Why is our contrition and confession pleasing to God? Why is it pleasing to ourselves?
Since Jesus died for our sins, why do we need to take the effort to uproot sin from our lives? Can’t we just rely on His mercy alone?
Why/how is regular confession spiritually healthy for us and those around us?
Lisa C: It is pleasing for God, because He wants to give us Mercy. It is pleasing for us to receive Mercy, because we become aware of God’s love for us.
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Guest761 (guest): I am so happy that we are back to questions. I found it much more difficult to do the kind of free association of the other format. :
Guest761 (guest): Our contrition and confession are pleasing to God because they indicae our trust in His mercy and forgiveness and are also an act of humility. It is pleasing to us because we are seeking forgiveness and the remedy for our sins.
Jun 12 2016, 7:26 PM
Guest761 (guest): Hi Michelle!
Lisa C: Confession forces us to think about what we have done and that makes us aware of what we need to change.
Michelle P Olivier: Confession is pleasing to God because we acknowledge that we offend Him. Even in our dealings with others it is only right that we apologize when we offend them.
Jun 12 2016, 7:28 PM
Guest761 (guest): Judy I am thinking about the Scripture that says that there is more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who returns than over 99 who have no need of repentance. This indicates that God is indeed pleased with our contrition and confession.
Jun 12 2016, 7:30 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Even though Christ has died for our sins, we have an obligation to recognize our failing and to be contrite for them. We should not take God’s Love for us and Forgiveness for granted. Just as Mary Magdalene pleased Him when she was sorry for her sins, so God is pleased when we show sorrow for our sins
Dawn L: Confession, to me, helps me see how God desires us and loves us, and I am cleansed of anything that comes between that love
Jun 12 2016, 7:32 PM
Guest761 (guest): The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a gift from the Lord. Imagine if He had not given us this sacrament! We might wander around all of our lives carrying the burden of our sins with us.
Jun 12 2016, 7:33 PM
Guest761 (guest): Judy Hi Carol Ann!
Jun 12 2016, 7:33 PM
Guest8909 (guest): I think confession is pleasing to God because we have recognized our own sinfulness and need for him and have begun the path to loving Him again.
Jun 12 2016, 7:33 PM
Dawn L: it is amazing beautiful! hi Judy
5 PM
Guest8909 (guest): I agree, Guest761, that is why sharing the beauty of confession with those in our lives that are not Catholic is so important.
Jun 12 2016, 7:35 PM
VisitationSiste: A mystic Adrienne Von Speyr, has a profound book on Confession
Jun 12 2016, 7:35 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Regular Confession is good for us because it helps us to me mindful of our offenses. It also helps us not to take God’s Love and Forgiveness for granted. When we are mindful of our failings we can focus on them so that we don’t commit them again. It helps keep us on our “spiritual track”.
Jun 12 2016, 7:36 PM
VisitationSiste: She talks about the depth of reparation that can also be represented in the Sacrament, for others as well as ourselves
Guest761 (guest): Judy I think that confession by itself is just not sufficient. We need to examine ourselves to find the root of our sins. Is it simple weakness? Is it a bad habit continued? Is it pride, lack of self control? We need to get at the root of our sins if we are ever to eradicate them from our lives. PM
Guest761 (guest): A good confessor will help to find those roots.
Jun 12 2016, 7:38 PM
Carol Ann: I have tried to explain the difference between “just” confessing directly to God in private and sacramental confeseion, but without much success. What do you all say?
Jun 12 2016, 7:38 PM
Michelle P Olivier: True, that is definitely a part of our confession – not to commit the offense again
7:39 PM
Lisa C: I wonder how we should feel after a sin is confessed and forgiven. It is not really all gone. If we hurt someone the damage is done. For an extreme example, say Hitler went to confession and was forgiven, the horror of what he did would still be there.
Jun 12 2016, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: A private “to God” does not include us as fully in the Body of Christ, the Church, as the Sacrament does
Lisa C: How do we deal with the damage after the forgiveness? 40 PM
VisitationSiste: Reparation? making good where it is possible
Carol Ann: I agree with you Sr., but then we get bogged down in there are no Sacraments ordained in the Bible….
