Confession And Sin: What's Truly Forgiven?

The Catholic Church teaches that all sins are forgiven if one believes Hell exists, does not want to go there, and resolves not to sin again. However, the Church strongly recommends confessing everyday faults (venial sins) as it can help one form their conscience, fight against evil tendencies, and progress in their spiritual life. While confession is not necessary for the forgiveness of venial sins, it is still encouraged as it gives one God's grace to fight against temptation.

What constitutes a sin?

The concept of sin traverses culture and theology, dating back thousands of years. The word "sin" originates from the Old English term "syn", which translates from Biblical Greek and Jewish as "to miss the mark". In the New Testament Greek, "sin" is a failure to miss the mark in spear throwing.

In Christianity, sin is defined as an immoral act and transgression of divine law. It is a central concept to the Christian faith, as its basic message is about redemption in Christ. Hamartiology, a branch of Christian theology, describes sin as an act of offence against God, a loss of love for the Christian God, and an elevation of self-love.

The Christian definition of sin is the purposeful disobedience of God's rules. The Bible equates sin with moral failing and disobedience to divine commands, which leads to separation from God. Sin is described as both an action and a condition.

There are two types of sin in Catholicism: mortal and venial. Mortal sins imperil your soul and are committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. Examples include murder, rape, incest, perjury, and adultery. Venial sins are less serious breaches of God's law, such as giving an obscene gesture to another driver.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that individuals are only responsible for the sins they personally commit. Jehovah's Witnesses, on the other hand, believe that sin is inherited and passed on from generation to generation.

Hundreds of sins are found in the Bible, with some of the most important condensed into the Ten Commandments. The Seven Deadly Sins listed in the Bible are pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth.

While the concept of sin is complex and varies across different religions and philosophies, it generally involves transgressing a moral code or divine commandment, often implying a moral failing.

What is the process of confession?

The process of confession in the Catholic Church is known as the Sacrament of Penance. It is the method by which individuals confess any sins they have committed after their baptism, and these sins are then absolved by God through the administration of a priest, who assigns an act of penance.

The penitent must make a sincere sacramental confession of all known mortal sins not yet confessed to a priest and pray an Act of Contrition—a genre of prayers that expresses both motives for sorrow and the resolve not to sin again. The Act of Contrition may be expressed in one's own words or using a formal prayer.

The basic form of confession has not changed for centuries, although at one time, confessions were made publicly. Today, confession is usually conducted within a confessional box, booth, or reconciliation room, and the penitent has the right to remain anonymous. The priest is forbidden from revealing anything learned during the Sacrament of Penance; this protection is known as the Seal of Confession.

The process of confession typically involves the following steps:

• The penitent begins by making the Sign of the Cross and greeting the priest: "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last confession was [weeks/months/years]."
• The penitent confesses their sins, with the priest standing in the name of Christ and the Church to help guide the confession.
• The penitent concludes their confession by saying: "This is all I can remember. I am sorry for these and all my sins."
• The priest assigns a penance, which may be a prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service, or sacrifice.
• The penitent prays the Act of Contrition.
• The priest, acting in the person of Christ, absolvess the penitent of their sins by saying the prayer of Absolution.
• As the prayer of Absolution ends, the penitent makes the Sign of the Cross and responds, "Amen."
• The priest expresses words of praise and blessing.
• The penitent leaves, completing the assigned penance.

The frequency of confession varies, but the Church recommends that Catholics receive the Sacrament of Penance frequently, and at least once a year for serious sins.

What are the different types of sins?

Sins can be divided into two main categories: mortal and venial. Mortal sins are those that imperil your soul and are considered more serious breaches of God's law. Venial sins, on the other hand, are less serious and do not meet all the conditions necessary for a mortal sin.

Mortal sins require three conditions to be met: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. Grave matter refers to acts that are intrinsically evil and immoral, such as murder, rape, and adultery. Full knowledge means the person is aware that their actions are evil and immoral. Deliberate consent implies that the person freely chooses to commit the act.

Venial sins, while not deadly to the life of grace, can weaken the soul and, if left untended, may deteriorate into more serious conditions. Examples include telling white lies or giving obscene gestures to another person.

The seven deadly sins, as outlined by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century, are:

• Pride
• Greed
• Lust
• Envy
• Gluttony
• Wrath
• Sloth

These sins are considered dispositions toward further sin and separation from God.

Additionally, theologians have categorized sins as either involuntary or voluntary. Involuntary sins are committed due to the weakness of one's flesh or ignorance of a broken law, while voluntary sins are committed by those who know their actions are wrong but choose to do them anyway.

What are the consequences of mortal sins?

Mortal sins are considered to be the gravest of sins in the Catholic faith. They are acts of serious offence that cut one off from God's sanctifying grace and represent a deliberate turning away from God and His commandments.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a mortal sin "results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back".

In other words, a mortal sin destroys the charity within us, without which eternal happiness is impossible. If not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it brings eternal death. This is what makes it "mortal" or deadly: it cuts us off from God forever.

The concept of mortal sin is found in both Catholicism and Lutheranism. Three conditions must be met for a sin to be considered mortal: it must involve grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. Grave matter refers to the seriousness of the sin, and is generally understood to be something that violates the Ten Commandments. Full knowledge means being aware that the act is considered sinful by God or the Church, and deliberate consent means the sin is committed by choice.

Examples of mortal sins include:

• Worshipping false gods
• Abortion
• Murder
• Blasphemy
• Sexual relations outside of marriage
• Prostitution
• Stealing
• Gluttony
• Drunkenness
• Despair

What is the role of a priest?

The role of a priest is to be both a brother and a father to those they minister to. They are intermediaries between people and God, teaching the proper reverence, gratitude, praise, sacrificial giving, worship, and way of life that define the faith. They are also seen as fulfilling the biblical role of priest, prophet, and king.

Priests have a variety of duties, including:

• Proclaiming the Word of God
• Preparing for and performing the Sacraments (e.g. Eucharist, Reconciliation, Baptism, Funerals, Marriages, Sacrament of the Sick)
• Praying and sharing the fruits of their prayer
• Visiting the sick and those with special needs or problems
• Leading a parish of Catholic Christians
• Bringing new members into the Church through Baptism
• Hearing Confessions and providing spiritual direction
• Teaching people how to pray
• Feeding the poor, visiting prisons, and advocating for justice
• Counselling people going through difficult times
• Performing funerals and burying the dead
• Managing the temporal affairs of the parish

Priests are also considered to be leaders for their people in both social and spiritual concerns.

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