Besides the benefit of the sacrament of confession, why else might it be helpful to acknowledge our sins and confess them?
Why is a regular examination of conscience important?
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?
SrSusan (guest): Did anyone celebrate the 24 hours for the Lord ?
Mar 6 2016, 7:20 PM
Dawn L: how is everyone during this Lent?
Mar 6 2016, 7:20 PM
SrSusan (guest): Still trying to live it more deeply
Mar 6 2016, 7:21 PM
Dawn L: I saw it to late
Mar 6 2016, 7:21 PM
SrSusan (guest): We prayed for those who mite participate
SrSusan (guest): There are special missionaries of mercy this year but I don’t know if they are in our area PM
SrSusan (guest): The priest today really enlightened us on the Gospel too
SrSusan (guest): The culture of the time was an area I knew nothing about
Dawn L: I also tried to find where they are, the MIssionaries of Mercy
SrSusan (guest): Did you find them
Dawn L: have looked at Diocese website only 24 PM
Dawn L: what did the priest talk about?
Mar 6 2016, 7:25 PM
SrSusan (guest): We were introduced to a new community this week- Koinonia of St John the Baptist- very Spiritfilled
Mar 6 2016, 7:25 PM
SrSusan (guest): That to give away the Father’s inheritance or to ask for it was like telling the dad to die
Mar 6 2016, 7:25 PM
Lisa C: In what context, Mother
Mar 6 2016, 7:25 PM
SrSusan (guest): The fatted calf- people only ate that once on their lives
Mar 6 2016, 7:26 PM
Lisa C: I mean the community
Mar 6 2016, 7:26 PM
SrSusan (guest): The finest robe?- it belonged to the father
Mar 6 2016, 7:26 PM
SrSusan (guest): First Friday Mass
Mar 6 2016, 7:26 PM
SrSusan (guest): And they are coming for the Triduum
Mar 6 2016, 7:26 PM
Lisa C: Where do they live
Mar 6 2016, 7:26 PM
SrSusan (guest): Sunset Prk-Visitation Parish!
SrSusan (guest): In light of today’s Gospel, our questions tonight might even be made richer
Carol Ann: a regular examination of conscience keeps us sensitive to the movements of our own spirits, as well as God’s, and can help keep us off that slippery slope
SrSusan (guest): That’s the word Carol Ann, sensitive
Mar 6 2016, 7:33 PM
SrSusan (guest): Being alert to God’s movements in our being
PM
SrSusan (guest): Our Rule has us make an examen twice a day
SrSusan (guest): Being alert to God’s movements in our being
Mar 6 2016, 7:34 PM
SrSusan (guest): The monks of old told all their thoughts to their elders even if not sinful, to show the direction of their hearts and minds
Lisa C: It is easy to forget or overlook what we have done wrong unless we deliberately examine our conscience
SrSusan (guest): It’s good to keep God’s mercy in mind while we do this :35 PM
Dawn L: yes, esp living in the “world” . but you saying twice a day points to the interior falls we can have
Mar 6 2016, 7:35 PM
Lisa C: Yes, thank God for His mercy.
7:36 PM
Dawn L: it helps us to see God’s mercy… everyday , 7:36 PM
Carol Ann: When you examine twice daily, how do you avoid falling into scrupulosity?
Mar 6 2016, 7:36 PM
SrSusan (guest): We can get into a rut about ourselves if we don’t call on the Holy Spirit to enlighten us
Guest9347 (guest): Without confessing our venial sins, they can build to separation from God. I like the idea of confessing twice a day or even more! Yes we can indeed fall into a rut.
Mar 6 2016, 7:38 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s a great question. I think tho that scrupulosity is now considered more of a disease, like OCD, maybe there are 2 kinds, spiritual and emotional. I don’t know
7:38 PM
Lisa C: Do venial sins separate us from God? I thought only mortal sins did, but venial sins were more things to work on
Mar 6 2016, 7:39 PM
Lisa C: Not sure
Mar 6 2016, 7:39 PM
SrSusan (guest): Probably if one tends to it the confessor would guide the person about examens and frequency
6, 7:39 PM
Lisa C: I mean we have to confess venial sins, but did not think they separated us
Mar 6 2016, 7:39 PM
Dawn L: Hi Brian
2016, 7:40 PM
SrSusan (guest): Not separated but the Lord cannot live in us as fully as He would wish 16, 7:40 PM
Dawn L: St Teresa writes about the danger of thinking venial sins are not so important, think in the art of perfection
Mar 6 2016, 7:40 PM
Carol Ann: In the case of emotional scrupulosity, I guess it might be like a crutch or codependent tendency–always looking outside ourselves to make ourselves feel better, but without looking at Christ
Mar 6 2016, 7:41 PM
Guest9347 (guest): I think they can very easily lead to serious sin if not examined. Yes Sr. thats perfect. Separate.
