Catholics' Sacrament Of Confession: What's It Called?

what do catholics call confessing sins

Catholics refer to confessing sins as the Sacrament of Penance, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is the method by which Catholics confess any sins they have committed after their baptism, and these sins are then absolved by God through the administration of a priest. The priest acts in persona Christi, meaning in the person of Christ.

Characteristics Values
How often At least once a year for serious sins
Who to A priest
Where Confessional box, booth, or reconciliation room
What to say "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time period] since my last confession."
What to do Confess mortal sins and, if none, venial sins
What happens after The priest assigns a penance, such as a prayer or action
What the priest says "God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

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Catholics confess their sins to a priest because that was the method of forgiveness established by Jesus during his ministry

Catholics refer to the act of confessing sins as the Sacrament of Penance, or confession. This is the method by which Catholics confess any sins they have committed after their baptism, and these sins are then absolved by God through the administration of a priest.

> "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven," He says to a paralyzed man (Matthew 9:2).

Jesus's fellow Jews were scandalized by this, believing him to be "a mere man" and were horrified by his claim to have an authority that belonged to God alone. However, Jesus proved them wrong by demonstrating his power over creation through miracles of healing and absolute power.

Jesus granted the ministry of reconciliation to the twelve Apostles after his resurrection. This is recorded in the Gospel of John:

> "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:21-23)

In this passage, Jesus handed his mission of forgiveness over to the Church, specifically to her ordained ministers, the successors to the Apostles.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§1441-1442) states:

> "God alone forgives sins," [...] "The Son of God [...] exercises this divine power: 'Your sins are forgiven.'"

> "By virtue of his divine authority he [Jesus] gives this power to men to exercise in his name."

> "He entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution [the power to forgive sin in the name of Christ] to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the 'ministry of reconciliation.'"

Therefore, Catholics confess their sins to a priest because that was the method of forgiveness established by Jesus during his earthly ministry. Through the priest, who acts as Jesus's representative, Catholics are confessing their sins to God and receiving his forgiveness.

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The priest acts in persona Christi, in the person of Christ

In the Catholic Church, the priest acts in persona Christi, meaning "in the person of Christ". This is an important concept in Roman Catholicism and other Christian traditions such as Lutheranism and Anglicanism.

In Catholic theology, a priest is considered in persona Christi because, in the sacraments he administers, it is God and Christ who act through him. This concept is reflected in the words spoken by the priest during Mass, which are considered to be the words of God to the Church, rather than the words of humans to God.

For example, during the Mass, the priest pronounces the Words of Institution, by which the bread becomes the Body of Christ and the wine becomes the Precious Blood. Here, the priest acts in the person of Christ, who is the head of the Church. This belief is supported by the Council of Trent (Session Fourteen, Chapter I), which quotes John 20:22–23 as the primary Scriptural proof for the doctrine. Catholics also consider Matthew 18:18, describing the power to "bind" and to "loose", to be among the Scriptural bases for the sacrament.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:

> In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis.

The priest, through the sacrament of Holy Orders, is thus considered to be the visible sign of the presence of Christ as the head of the Church. This belief is further supported by the fact that Jesus gave his apostles the authority over sin, saying, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:23).

In the Sacrament of Penance, the priest, acting in persona Christi, absoles individuals of their sins through the power given to him by Christ. This sacrament is also known as confession, reconciliation, or penance, and it is obligatory for Catholics to participate in it at least once a year for serious sins. During confession, individuals confess their mortal and venial sins to the priest, who then assigns an act of penance and offers absolution.

It is important to note that the priest, while acting in persona Christi, is not preserved from all human weaknesses, errors, or sins. The power of the Holy Spirit guarantees that even the minister's sin cannot impede the fruit of grace in the sacraments. However, in other acts, the priest may be subject to human weaknesses and errors that can impact the apostolic fruitfulness of the Church.

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The priest is a representative of the community, forgiving sins on behalf of those offended

The Sacrament of Penance, also known as confession, is a method by which Catholics confess any sins they have committed after their baptism. These sins are then absolved by God through the administration of a priest. The priest acts in persona Christi, meaning "in the person of Christ", and in persona ecclesia, meaning "in the person of the Church" or "in the person of the community".

