I haven’t been to confession in years- over a decade I think- and have been wanting to go. But all I see is a man in that booth- I have so much distrust for so many of the clergy. I know they’re not all the bad ones- but it is so hard to recover from some bad experiences. This video helps me a lot though. Thank you, Libby I love how you present the facts with that genuine smile. And Kai you bring such humor and calm confidence. You two are great. 😊
BoogieBoogieBoyLock yeah, bad experiences can be super tough. It might help to ask around, or if you don’t really know anyone, you can look up local churches online and see if there’s anything that can give you a feel for the priests (like messages on the website or notes in the bulletin). We pray God leads you to the right place!!
I hadn't been to confession for twenty years more or less. I entered the confessional face to face with the Priest, my sins written on paper so I didn't forget anything and told him everything as it was, without dressing anything up, just tell the truth. The priest appreciates an honest confession, believe me. After absolution, seriously, I felt really different inside my conscience, it's quite an uplifting experience. A few rotten apples doesn't mean the barrel's destroyed, most of these guys are decent normal people.
I am in RCIA and close to Confirmation. We just discussed this in Class today and I have been both excited and nervous about what this experience will be like and I have to say this video did a great job of helping me feel better about what it will be like. Thank you for making this!
My friend is studying to be a priest. It actually shocked me at first I thought he would pursue college. But im happy for himself. I'll just visit his church in the future. Man I miss our conversations.
Hi Diluc is a Part timer , you should be happy for your friend, he seems to have found his purpose in life. It may interest you to know that pursuing the priesthood usually involves getting a Masters Degree, so college is definitely in his future! Being a priest should not change your friend, you may find that you have even better conversations with him as he learns more about the faith and life in general. Most of the priests we know are great in conversation...and lots of fun at parties! On a more serious note, the journey your friend is facing is a hard one and he will need the support of people he knew before he started it. We urge you to stay close to your friend and support him in his journey.
Great video! You guys are really great! Maybe your next video can explain what penance is and why Catholics use unpleasant experiences as penances or offer up penances for the souls of Purgatory. I've always liked the "hitting a car" example (In case you don't know that example: you've hit a car [sinned] so you go to the owner and say "sorry" but the car is still messed up. You have to pay for the damages [penance]. You either pay it now or in Purgatory.) Keep up the good work!
Hi Mrs. L. The practice of using unpleasant experiences as penance is an old one and is based on the idea of “redemptive suffering.” We can go as far back as St. Paul for proof of this when he says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church…” COL 1:24. The thought is that through our own suffering, we can share and identify with Christ’s suffering on the Cross which Christians look at as the redemptive act. But we must be careful not to trivialize the idea of suffering. For instance, being upset that you have to wait in line so long at the DMV is not what we would consider suffering! Btw, your auto-wreck analogy for penance is perfect - forgiveness does not erase reparation or consequence. Thanks for joining us.
Okay this is your best! 💜 Love it! Did you make the cartoon? I go every week! We injure our relationship with Jesus by our venal sins and we need forgiveness and healing for them! This can also prevent falling into more serious (mortal) sins. Going once a week or at least once a month is very good for everyone!
@catholic central im very sorry i linked this to my students and they tarnished your beautiful comment section love from me and love from Jesus xxoo!!!
What about those who are not Catholics & those who coonfess their sins directly to God Almighty, aren't they forgiven íf they don't confess to a Catholic priest?
Hi @Flosy29Vera, that is a good question. In Catholic theology, the forgiveness of sins is understood within the framework of the sacrament of reconciliation, also known as confession. However, the Catholic Church recognizes that God's mercy is not limited by the sacraments and that forgiveness can also be obtained through sincere contrition and repentance. Regarding those who are not Catholics and those who confess their sins directly to God without involving a Catholic priest, the Catholic Church teaches that God's grace and mercy are not confined to specific religious practices. While the sacrament of reconciliation is a means through which Catholics seek forgiveness for their sins, individuals outside of the Catholic faith who sincerely repent and seek reconciliation with God can also receive forgiveness. Catholic teaching emphasizes the importance of genuine contrition, or sorrow for one's sins, as well as a firm resolve to amend one's life. If someone who is not Catholic sincerely confesses their sins directly to God, seeking forgiveness with a contrite heart, they can indeed receive God's mercy and forgiveness. However, Catholics are encouraged to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation as a means of receiving the grace and spiritual healing that comes from confessing one's sins to a priest. The sacrament provides the opportunity for spiritual guidance, absolution, and reconciliation with both God and the Church community. When we confess our sins to a priest, we are not only reconciling ourselves with God but also with our community and ourselves. Ultimately, while the sacrament of reconciliation is a central aspect of Catholic practice, God's mercy extends beyond the boundaries of religious affiliation, and sincere repentance is always met with divine forgiveness.