7:41 PM
Lisa C: The MOOC this week talks about scrupulosity in the reading
Mar 6 2016, 7:41 PM
SrSusan (guest): I did not get to it today!
Mar 6 2016, 7:41 PM
SrSusan (guest): What did he say?
7:42 PM
Lisa C: St. FdS says that it is an imperfection in an advance state, but not in an early state
Mar 6 2016, 7:42 PM
Lisa C: After a while we should have confidence in God’s mercy that we might not have in the beginning
43 PM
Lisa C: This week it seems that Fr Tom talked a lot about how Salesians try to live and it reminded me of the VHM sisters. They really live it , 7:44 PM
SrSusan (guest): Hi Amy! yes the Oblates articulate it well and live it well :44 PM
Lisa C: In retrospect I see it in the Sisters from school, at the time it was just how things were…
Mar 6 2016, 7:45 PM
Lisa C: Hi Amy
Mar 6 2016, 7:45 PM
SrSusan (guest): So a venial sin is “more serious” in an advanced state than an earlier one, would you say?
6, 7:45 PM
SrSusan (guest): Which is why some Popes have gone to confession every day!
8 online
:45 PM
Lisa C: I think any sin is serious. No one can judge how serious except God.
Mar 6 2016, 7:45 PM
Carol Ann: Yes, because God has already drawn us closer to Him and we are pulling away
16, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: I think the intention matters more than the sin itself 6, 7:46 PM
Amy Cochran: Intention is one of the criteria of mortal sin. sometimes we sin without meaning to
Mar 6 2016, 7:47 PM
SrSusan (guest): So one should examine ones intentions too
6, 7:47 PM
Guest7908 (guest): Soo many things can creep into our lives to try to separate us from God ! Distractions and sins that warn us that we are not close too God ! When we are aware of these we can confess to God and run back to Him! , 7:47 PM
Lisa C: If I offend someone without meaning to it is not as bad as offending someone and not caring about it 7:48 PM
Guest9347 (guest): I really think that venial sins can creep in without one even realizing it. Thank our Lord for the Sacrament of Confession.
Mar 6 2016, 7:48 PM
SrSusan (guest): Good point Indifference in that respect is no virtue
6, 7:48 PM
Lisa C: It is wrong but probably not as wrong as if I meant to hurt someone
6, 7:50 PM
SrSusan (guest): When we really believe that Jesus lives within us I think it hurts us more too when we are unfaithful :50 PM
Lisa C: Yes, it is harder to be unfaithful I think
Mar 6 2016, 7:50 PM
Amy Cochran: I think a good meditation to correcting those venial sins that you confess over and over again, either because of indifference, lack of true repentance, or just weakness, is to remember that Jesus had to make amends for those sins also on His cross
, 7:51 PM
Guest7908 (guest): God wants us to live in community and our friends will also warn us when they see us drifting from God ! 16, 7:51 PM
SrSusan (guest): Yes Jesus suffered so much. and also true- we need not to take offense wen a friend points out our weakne , 7:52 PM
Lisa C: I think it helps to have things pointed out 7:53 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Yes. But any small thing that keeps us from that closeness with God hurts the soul. I just think those small sins are kind of easy to slip in sometimes. I keep some of my friends busy LOL!
Mar 6 2016, 7:53 PM
SrSusan (guest): SFDS also speaks of a general confession of ones whole life That is not much practiced anymore
PM
Guest9347 (guest): What is that about Sister?
Mar 6 2016, 7:54 PM
SrSusan (guest): SFDS says: a general confession forces us to a clearer selfknowledge, kindles a wholesome shame for our past life, and rouses gratitude for God’s Mercy, –
Mar 6 2016, 7:54 PM
SrSusan (guest): Phone call!
Mar 6 2016, 7:55 PM
Dawn L: when I returned to the church after ions and went to this first confession, it was over time I realized the importance of a general confession.
Mar 6 2016, 7:56 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Heres a question for you all. Do you ever find it hard to know exactly what to confess and not to? Especailly when there doesn’t seem tp be mortal sins?
7 PM
Lisa C: Guest, I think if we are not sure it is better to confess it. If we think it is something to confess it must bother our conscience so we should confess it.