Lisa C: The Sacrements are all in the Bible I think
Jun 12 2016, 7:41 PM
Guest761 (guest): Carol Ann, I think that there are two things to emphasize: that sin is an offense against the Church and reparation must be made to the Church (the people of God) through the ministry of the priest. Secondly, if we just confess to God, we do not have the solace of hearing the words “I absolve you of your sins.” It is certitude that we are indeed forgiven and lifts the burden from us.
Jun 12 2016, 7:41 PM
Michelle P Olivier: James 5; 16 says we should confess our sins to one another. There is a sense of humility needed to confess to another
Jun 12 2016, 7:41 PM
VisitationSiste: How about where Jesus breathes on the Apostles and says- whose sins you forgive are forgiven and those you retain;;;
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Carol Ann: Of course they are all there, but the names we call them are not, since those names came later. A real Flashpoint if you have someone stuck on Sola Scriptura.
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Dawn L: Confession, says it is a beautiful mystical book, one of her most central. I hadnt heard of her until now ty
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Lisa C: Marrage is in the bible, communion is, confession is as Mother said, holy orders is when he says do this in memory of me, confirmation is, baptism is
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Guest8909 (guest): Carol Ann – I try to explain that the power to both forgive and the power to retain sins were given to the apostles by Jesus. How would someone retain a sin if they did not hear the confession? John 20:23
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Lisa C: I missed one
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Guest761 (guest): Good point, 8909!
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Carol Ann: Sr., they do not believe that passage extends to an Apostolic succession
Jun 12 2016, 7:42 PM
Lisa C: annointing
er S
Jun 12 2016, 7:43 PM
Jun 12 2016, 7:43 PM
Ruth (guest): Hello everyone. I thought I had my kindle Fire set for 7:15 but somehow I got distracted reading a biochemistry article and didn’t hear any alarm. Good that I was able to concentrate on that. I am doing great, Sister. I’ve been here at Meadowbrook since Tuesday and am already scheduled to be discharged on Thursday of this week.
Jun 12 2016, 7:43 PM
Lisa C: Jesus died for all, before and after His time, so an apostolic succession has to apply
6, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: Scott Hahn probably has an answer 7:45 PM
Carol Ann: I will look on Emmaus Road. I love his work. Wondering how it will go over with the Jimmy Swagg art crowd
Jun 12 2016, 7:45 PM
Carol Ann: Glad you are going home Ruth
Jun 12 2016, 7:45 PM
Guest4740 (guest): Wonderful Ruth ! Praise God !
Jun 12 2016, 7:45 PM
Guest8909 (guest): I also explain that the offense of sin is against the Body of Christ and that we are all affected by another’s sin. As a result, we need to go to the priest who is a representative of the Body of Christ as well as representing Christ Himself
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Ruth (guest): THANK YOU everyone who has been praying for me. It was a real battle to get out of that hell hole “nursing home” and transferred, but Admissions here, an RN, understood exactly the dangers I was comping with. She helped me. She told me “Tell ’em you’ll sign out AMA if they won’t cooperate.” I’d already done that twice but with her help it became a reality. 7:46 PM
Lisa C: http://www.catholic.com/tracts/apostolic-succession
Apostolic Succession | Catholic Answers
16, 7:49 PM
Guest761 (guest): Why do we need to make the effort to uproot sins from our lives? This action is a sign of that firm purpose of amendment without which absolution cannot be imparted. We cannot advance in the devout life if we take no steps to get rid of our sinfulness.
Jun 12 2016, 7:49 PM
Carol Ann: Ty. I wonder if there is also an ecumenical source. I will Google it
2016, 7:50 PM
Catholic Teaching on Apostolic Succession – International Theological Commission
Jun 12 2016, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: Our free will needs to be exwercised toward God
7:50 PM
Guest761 (guest): Allowing sinful habits to continue indicates a lack of sincerity in the desire for a deep relationship with the Lord. We cannot serve two masters–the Lord of Life, and the evils and the Evil One who presents them to us. It’s Judy.