Hi Eric, you are right, but it is generally easier to see when we fail others and ourselves than it is to see when we have failed God. Our interactions with others are generally a good measure of our relationship with God. All of Catholic Social teaching turns on the idea that we are all created in the image and likeness of God; every one and everywhere, and this includes ourselves.
Hi John, thank you for asking this question. As Catholics, we believe that a person needs to confess their sins for a variety of reasons. The most important is, of course, to reconcile themselves back to God. That being said, suppose a person were to commit a grave sin and not confess it and, subsequently, were to die, what becomes of their soul? Catholics believe in a God of infinite mercy and a forgiving God. While no one can say for sure what happens to us in those last milliseconds before we die or what happens to us after we are dead, we believe that God is offering us salvation up to our last waking moment and, as Catholics, we believe that God will still offer us salvation, through Purgatory, after we are dead. The obvious question, then, is why do we need to confess at all? Just as it is important for us to get all of our affairs in order before we die (and most of us do not know when that will be), it is equally important to reconcile ourselves with God before we die. The sacrament offers us a chance to say we are sorry for those things that weigh heavy on our hearts, our sins. It also gives us a chance to reconcile ourselves back to our faith community, from which sin separates us. Reconciliation offers us a chance to forgive ourselves, to make us whole again. It provides a release and helps us to heal. So, you can see that the sacrament of Reconciliation is not just about getting forgiven by God, but about being forgiven by our community and ourselves. Finally, this is one of the reasons why Catholics pray for the dead.
@@CatholicCentralVideos Thank you so much I will continue watching your channel to help me understand more of our religion may God bless you all and keep safe always. :)
Hi @BazzaFnbr, we cannot be sure if you are asking this as a serious question or just trying to be funny, but we will assume that you are being serious. The question you ask has been asked for as long as humans have had the power to question things, it might well be the oldest question there is. As Catholics, we believe that God's existence can be known with certainty through the "natural light of reason." Which is the capacity for intelligent thought that all human beings have just by virtue of being human. By exercising their native intelligence, human beings can discover, verify, and organize many truths of natural reason. We believe that God has gradually revealed aspects of his existence through natural and special revelation, and that there is evidence around the world to support the existence of God, such as nature, love, and our consciousness. We also believe that we see evidence of God’s existence in creation, conscience, rationality and human experience. Throughout history, great thinkers, such as Thomas Aquinas have made good arguments for God’s existence. There are also other arguments to prove that there is a God as well, such as the “Ontological Argument.” but we get deep into the weeds when we try to discuss such ideas. God is something you feel in your heart and in your soul. We would urge you to look at our episodes regarding God, including “Proofs of God” and “Who is God” for additional information.
As Catholics, we acknowledge that empirical proof of God’s existence, akin to scientific proof, is not available, but we maintain that there are compelling philosophical, historical, and experiential reasons to believe in God. Faith, supported by reason, leads to a conviction of God’s existence and His ongoing presence in the world.
The document of God's existence is the Bible. The Bible tells us of the impact God had on the Jewish people. God introduces himself in the Book of Genesis by saying "I am Being Itself." That's a good place to start when trying to understand who God is. See the episodes we recommended, and read the comments pages and study guides on each one. Thanks for joining us. God bless you.
When criticizing something, it helps the team of creators (who obviously work very hard on their creation) if you can suggest a way to make it less boring. Remember, treat others the way you yourself would like to be treated! God bless!