Mar 6 2016, 7:57 PM
SrSusan (guest): Pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten you
PM
SrSusan (guest): Pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten you
Mar 6 2016, 7:58 PM
Dawn L: I do. when grave mortal sins are gone, it is the interior things I think can become sins
Mar 6 2016, 7:58 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Thank you, sister. I will.
Mar 6 2016, 7:58 PM
SrSusan (guest): Very true Dawn I always refer to it as cleaning the corners of the room of my heart
2016, 7:59 PM
Dawn L: oh those corners! 6, 7:59 PM
Dawn L: good example! :00 PM
Amy Cochran: I try to go to the same confessor all the time. it helps him and me work on any patterns of sin
Mar 6 2016, 8:00 PM
SrSusan (guest): Even thoughts can be confessed as you advance spiritually because they are harder to change sometimes
Mar 6 2016, 8:00 PM
SrSusan (guest): That’s good advice Amy- a steady and regular confessor
016, 8:00 PM
Lisa C: St T of A in The Interior Castle calls sins creatures getting into rooms. , 8:01 PM
Guest9347 (guest): I think those are my worst areas. I love the Interior Castle! 1 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Getting aggravated with people and having unkind thoughts.
Mar 6 2016, 8:02 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Then I try to do something nice for them!
Mar 6 2016, 8:02 PM
Guest7908 (guest): God seems to have us work on different areas of our life at different times of our life soo that we can grow ! When we pay attention to Him and what He is teaching us we become aware of what we need to confess and work with God on !
Mar 6 2016, 8:02 PM
Dawn L: thanks for mentioning IC
Mar 6 2016, 8:02 PM
Carol Ann: We live in a fast-paced, high stress world, where we are prone to thinking that everything must go our way the moment we want it
Mar 6 2016, 8:03 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Thank you Guest 7908!
016, 8:03 PM
Guest7908 (guest): Soo true Carol Ann the business PM
Guest7908 (guest): busyness of life is always trying to take us away from God !
Mar 6 2016, 8:05 PM
Carol Ann: I see it everyday on the freeway, and it’s so hard not to fall into that pattern
Mar 6 2016, 8:05 PM
Judy K: Hi Everyone! Sorry to be so late. I received a phone call from a friend in a very upset state. Her beloved 2 year old cat died in her lap yesterday. No hint that the cat was ill. Turned out to be an aneursym. Needless to say, she needed to talk.
8:05 PM
Judy K: Hi Everyone! Sorry to be so late. I received a phone call from a friend in a very upset state. Her beloved 2 year old cat died in her lap yesterday. No hint that the cat was ill. Turned out to be an aneursym. Needless to say, she needed to talk.
Mar 6 2016, 8:06 PM
Dawn L: difficult way to say goodbye to a friend
Mar 6 2016, 8:06 PM
SrSusan (guest): I was getting concerned because you did sign in earlier. But your friend needed you for sure!
6, 8:06 PM
Carol Ann: Judy, I will pray for her
Mar 6 2016, 8:07 PM
Judy K: Regarding confession, it is helpful to acknowledge our sins and to confess them because it concretizes them. Without confession we can easily sweep our sins under the carpet and pay no more attention to them. Also, in confession, we will receive advice as to how to go about eliminating this/these sins from our lives and then how to grow in our spiritual lives.
Mar 6 2016, 8:08 PM
Judy K: Thanks, Carol Ann.
Mar 6 2016, 8:08 PM
Guest7908 (guest): Wow Judy ! Your poor friend ! I will pray for God to comfort her !
16, 8:08 PM
Judy K: Thanks 7908. She really loved this cat. She is already talking about getting another cat.
Mar 6 2016, 8:09 PM
Dawn L: I partly see confession as light shining on darkness..
Mar 6 2016, 8:10 PM
Guest7908 (guest): Soo true Dawn !
016, 8:10 PM
SrSusan (guest): Our souls feel lighter 016, 8:13 PM
Judy K: Examination of conscience is important because, like having regular medical appointments to evaluate, or reevaluate our health and any health problems, the examination of conscience is a check up of our response to the call of Jesus first in our relationship with Him, and indeed with all of the Trinity in Whose life we share; and our relations with others, and our fidelity to the Commandments, to the Gospel, to the laws of the Church, and to the teachings of the Church. 8:14 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: In the Intro. SFdS says: “A general confession calls us to the knowledge of ourselves…It makes us marvel at the mercy of God who has so patiently waited for us.”
Mar 6 2016, 8:14 PM
Judy K: Wow, I just looked at my last entry and I realize that is a run-on sentence that could compete with some of those Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans.