Jun 12 2016, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: exercised- I sound like Bugs Bunny!
51 PM
Carol Ann: So true, Judy. I have been wrestling with excessive worry, something that takes my eyes off of my Lord.
Jun 12 2016, 7:51 PM
Lisa C: No, I watched too much TV
Jun 12 2016, 7:52 PM
Ruth (guest): I’m not home yet but I am walking independently without any devices, not even a cane. I can stand up from squatting on the edge of a very low bed, climb stairs, get by with just Tylenol for pain. (another story!) Often this kind of progress takes 3 – 6 months.
Jun 12 2016, 7:52 PM
Guest761 (guest): God is good, all the time
st4740 (guest): That’s Great Ruth !
Jun 12 2016, 7:53 PM
Dawn L: I believe journaling at the moment worry comes to you, is very helpful
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Guest761 (guest): It also helps to recall the words of Jesus,”Fear is useless; what is needed is trust.” I need to remember this myself. (Judy) M
Guest8909 (guest): One of the things that keeps me endeavouring to uproot sin in my life is that in eternity, that is how we will live – without sin. I want to live as close as I can to how I will be for eternity as I can because that is the Truth. If I can’t strive now to uproot my sin, what makes me think I would want to live that way for all eternity? Part of the joy in living in Jesus is falling in love with His ways now in preparation for eternity.
Jun 12 2016, 7:54 PM
Carol Ann: Sr., is it because we are twain ed to be so individualistic that we no longer feel we belong to a larger community?
Jun 12 2016, 7:55 PM
Guest4740 (guest): True Sister ! We see the results when their is a lack of confession !
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Dawn L: writing scripture included in journaling . Dr Ray was talking about it last night on his ewtn show
Jun 12 2016, 7:56 PM
Ruth (guest): You are right, sister. I hear a lot about psychological explanations that leave out responsibility, appeal to right and wrong, consequences of SIN.
Jun 12 2016, 7:56 PM
Guest761 (guest): Carol Ann, are you turning into Bugs Bunny too?
Carol Ann: Lol! It’s that goofy auto correct. Apparently it never went to university and diesn’t recognize words with more than three syllables
Jun 12 2016, 7:58 PM
Ruth (guest): Lisa, thanks. All is still with supervision. The bond between titanium and bone is still very fragile. But I am grateful for a good ot/pt department here, with doctoral level physical therapist. PT will have to continue when I am home
6, 7:59 PM
Ruth (guest): The laughter does good. Thank you. Doc.
Jun 12 2016, 8:00 PM
VisitationSiste: Even faults, not sins, benefit from confession, in that we can receive grace to make us stronger and alert to them
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Guest761 (guest): I just thought of a phase used by Mother Angelica in the beginning of her TV series–“What a wonderful thing is our Church!” And indeed it is wonderful. Look how it provides for our spiritual needs and aids us in our journey to the Lord by giving us all the sacraments. What a blessing is our Church! , 8:01 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes Amen!
Jun 12 2016, 8:02 PM
VisitationSiste: And spiritual direction can flow from or towards confession
8:02 PM
Carol Ann: I wonder if more would go to Confession if they could receive teaching like we have been graced to receive here. I don”t remember hearing many homilies on it
Jun 12 2016, 8:03 PM
Ruth (guest): I find the hardest sins to overcome are sins of omission. All the good things we can do and somehow never find the time for. I feel obliged — for the sake of those still there and unable to advocate for themselves — to report to Medicare and to the state some of what I observed and experienced at Essex Center, but so far I’ve done NOTHING, even though I have a computer, paper, evelopes and stamps.
:03 PM
Carol Ann: That must be why I run from direction to confession!
