2 Corinthians 5:20: So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (see longer quote below)
John 20:21-23: 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.”
Matthew 18:18: “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-20: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
The power to forgive sins is reserved to priests. As long as there is a need for the forgiveness of sins, the priests of the Catholic Church will continue to possess this power from Christ. Christ would not abandon his Church. As long as his Church exists, so will his mercy. The tragedy today is that may opt to remain in their sins. One of the greatest spiritual powers of every priest is neglected. The graces of this sacrament cannot be exaggerated.
For more such reading, contact me about getting my book, DEFENDING THE CATHOLIC FAITH.
Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Bible, Catholic, Church, Confession, Evangelization, Faith, Forgiveness, God, Priests, Repentance, Sacraments |
Blogger Priest 
I have had some amazing experiences with confession, especially when I have a great deal to confess. The most difficult confessions are always the deceivingly simple ones. Sometimes to just get out all my sins (thereby subconsciously trying to limit my embarrassment), I revert to the grocery list style of confessing. I know there’s nothing wrong with it, but I can tell my priest does not like this and would prefer a more conversational style. The problem: I have no idea how to have a conversation in confession. And I also want to confess all my sins. For me, the grocery list is like removing a band-aid instantly. But for the priest, it is probably overwhelming.
Any suggestions for a penitent trying to grow out of the grocery list style, but still wanting to do away with all my guilt? I have no idea where to really begin, especially if there’s a line outside the confessional.
Sorry if that was rambling 🙂