Thank you so much father David. I appreciate your honesty and the analogies and the tips. 5 years later and your talk, with the Grace of God, is still benefiting people. Thank you for your efforts.
That was wonderful, Father David; thank you so much! I was very touched when you said that you say, "Forgive me", near the end of each confession... acknowledging your own human propensity for sin & the "position" that the newly absolved penitent holds, having just been absolved/cleansed of their own sins! What a beautiful awareness to drive home! After many (~35) years of avoiding Confession & simply "going through the motions", because I was terrified that if I stopped going to Mass I would stop even TRYING to be reconciled with Him, I was finally blessed about 5 years ago with a series of occurrences that brought me back to Confession, & ramped up my pursuit & then continuous pursuit of Him, through the increasingly fervent practice my Catholic Faith. I almost always come out of Confession feeling lighter & joyful, & with the resolve to do better, in keeping with the realization of that moment of having been totally forgiven; what an absolutely tremendous gift! I am so SO VERY blessed, & incredibly grateful! God bless you, Father!😇 ["How to Make a Good Confession" - Fr. David Smith] [4.26.2024]
Father Bless . Excellent presentation. So simply yet fully explained . We make things complicated . The comparison to training for a race creates a great word picture . I will forward this presentation to my children and grandchildren . Thank you Father for your ability to keep things simple and thus understandable . Good Strength .
Thank you Father, for the detailed explanation and for sharing your own personal story. I've never understood the importance of confessing to a priest but now I do. I'm truly grateful that I found your video. 🙏 God Bless
Thank you, Father. You really helped me to see confession in a much more positive light. You also made me laugh a few times at our shared human nature (wanting the results of training but not wanting to actually train), which helps too.
I'm Roman Catholic too, and this video really helped. The part about training for the race, especially. I went to Confession for the first time in years a few mos. ago. The priest had a stern voice, I went in totally unprepared. I ended up not confessing a mortal sin, the one that made me approach the Sacrament in the first place. Then I learned that is Sacrilege, now I have to go back and Confess that as well. I guess I just have to keep going... and going... And going. Thank you for the great video, Father
COMPLETE HERESY YOU KNOW BUT still continue heresy what a shame God himself (Christ) says my church is the only true church the orthodox Christian church is the only one that will prevail the gates of hell when heretics Roman Catholic like this try to mess with the truth they die look at Saint Spyridon, God killed them when they were allowed to worship the true Saint Spyridon watch his video on RU-vid Trisagon films Saint Spyridon
@@angelicavazquez6946 COMPLETE HERESY YOU KNOW BUT still continue heresy what a shame God himself (Christ) says my church is the only true church the orthodox Christian church is the only one that will prevail the gates of hell when heretics Roman Catholic like this try to mess with the truth they die look at Saint Spyridon, God killed them when they were allowed to worship the true Saint Spyridon watch his video on RU-vid Trisagon films Saint Spyridon Switch to truth orthodox unchanged body of Christ
James 5:16 therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed🙏🏻 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and affective amen May the Lord bless all brothers and sisters in the Lord with health wealth and happiness may the Lord surround you with love and peace❤️🇬🇷
Thank you, #FrDavidSmith. This was more informative, clarifying, inspiring and motivating than I could have hoped for. May God bless you and yours, and all here with the Grace and Mercy to continue growing ever closer to Him...for HIS Glory.
Thank you Father. I just got baptized @ the Easter Vigil on Saturday April 20, 2019. I am new @ confession. And I want to be as brutally honest in my confessions. Tara
that was amazingly comprehensive. I really look forward to beginning my training for confessions and look forward to the challenges that may be set for me by my spriritual Father. I truly hope all goes well. Thank you very much.
Thank you father. I recently did a f$#$ up and got a tarot reading without realizing that it's not something we should do. I'm going to do a confession soon to repent. I just feel really regretful right now..
Thank you for posting this video! I try to go to Confession every other week and one of the problems I have is driving back home and remembering all of the sins I wanted to confess but forgot. Sometimes my mind goes blank and then, only when I reached my home, do I remember what I wanted to confess. Does anyone else have the same problem? Thanks!
It's a good idea to write things down beforehand. Nowadays, many younger people come to confession with their smartphones - where they've written the things they want to say.
wade43671 Yes that happens to me. I remember in my language but then in English is complete blank I can not remember the act of contrition. I will pray for you God bless.🙏🏻💒
In Russian orthodox tradition including some OCA. Frequent confession is seen best practice so to say. I go to Antiochian now and was told not to come as often. What should I do?
This happens all the time. God forgives us every time we ask, we keep coming to confession because we don't want sin to overtake us and rule us. Confession helps us to overcome our habitual sins.
What if our confession is really bad? Borderline criminal? What if it indicates mental health disorder? What if it makes my Priest want me out of the parish? Can he kick me out for what I confess?
Those are good questions - each is different. Really bad sins come out often in confession, and the priest offers advice and pronounces absolution. All sin is bad. Criminal activity may prompt the priest to ask for something to be done (an "obedience") before absolution can be given. Mental health disorders are not rare in my experience, I offer what advice I can and urge the person to continue a relationship with the church and with confession. Someone can be kept from the sacraments (excommunication) for a time because of a really grievous sin, but no one is "kicked out" of the church. Even while a person is excommunicated, I urge them to attend liturgy and other church events as much as possible.
Never let the devil put you into shame to confess t god god already know your sins he wants you to speak them out so he know you really want to release them and want mercy for them
I think it makes sense, also to fast before receiving Eucharist. I'm yet to be Orthodox but I still do it before receiving the antidoron (that's the blessed bread, right?) at Divine Liturgy.