Mar 6 2016, 8:14 PM
Guest7908 (guest): It’s like clutter it can keep piling up and we can become paralyzed without confession we get squashed by sin
Mar 6 2016, 8:15 PM
Dawn L: it was good Judy, well stated!
Mar 6 2016, 8:15 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Awesome!
Mar 6 2016, 8:15 PM
Judy K: Thanks, Dawn!
6, 8:16 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Holy Father goes on: “Confession calms our hearts, composes our minds, excites us to good resolutions, affords occasions for our spiritual father to give us advice more suitable to our condition, and opens our heart to declare ourselves with more confidence in our succeeding confessions.” PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I like his last comment because there have been times when the priest told me I was confessing in the proper way (naming names, etc.), so then I understood better what to do the next time.
Mar 6 2016, 8:17 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: wasn’t
Mar 6 2016, 8:18 PM
Guest7908 (guest): Confession frees us to Love God and Everyone even our enemies !
Mar 6 2016, 8:18 PM
Judy K: On the last question, to rely on the mercy of God and not work to remove sin from our lives is an indication of a lack of true commitment to God and to spiritual growth. The elimination of mortal sin is necessary for us to enter the Heavenly Kingdom, and the elimination of all sin leads to a deeper relationship with God, a deep awareness of the responsibility that is ours by reason of our Baptism.
, 8:18 PM
Dawn L: I notice the times I do an exam and then write it down to take to confession are better, more clear
Mar 6 2016, 8:19 PM
Judy K: We must remember that Catholicism is both a privilege and a responsibility. Also to rely only on God’s mercy, is to commit the sin of presumption.
Mar 6 2016, 8:19 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and SFdS points out that “…since we are not even obliged to confess venial sins…if we do confess them, we must firmly resolve to amend, otherwise it would be an abuse of Confession.”
Mar 6 2016, 8:19 PM
Dawn L: ah yes, Judy. do you think this was the case with the elder son in todays gospel
8:20 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: so when I confess the same venial sin over and over, I have to ask myself if I really do intend to amend!
Mar 6 2016, 8:21 PM
Guest9347 (guest): I seem to do this. Confess the same sins.
Mar 6 2016, 8:21 PM
Guest1200 (guest): I wonder what happened. It looked like zero people were on line when I came here. Ruth
Mar 6 2016, 8:22 PM
Dawn L: hi Ruth
Mar 6 2016, 8:22 PM
Carol Ann: I think the first son had no thought for his father at all, until the very end. Fr. last night said his repentence speech was a scheme to get back into his father’s good graces, one that he didn’t need and we don’t either. We don’t need to scheme to get into God’s graces, we just have to re-turn
Mar 6 2016, 8:22 PM
Guest1200 (guest): Hi Dawn. Hi everyone.
Mar 6 2016, 8:22 PM
Carol Ann: Hi Ruth
Mar 6 2016, 8:22 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: probably so, Judy. The elder son presumed on His Father’s provision and forgiveness of his continuing prideful attitude, seemingly with no intention to change.
PM
SrSusan (guest): Hi Ruth! As a metaphor for heaven, did he go in to that party or not?
Mar 6 2016, 8:23 PM
Judy K: The older son seems to see himself as more of a slave than a son. He was also just as self-centered as the younger son. Notice that each used “I” “me” “my” repeatedly. The poor father was in between a rock and a hard place with the elder son. He seemed unbending. It does not say whether or not he ever entered the party.
:23 PM
Guest1200 (guest): Hi carol Ann, Sr. Roberta, Str Susan, Amy, Judy.
Mar 6 2016, 8:23 PM
Judy K: Hi Ruth!
Mar 6 2016, 8:24 PM
Guest1200 (guest): Guess I’ll have to catch up when this is posted.
Mar 6 2016, 8:24 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Hopefully His Father’s loving greeting was enough to make him decide to come to the party.
Mar 6 2016, 8:24 PM
Guest7908 (guest): He had to choose ! God gives us a choice to follow Him !
25 PM
SrSusan (guest): He was definitely invited! 25 PM
Lisa C: He came to the party when he came back and of course his father said, “My son you are here with me always everything I have is yours”
Mar 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS also says in his writings on Confession: “Those who desire to cleanse their souls perfectly and attain to holy devotion must be careful to make their spiritual physician acquainted with the evil of which they desire to be cured, no mattter how small it may be.”
Mar 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Judy K: Such a loving father!!! He treats each son with dignity and compassion. Many a father would have given each a good scolding. But this father was special, a good model of the Father, God.