The priest, as a representative of the community, forgives sins on behalf of those offended. This is based on the belief that Jesus commissioned the apostles to act as his agents of forgiveness. In Matthew 16:19, Jesus tells Peter, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". After his resurrection, he breathed on his disciples and said, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained" (John 20:22-23).

The priest, as a representative of the community, also serves to mediate God's pardon and peace. This role is consistent with the Catholic tradition of sacraments being mediated by priests who act as a linkage or conduit between God and the people. The priest acts as an alter Christus, or "other Christ", an official stand-in for Christ.

The act of confessing sins to a priest is a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church, dating back to the early days of Christianity. It is considered a necessary part of receiving Christ's forgiveness and has been a constant and unbroken thread throughout the Church's history.

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The priest gives tailored advice and assigns penance to aid spiritual healing

The Catholic Sacrament of Penance, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, is a process of spiritual healing. After a Catholic has confessed their sins, the priest gives tailored advice and assigns penance.

The priest's advice and the penance assigned are unique to each individual and their situation. The priest will take into account the penitent's personality, their state of life, and their personal circumstances. The priest's advice is intended to help the penitent understand their situation and encourage them to put things right and live a new life.

The penance assigned is a prayer, action, or offering that expresses the penitent's sorrow and their desire to make amends and live a new life. For example, a penance might be to do something nice for an enemy every day for a week, to visit a nursing home or hospital once a week for a month, or to donate time to a soup kitchen or clothing bank. The penance is intended to be a token act, reminding the penitent that God comes first.

The priest will also ask the penitent to make an Act of Contrition, such as: "O my God, because you are so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you; and I promise that with the help of your grace, I will not sin again. Amen."

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The Seal of Confession is the protection against disclosure of sins

In Catholicism, the Seal of Confession is the name given to the protection against the disclosure of sins confessed to a priest. It is considered the duty of priests not to reveal anything they learn during the Sacrament of Penance, and this protection is known as the Seal of Confession. The Seal of Confession was established to protect the sinner, not the priest.

The Seal of Confession is absolute and any confessor who divulges information revealed during confession is subject to deposition and removal from office. In the Lutheran Church, the pastor is bound by the Seal of the Confessional (similar to the Roman Catholic tradition). In the Methodist Church, any confessor who divulges information revealed in confession is subject to being defrocked in accordance with canon law.

The Catholic Church teaches that sacramental confession requires three "acts" on the part of the penitent: contrition (sorrow of the soul for the sins committed), disclosure of the sins (the 'confession'), and satisfaction (the 'penance'; i.e., doing something to make amends for the sins). The basic form of confession has not changed for centuries, although at one time, confessions were made publicly. The concept of confessing in private is called sub rosa, which comes from Hellenistic and later Roman mythology and was eventually adopted into Christian symbolism.

The Catholic rite, obligatory at least once a year for serious sins, is usually conducted within a confessional box, booth, or reconciliation room. This sacrament is known by many names, including penance, reconciliation, and confession. While official Church publications usually refer to the sacrament as "penance", "reconciliation", or "penance and reconciliation", many clergy and laypeople continue to use the term "confession" when referring to the sacrament.

Frequently asked questions

The process of confessing sins in the Catholic Church is known as the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. It involves an examination of conscience, where one reflects on their actions and identifies their sins. The individual then goes to a priest, usually in a confessional booth or room, and confesses their sins, expressing sincere contrition and a desire to change. The priest, acting as a representative of Christ and the Church, assigns an act of penance and offers absolution, forgiving the sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Catholics believe that Jesus established the Sacrament of Reconciliation during his ministry on earth, commissioning his apostles to forgive sins in his name. Priests are seen as successors to the apostles, carrying out this role of mediating God's forgiveness. Catholics confess to a priest, but ultimately, it is God who forgives.

The Catholic Church teaches that individuals should receive the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year for serious sins. However, it is recommended to go to confession more frequently, even for minor sins, as it is a source of healing and grace.

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