Confused? Someone explain.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='thessalonian' date='Aug 21 2005, 09:08 PM']Yes, it was very succintly put I think.  But if it is true these people are on the path to damnation.  It can't bode well for the priests who leave them in their lethargy either.  What can be done to wake people up.
 
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...catechesis...

[morostheos]

I think a lot of people just think of confession as something they do on retreats or at religious ed classes preparing for a Sacrament. I was that way for a long time - the attitude of those who taught me (and myself) was that you can go, but God isn't bound by the Sacraments, so you don't HAVE to go....it's horrible theology and practice, but that's the attitude.

I don't go to Confession near as often as I should and I yearn for the grace, but for me right now it's mostly vanity keeping me from going - from asking for a car to get there from my family (who don't go to confession regularly), to telling my friends I can't go out to dinner on Saturday night b/c I'm going to confession, to the priest thinking I'm over-zealous for going too often.......but that's just me personally.

[thessalonian]

[quote name='morostheos' date='Aug 21 2005, 08:29 PM']I think a lot of people just think of confession as something they do on retreats or at religious ed classes preparing for a Sacrament.  I was that way for a long time - the attitude of those who taught me (and myself) was that you can go, but God isn't bound by the Sacraments, so you don't HAVE to go....it's horrible theology and practice, but that's the attitude.

I don't go to Confession near as often as I should and I yearn for the grace, but for me right now it's mostly vanity keeping me from going - from asking for a car to get there from my family (who don't go to confession regularly), to telling my friends I can't go out to dinner on Saturday night b/c I'm going to confession, to the priest thinking I'm over-zealous for going too often.......but that's just me personally.
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I think your answer has insight. Now for the rest of your post. Get over it and go to grow.

[thessalonian]

[quote name='morostheos' date='Aug 21 2005, 08:29 PM']I think a lot of people just think of confession as something they do on retreats or at religious ed classes preparing for a Sacrament.  I was that way for a long time - the attitude of those who taught me (and myself) was that you can go, but God isn't bound by the Sacraments, so you don't HAVE to go....it's horrible theology and practice, but that's the attitude.

I don't go to Confession near as often as I should and I yearn for the grace, but for me right now it's mostly vanity keeping me from going - from asking for a car to get there from my family (who don't go to confession regularly), to telling my friends I can't go out to dinner on Saturday night b/c I'm going to confession, to the priest thinking I'm over-zealous for going too often.......but that's just me personally.
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I should also thank you for your post, as it does give insight in to why the youth are not going to confession. I rarely see anyone under 30 there except for my own kids and one other ladies kids. I pray that there will be a revival of this sacrament among the youth. I will pray that God gives you the grace to more frequently confess. The sacrament is such a great grace.

[DeeDee]

Okay, I'm going to write about what I heard twice from priests about confession, and then I also read it in a brochure about why Catholics come back to the church if they've gone elsewhere -forgiveness being one of the 10 reasons.

and I paraphrase. . . . . . God forgives our sins the minute we ask for forgiveness, but if we want the grace of the sacrament or IF we want to be absolutely sure we are fogriven, we go to confession. As I said, two priests told me this. . . . .

[morostheos]

DeeDee, technically that is correct, provided you have perfect contrition. However, the grace from the Sacrament of confession is such a gift, we should definitely want it more than most Catholics do today!

It hit me once that confession isn't something you should go to because you have to, or because you should - it's an amazing gift of God's grace! Who doesn't want more gifts from God?

[philothea]

I love confession... I think it's the only time I ever actually talk to priests!

That said, I hardly go at all, because my parish only offers it twice a year, and then at very inconvenient times.

OTOH, I'd go the hour to the city if I had mortal sins to confess. Not technically needing to though, I find it hard to convince my husband to take me that far at an inconvenient time. (I don't really drive.)

The most charitable thing would be to assume that either your fellow parishoners are confessing elsewhere, or that they are not guilty of mortal sins.

[DeeDee]

[quote name='morostheos' date='Aug 22 2005, 03:01 PM']DeeDee, technically that is correct, provided you have perfect contrition.  However, the grace from the Sacrament of confession is such a gift, we should definitely want it more than most Catholics do today!

It hit me once that confession isn't something you should go to because you have to, or because you should - it's an amazing gift of God's grace!  Who doesn't want more gifts from God?
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Thank you for your kind, thoughtful response. I was afraid I was going to get blasted.