Jun 12 2016, 8:03 PM
Dawn L: good point Carol Ann, I dont recall many homilies on confession either
Guest761 (guest): Confession is spiritually healthful for us since, just as we seek help from a medical doctor for healing from bodily sickness, so we seek spiritual healing from the Divine Physician through the instrumentality of His priest. As the MD prescribes medicine to heal the bodily disease, so the priest prescribes remedies for our sins.
Jun 12 2016, 8:04 PM
Michelle P Olivier: There is also grace given to us when we go to Confession.
Jun 12 2016, 8:04 PM
Carol Ann: Ruth, maybe that is a project for when you are safely under your own roof
Jun 12 2016, 8:04 PM
Amy Cochran: I am struggling, also, with sins of omission, telling someone something for their own good, but may be a source of disharmony in the future
M
Michelle P Olivier: Well, many things Christ said caused disharmony
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Ruth (guest): I heard a good homily on confession on EWTN yesterday. Discovered I could stream it live on my laptop.
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Amy Cochran: that’s true, but it is very difficult
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Dawn L: Ruth, thinking do you have state Ombudsmen there, function as pt advocate and very helpful
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Yes, it is
Well, many things Christ said caused disharmony
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Ruth (guest): I heard a good homily on confession on EWTN yesterday. Discovered I could stream it live on my laptop.
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Amy Cochran: that’s true, but it is very difficult
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Dawn L: Ruth, thinking do you have state Ombudsmen there, function as pt advocate and very helpful
Jun 12 2016, 8:05 PM
Michelle P Olivier: Yes, it is
Jun 12 2016, 8:06 PM
Guest761 (guest): Thank you for the reminder. I really don’t think about sins of omission and I really should. (Judy)
:08 PM
Guest761 (guest): Our confession is healthful for others because our sins frequently offend others as they do the Lord. Working toward eliminating them from lives proves has a positive effect on those around us since they are less frequently the objects of our sins.
Jun 12 2016, 8:09 PM
Dawn L: may the Holy Spirit guide us when approaching someone to tell them their …sins
Jun 12 2016, 8:09 PM
Ruth (guest): Dawn, yes. I called but did not get a return call while I was there. I made reasonably sure that what I was complaining about was actually a violation of NYS Nursing Home laws, first. Maybe the problems was the phone. I learned of some phone problems.
Jun 12 2016, 8:09 PM
Amy Cochran: up here where I live, a sin of omission can be easy to have, because so many stoic people believe in “not butting in”, even if an action may bring harm to someone
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Guest761 (guest): Life can be complicated. We were taught to “mind your own business” when we were growing up. But as we go deeper into the Christian life and become aware of our responsibility to make others aware of their faults, we are torn between minding our own business and doing the right thing.
Jun 12 2016, 8:12 PM
Dawn L: ruth, the good thing is you are going home, and then will have time to reflect. I worked as an agency nurse for awhile, like hot shots, going to the worst of places unknowingly until you were there. do what we can do, the system is broken. I tend to feel cultures that take care of their own or each other very good!
:12 PM
Guest761 (guest): Not to mention the fact that if we do attempt to alert another to faults, he or she may well tell us in no other terms to mind our own business. 8:13 PM
Carol Ann: I have been learning about how to try to reach people while respecting boundaries and the dignity of anither’s free will 16, 8:14 PM
Lisa C: We can pray even without saying something , 8:15 PM
Ruth (guest): It was kind of amusing in a way how even when I was “locking horns” with the nursing manager I was also expressing great appreciation for some of her fine qualities — mostly how hard she was working to try to shape up a disastrous mess that she’d inherited. And she, even when trying to manipulate me into staying,recognized that in many ways we are alike! :15 PM
Guest4740 (guest): I find that when I begin to focus on the faults of others it is a barometer to me to examine myself and remove the mote out of my eye first ! :15 PM
Dawn L: amen Lisa! there is our power, in Christ, praying and then getting out of the way so He can do what only He can do! +++
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Dawn L: amen Lisa! there is our power, in Christ, praying and then getting out of the way so He can do what only He can do! +++
Jun 12 2016, 8:16 PM
Amy Cochran: I have MCS, meaning, I can sense a toxic chemical like a basset hound. the deacon in the church has been suffering from difficulties, throat swallowing, hoarseness, and palsy like shakes like beginning Parkinsons. since people think I’m nuts, I haven’t told him about the dangers of some colognes, and I cannot be near him……..now he told me his wife is developing alzheimers, while I am sitting near him almost gagging on something that studies are pointing a finger at regarding possible links to some di
Jun 12 2016, 8:16 PM
Guest4740 (guest): Amen Lisa !