The Orthodox often say they are different from Catholics, in that they say the priest does not forgive sins, you are just forgiven in his presence. In which case why does your rite of absolution contain the words that he the priest forgives your sins
Because Priest gives his hands and Tongue to God when he performs mysteries and sacraments as he is given that power from Christ himself throughout The apostles that gave it to priests and Bishops themselves, when Christ gave his speech about powers and such, WAS ANYONE EXCEPT THE APOSTLES THERE? History can tell you much more
@@marcelwaee3056 you commit blasphemy of the Holy Ghost with such nonchalance. First you say the Holy Ghost is invoked by epiklesis, now you say God must possess a priest to be saved, that still means the priest must be there in the first place giving himself over to possession, and still means its a false gospel by adding being "topped up" with grace for salvation. Fact is Jesus does not possess the priest. By the way it will be useful if you show us this possession doctrine in your canons. thanks
@@Jesusandbible You apparently don't know anything about anything in Church history or the Book of Acts! MUH SOLA FIDE Stop this! did the Holy Ghost leave the Church until the Reformation? you are the one making blasphemy my friend
In Orthodoxy, recommendations given are specifically tailored to the individual involved. It's not really for any of the rest of us to judge since we dont know the whole story of the person confessing.
We sin throughout ea day so without regular confession of sin, the promise of continual cleansing is rendered null and void resulting in broken fellowship. "If we confess our sins, 'HE' is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1Jn1:9. In Mt 27:51 when Christ died on the cross "The veil was rent from top to bottom" signifying that no longer was a priest needed for 'confession that formally only one priest was allowed to present to God. Mk 2:7 "Who can forgive sins but God only?" Christ opened the door to the Throneroom of Grace where GOD said we may come at anytime, including confession. God doesn't want to wait a (RCC MONTH), to hear from a confession, he asks for immediate repentance. If I stole from u would u wait a month? Proof that ONLY GOD can forgive sin: Mt 6:14 "For if u forgive other people when they sin against u, ur heavenly 'Father' will also forgive u". Eph 4:32 "Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you", Col 3:13 "Bear w/each othEr & forgive one another if any of u has a grievance against someone. Forgive AS the LORD forgave u", 1Sam2:25 “If one man sins against another, GOD will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” “For there is one God, and ONE mediator also between God & men, the man Christ Jesus” 1 Tim. 2:5 God desires a 'relationship' w/ea of 'us', God never mentions a go-between-priest in scripture. 'WE' are now the Temple where God lives IN 'us' so we don't need a 'eucharist' that the RCC claims is God. God is Omnipresent in ALL of HIS CHURCH - the BELIEVERS, not just in a cement building. "Do you not know that you are God'sTemple and that God's Spirit dwells in you"? 1Cor3:16. Do u not realize that the 'sacraments' are meant to trick u into believing u can't please God or enter Heaven unless you remain a member of the RCC? Wake up! You already have everything within u as a Believer in Christ! `How long will u remain a seeker of man's religion instead of a seeker of God & HIS teachings & truth? And you, sir, teach a false Gospel that millions are led away from God from thinking, speaking & doing what u falsely teach. Shame on you for contradicting GOD. see: >Roman Catholicism vs the Bible OR Roman Catholicism vs Biblical Christianity
These are all good verses of scripture that speak to the way that Christians are forgiven of their sins. Remember that the Church came before the scriptures - the Church gave us the scriptures (New Testament). I always remind people that I do not forgive sins, but God does, and at every confession I quote I John 1:9 and make sure that penitents understand and agree with the words of St. John. We ask forgiveness constantly, to be sure. But it is helpful for people to speak their sins to another person, James 5:15, who is sacramentally bound to keep anything that is said strictly confidential, and to offer spiritually beneficial advice. This is the essence of the sacrament.
I m not against Confession but it is an irony when priests are suggesting to the faithful to go to Confession. Why ? Because according to serious statistics, only 8 per cent of priests go regularly to Confession . The prescriptions are good but many priests are not going regularly for many reasons. Some don't have discipline, somme don't trust their fellow brothers ,some are indifferent and some never had their own self examination. It is not a criticism this comment but it is a reality what happened "behind the curtains" !
This is coming from an Eritrean Orthodox. I think it is an idea we entertain as humans. Yet, who are we to judge and question the ones that God has given power to? I have heard the same thing in my church as well and replying as to what I have been taught. It is also one way of the devil trying to jold us back from confession. I hope I make sense.
Why is this so hard for people? I’ve had a couple of horrible priests but not because they berated me for my sins. They berated me for wasting their time. When I encounter this type of nonsense I move on to the many other good priests out there. Go to confession!!!
Yes, I'm sorry this happens. Confession is difficult for the priest as much as for the one confessing, and some priests avoid it. Pray that God would point you to a good father confessor.
You make a good “confession” by eliminating guy in black suits like this,and talking directly to GOD ! clergy keep you dependent on their man made rituals !go directly to GOD. JESUS NEVER FAILS !
Celticfire soon to be combined with the Catholic Church.there will be a merging (it’s already under way), The evangelical CHRISTian church and other Protestant denominations,and it was just announced the S D A church is also joining the movement.this is the one world luciferian church spoken of in REVELATION. www.gotquestions.org/one-world-religion.html.i am just trying to warn people,we are getting near the end.
Dominic Of course you can talk directly to God, but that doesn’t change that Christ gave the Apostles the power to forgive (or refuse to forgive) sins. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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 them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’”-John 20:19-23
"The sacrament which removes that which is between us and God"? You repeat over and over. No one needs you. We dont necessarily even have to confess things one at a time to God verbally, just REPENT and he forgives. No one needs you. You are trying to be essential to others salvation. You aren't.
Cease this! Priesthood is Biblical and Traditional so is confession, Protestant versions of the bible removed the word "Priest" in the letters of the Apostles in the New Testament
