Achtung_Bebe
New Yorker
As I was sitting through mass today (a weekly routine) I had a few questions arise in my mind regarding the process of Confession--it's not the first time I had considered them, but anyway, I thought I'd put them before you all.
It's concerning Confession and the Eucharist. The Catholic Church believes that if you are in the state of mortal sin (premarital sex, for example) you are not to receive the Eucharist. However, before the distribution of the Eucharist, the congregation declares "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."
It seems that by saying this you are in effect confessing your sin or "unworthiness". Also by saying this you realize that you are healed. Therefore, it wouldn't exactly make sense to claim you are not in the state to receive the Eucharist (or would it?)
Also, let's say you are truly sorry for your sin, and ask forgiveness in the privacy of your own home. Is it necessary to have the priest as the middle man? I understand that not every religion has an organized process of confession, and may be taken up between you and God. By being Catholic, does that entitle you to follow their organized confession? These may be questions man cannot answer, but we can atleast speculate. I believe God is just and realizes our intentions, thus it seems to me that the organization of confession may be unnecessary if your heart and mind is truly where it ought to be.
What do you think?
[This message has been edited by Achtung_Bebe (edited 10-07-2001).]
It's concerning Confession and the Eucharist. The Catholic Church believes that if you are in the state of mortal sin (premarital sex, for example) you are not to receive the Eucharist. However, before the distribution of the Eucharist, the congregation declares "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."
It seems that by saying this you are in effect confessing your sin or "unworthiness". Also by saying this you realize that you are healed. Therefore, it wouldn't exactly make sense to claim you are not in the state to receive the Eucharist (or would it?)
Also, let's say you are truly sorry for your sin, and ask forgiveness in the privacy of your own home. Is it necessary to have the priest as the middle man? I understand that not every religion has an organized process of confession, and may be taken up between you and God. By being Catholic, does that entitle you to follow their organized confession? These may be questions man cannot answer, but we can atleast speculate. I believe God is just and realizes our intentions, thus it seems to me that the organization of confession may be unnecessary if your heart and mind is truly where it ought to be.
What do you think?
[This message has been edited by Achtung_Bebe (edited 10-07-2001).]