CATHEDRAL OF MARY OUR QUEEN
presents
 

A Visual Catholic Catechism
 

Back to
list of
questions

Why do we go to Confession?

Question: Why is this absolution required from a Catholic priest? Is he the one granting forgiveness?

Answer from the Catechism, para. 1441-42:

Only God forgives sins (cf. Mark 2:7). Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5,10; Luke 7:48). Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name (cf. John 20:21-23).

Christ... entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20).
 

From the Catechism, para. 1444:

In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesial dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ's solemn words to Simon Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt 16:19; cf. Matt 18:18; Matt 28:16-20). "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of the apostles united to its head."

But won't the priest dislike me personally
                                    after he finds out what my sins are???

From the Catechism, para. 1465:

The priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgment is both just and merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner.

Why not go only to the Good Shepherd with our sins?

See also: The Cathedral's Art & Architecture or Historical Perspectives or Parish Community

  © 2003 Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Archdiocese of Baltimore