he uttered those words, "let any who are without sin be first to cast the stone."
When he sent his disciples out into the world he also instructed them to listen to men's sins, if the apostles forgave then they would be forgiven, if they were bound then they would be bound in heaven.
As for making amends, I was referring to the 12 step programs. But on a personal note, I don't think that you can, for example, completely ruin a person's life, say a few prayers and walk away. I think you should try to make things right - if you can.
Thanks for the response!
Jan 14, 2007 2:44 PM
Migisi
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Seems people confessed their sins well before Jesus.
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Confession of sins was a common Jewish custom first. We find mention of it in Leviticus, Numbers, 1 Samuel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Psalms, Daniel, and Proverbs. In Leviticus and Numbers, restitution was required.
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Then, in the gospels (Mat 3:5, Mark 1:5), we find the folks confessing to John the Baptist before baptism. JB, and those confessing and being baptised, were Jews. Jesus hadn't started his ministry yet, therefore both confession and baptism were Jewish in origin, not Christian.
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Jesus, being Jewish, did observe Jewish customs. Do you think Jesus confessed any sins - say, the anger he clearly showed when he overturned the vendor tables in the Temple? If so, to whom did he confess?
Jan 14, 2007 5:06 PM
redback
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<i>..Just like if I confess but am not sorry, it's just words.."</i>
It is an ancient tradition, a sacrament, a ritual. And risks being a habit, "just words" after so long. Doesn't confession go hand-in-glove with prayer? Off track, but the reasons for prayer or what one prays for, differ among the denominations.
As an outsider, I see confession as an exercise in religious self-discipline much like vows of silence, chastity et al. But I ponder the need to save up sins each week, for confession. I'm not really clear on what the difference is between a sin and a fault as per my first post, but I'm thinking how quickly one seeks forgiveness is more important than the routine.
Jan 16, 2007 8:13 AM
Michelle Anderson
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Jesus' overturning the table in anger was not a sin. This is often brought up, in fact, by my brother in law to prove that Jesus did sin. But righteous anger is not a sin. In fact, by overturning tables I believe Jesus made his point more clearly than if he had just preached about it being wrong. Sometimes, as humans, we really need to be knocked over the head so to speak, when we're on the wrong path and can't see the outcome ourselves. That's how I see it anyway.
Jan 16, 2007 9:18 AM
Migisi
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<i>But righteous anger is not a sin.</i>
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Could you define 'righteous' for me? What makes an act 'righteous'? Could I lie, kill, steal, etc. for 'righteous' reasons? Just curious.
Jan 16, 2007 9:43 AM
Migisi
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<i>Doesn't confession go hand-in-glove with prayer?</i>
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It's supposed to. Depending on the person, they might say personal prayers expressing their remorse, and/or pray for help to change their sinful ways. But for most, the penance assigned by the priest is nothing more than the repeated recitation of memorized prayers - a specific number of Our Fathers (the prayer Jesus taught) and Hail Marys. At least, that was my experience.
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I'd ask Michelle why prayers are directed ~to~ Jesus' mother Mary (Hail Mary). Isn't praying to God himself enough?
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<i>I'm not really clear on what the difference is between a sin and a fault</i>
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A human 'fault' ~is~ a sin. Unless, of course, it's a 'righteous' fault - then it's not a sin???
Jan 17, 2007 11:03 AM
Michelle Anderson
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No, you couldn't kill, lie, steal etc. indiscriminately. But you could probably think of a circumstance for each when it would not be a sin. I don't believe God sees things in terms of black and white. Kill someone-go to hell. Let's say someone breaks into your home and is going to kill you or your baby. If you defend yourself and accidently kill the person, is that a sin? One of the tenants of our faith is that Jesus didn't sin. Period. If you look at us as children and Jesus as the teacher/parent - then am I sinning when I get angry with my child and scream at him when he's about to put his hand into a pot of boiling water? I don't think so. Again, anger is not a sin. It's what you do with it. I'd just like to say thanks for your comments. I really appreciate the discussions.