Jun 12 2016, 8:16 PM
Guest761 (guest): I have a friend who has been away from the Church for many years. I am not sure that she even believes in God any more. I have tried to talk with her about this a number of times but she is very adamant about her position. She always says that she does not try to change me, so I should not try to change her. I guess you could say that I have stopped trying because it seems to put a wedge between us. (Judy)
Jun 12 2016, 8:16 PM
Amy Cochran: oops, I’m continuing……diseases. how do I say something to a man in anguish about his wife and maybe a link to his chemical overuse?
Jun 12 2016, 8:17 PM
Carol Ann: I would say something Amy. Chemical sensitivities can kill someone
Jun 12 2016, 8:17 PM
Guest761 (guest): Perhaps I should provide a good example for her and leave the rest up to the Lord. (Judy)
Jun 12 2016, 8:17 PM
Dawn L: maybe a information print out, Amy?
Guest4740 (guest): Listen ,Listen ,Love , Love ! Just by others sharing with us gives them opportunity to see what direction to take next ! 2016, 8:19 PM
Dawn L: I am thinking of how Jesus approached sinners. that is a good meditation right there. he is our teacher. he healed them, showed mercy, love and then…only then, would tell them to stop sinning. there is no better teacher for us to learn from, to learn to imitate.
Jun 12 2016, 8:19 PM
Amy Cochran: great comment, gues
20 PM
Guest761 (guest): Sometimes just putting something “out there” helps us to get a perspective on it without the other saying anything. (Judy)
Jun 12 2016, 8:20 PM
Ruth (guest): Steps to helping others heal: LISTEN, LOVE, PRAY.
Jun 12 2016, 8:21 PM
Guest761 (guest): I like that Ruth! (Judy)
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Guest761 (guest): Sometimes just putting something “out there” helps us to get a perspective on it without the other saying anything. (Judy)
Guest761 (guest): I like that Ruth! (Judy)
Jun 12 2016, 8:22 PM
Guest4740 (guest): Connect don’t correct . After you have a deep connection you will have opportunities to discuss possible crrections .If we lose connection we cant help anyone !
Jun 12 2016, 8:22 PM
Dawn L: good words Ruth….going to make a sign and put it next to the other I made Get Over Yourself lol
8:23 PM
Ruth (guest): Not original. Part of the teaching of “School of Healing Prayer” Francis and Judy McNutt. But I thing that that was what I was doing, as best I could, even before I “attended” the school — first three levels.
Jun 12 2016, 8:24 PM
Guest761 (guest): Brian, how is Lian doing?
, 8:26 PM
Ruth (guest): Dawn, that reminds me of something my spiritual director in German said to me: Lighten up! is the best translation I can come up with.
Dawn L: Sr Mary Roberts?
Mary Roberta Viano: Sorry to be so late,
Dawn L: Hi!
Ruth (guest): Thanks for coming Sr.
Carol Ann: Hi Sr Mary Roberta!
Mary Roberta Viano: I count on your weekly prayers.
Dawn L: good night everyone,
Carol Ann: Yes,
Guest4740 (guest): Have a Wonderful Blessed Week !
Dawn L: Yes,
Dawn L: g night all
Ruth (guest): About,
Ruth (guest): OK Carol Ann.
Ruth (guest): Thanks Brian.
Dawn L: so true Ruth!
Ruth (guest): Who doesn’
Dawn L: 
Ruth (guest): G’
Ruth (guest): So glad,