Mar 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Lisa C: He was dead and he came back to live…I think that is heaven
Mar 6 2016, 8:26 PM
Lisa C: life
8:27 PM
Guest7908 (guest): He did not seem ready to forgive ! Unforgiveness holds God’s hand vbsck from helping us ! We must Firgive
Mar 6 2016, 8:27 PM
SrSusan (guest): I always hope God’s Love overpowers our willfulness
Mar 6 2016, 8:28 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Thank you Sister. I think the small evils are very dangerous.
Mar 6 2016, 8:28 PM
Lisa C: God will be irresistible to everyone if He is not already
Mar 6 2016, 8:28 PM
Lisa C: I think Jesus cannot fail to save us; He is God.
Mar 6 2016, 8:28 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes! SFdS insists in one of his Conferences that “we must so simply and cheerfully all that is in our power to amend and perfect ourselves, taking always careful heed not to allow our minds to be troubled and disquieted.”
6, 8:29 PM
Judy K: I don’t think so, Lisa. If that were true, there would be no one in Hell. PM
Mary Roberta Viano: so, never be over-scrupulous in Confession
Mar 6 2016, 8:29 PM
Lisa C: Judy, no one knows if anyone is in hell
Lisa C: Jesus says hell was made for the devil and demons
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, but we have to WANT to be saved, Lisa.
Guest1200 (guest): Sister Mary, I don’t understand.
Lisa C: I think we will all want to be saved the minute we die and see Jesus
Carol Ann: I might be wrong, but didn’t many of the mystic saints have visions of hell in which they saw many people?
Judy K: But Jesus tells us in Matt. 25, that those who fail to repond to the needs of others will be sent into the “eternal fire.”
Lisa C: Purgatory is horrible
Mar 6 2016, 8:31 PM
Lisa C: They might be seeing that
31 PM
Guest1200 (guest): The WANTING may be gift, special grace, too.
Mar 6 2016, 8:31 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, Judy, and that’s how we follow Him.
6, 8:31 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: by caring for others
Mar 6 2016, 8:31 PM
Lisa C: Anyway Jesus went to hell to preach….why would he preach there if there was not a way to be saved from it
11 online
Lisa C
Dawn L
Judy K
Guest9347
Guest7908
Guest1200
1 viewer
2 PM
Dawn L: this is Pope Francis, preaching the Gospel! if you are indifferent and the the means, you will go to hell
Mar 6 2016, 8:32 PM
Lisa C: The english word hell has two words in Hebrew and two words in Greek…they are not the same
Mar 6 2016, 8:32 PM
Judy K: Notice that the new translation says that He descended to the dead. This is probably the more accurate word.
PM
Mary Roberta Viano: so that could mean purgatory
Mar 6 2016, 8:33 PM
Guest7908 (guest): God wants to save everyone but He will not force us to follow Him that is not Love remember the religious that Jesus said depart from me they had allowed their religious practice to separate them from God ! We must not allow that to happen to us !
Mar 6 2016, 8:33 PM
Lisa C: Yes Judy the place of the dead is one hell and the lake of fire is another one both translated as hell in english
Mar 6 2016, 8:34 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Did He preach there? or just release the souls who had gone previously?
Mar 6 2016, 8:34 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: It’s that fine balance between devotion and service, which St. Jane struggled with until she met SFdS.
Mar 6 2016, 8:34 PM
Lisa C: preach it says
Mar 6 2016, 8:34 PM
Lisa C: so they had free will to chose
016, 8:35 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: giving Adam and Eve and others a chance at Heaven PM
Lisa C: some were in the bosom of Abraham and some were on the other side…not righteous…he preached to that side
Mar 6 2016, 8:36 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I’m off to prepare some hopefully somewhat heavenly music for tomorrow’s Office! Lenten blessings for all!
Mar 6 2016, 8:36 PM
Dawn L: Click To Pray. I sent out an email last night on Pope Francis effort to have a universal prayer and to pray for his intentions. you can look it up by this name.
6 PM
Guest9347 (guest): God bless you!
Mar 6 2016, 8:36 PM
Dawn L: thank you Sr Mary
Mar 6 2016, 8:36 PM
Carol Ann: Good night all, and may God bless us every one!
Mar 6 2016, 8:37 PM
Judy K: The place of the dead would probably be where those who cooperated with God’s grace, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah were waiting to be set free. Those who had rejected God habitually would be in the lake of fire.
Mar 6 2016, 8:37 PM
Guest9347 (guest): Yes.