¨ Sacrament of confession

 ¨  What is Sacrament of Confession?

¨  The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (commonly called Penance, Reconciliation, or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church ,  in which the faithful obtain absolution for the sins committed against God and neighbor and are reconciled with the community of the Church.

¨  What is the assurance if we confess our sins to a Priest?

¨  Our sins will be forgiven, because Jesus Christ gave the authority to forgive sin to a priest (John 20:23)

¨  “If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:23 Good News)

¨  How do we sure that Jesus Christ gave the authority to forgive sins to a Priest?

One of the disciple of our Lord Jesus is Saint Peter. In his letter he mention that the priest will serve  GOD (1 Peter 2:5)

¨  Come as a living stone, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priest to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to GOD through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 Good News)

Remember that Saint Peter is their when the Lord Jesus gave the Authority to forgive sin

First, when our Lord Jesus Christ appear to the disciple, when he was resurrected only St. Thomas is not their in the 11 apostle (John 20:24)

But Thomas (who was called the Twin^[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ( John 20:24 NRSVCE)

Second, before the Lord Jesus appeared to his disciple, the two Mary’s went to the tomb where the Lord Jesus buried. They receive a message (Mark 16:7)

 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:7 NRSVCE)

Third, it is so clear that Saint Peter is their when The Lord Jesus gave the authority of forgiving sin.
This is what the Lord Jesus said “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:10)

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:10 NRSVCE)

¨  What happen in Confession?

1. The penitent makes a sacramental confession of all mortal sins to a priest and prays an act of contrition. (Leviticus 5:5-6)

5 He who is guilty in any of these cases, shall confess the sin committed,

6 and bring to Yahweh as a sacrifice for the sin committed a female of the flock (sheep or goat); and the priest shall offer the sacrifice for the man's sin to free him from his sin.

(Leviticus 5:5-6 Christian Community Bible)

English             Latin
Mortal Sin        Peccata Mortalia

¨  What is mortal sin in the bible?

*It is a “sin that leads to death”         (1 John 5:16CCB)

16 If you see your brother committing sin, a sin which does not lead to death, pray for him, and God will give life to your brother. I speak, of course, of the sin which does not lead to death. There is also a sin that leads to death; I do not speak of praying about this. (1 John 5:16 CCB)

Why do we have to confess our sins to a priest?

¨  Answer

Because the authority to forgive sin is given to a priest (John 20:23)

2. The priest then assigns a penance and imparts absolution in the name of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son[Christ] and Holy Spirit)

A. What is a penance?

In Leviticus 5:5-6 the penance is offering of animals. In Roman Catholic is prayer, as like what is written in Hosea 14:2. The offering is prayer.

Hosea 14:2
Take words with you
    and return to the Lord;
say to him,
    “Take away all guilt;
accept that which is good,
    and we will offer
    the fruit^[a] of our lips.

Why prayer is the penance and not offering of animals?

¨  Answer

Christ offered himself because the offering of animals cannot take away sins (Hebrews 10:4-5)

 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ Consequently, when Christ^[a] came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body you have prepared for me; (Hebrews 10:4-5 NRSVCE)

That’s why when we confess, the penance is the prayer taught  by the Bible (Our Father[Matthew 6:9-13], Hail Mary[Luke 1:28])

¨   The traditional formula of absolution is:

¨  Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

¨  May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and by His authority I absolve you from every bond of excommunication (suspension) and interdict, so far as my power allows and your needs require. [making the Sign of the Cross:] Thereupon, I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

B. The Priest forgive a sin in the presence of GOD, as Saint Paul did. (2 Corinthians 2:10)

10 The one you forgive, I also forgive. And what I forgave, if indeed I had anything to forgive, I forgave for your sake in the presence of Christ, (2 Corinthians 2:10 CCB)

¨  Some allegations of other  religion regarding the Sacrament of Confession

¨  First

The Priest is just a man and could not forgive a sin.

¨  Explanation

Remember that our Lord Jesus Christ is the one who gave the authority to forgive sin in our Priest (John20:23). And the Priest forgive sin in the presence of G OD (2 Corinthians 2:10).

¨  Second

In 1 John 1:9, confess all sins direct to  GOD

¨  Explanation

In 1 john 1:9 is about “sin  which does not lead to death” (venial sin). We should to know that the bible doesn’t contradict. If  all the sin can direct to GOD, why GOD did not forgive Eliphaz, rather he use Job as instrument to forgive the sin of Eliphaz and his two friend? (Job 42:7-9)

To GOD be the Glory!