Why do I have to go to a priest to confess sins?
1. The first thing Jesus did after the resurection (John Chapter 20),Jesus said “peace be with you – whoever’s sins you bind our bound, whoever’s sins your forgive are forgiven” This happens at every confession. The very fact that this is the first thing Jesus says shows that confession allows us to walk as a resurected person, sharing the resurection of Christ.
2. Christ became man so that man can save man. We are baptized by men, taught by men, men wrote the Bible.
3. Sin offends: 1- God, 2- the Church 3- Mankind, 4-the person. Confession must be to all 4. The protestant arguement that we can go directly to God makes no sense in light of God becoming man to save man. Confession 1- Restores charity in the case of mortal sin. 2- Strengthens charity in the case of venial sin. It is best to go a minimum of once a month to confession, even if you have not sinned mortally. Confession is an intimate encounter with Christ. It helps us to enter into an appreciation of forgiveness and helps us forgive others. The experience of being forgiven teaches us to forgive. “Forgive us our temptations as we forgive those to tresspass against us…” Confession remits the temporal punishment of Sin. It reduces our time in purgatory. While confession of already forgiven sins is not reccomended for people who doubt the validity of the sacrement, it is good for others. It has the same effects as an indulgence. Confession forgives all the eternal effects of sin by bringing back charity, but not all the temporal effects. It does reduce the temporal effects. Confession is the 2nd plank after ship wreck. It forgives our sins after baptism.
