do you beleive in the sacrament of confession?and Why?
148160
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is in place for us to be forgiven of our sins, the priest who hears your offenses was put here by Christ himself when He gave the keys to Peter and told him "what he holds bound here on earth will also be held bound in Heaven..." the priest forgives through Christ within him.As for believing in it... I have to say I do because in general people feel better when they talk about their wrongs to get it off their chest so to speak and I think that was ingrained into us by God.
374453
I was raised a Catholic but was never taught anything about faith and that you need it to be saved. I was mostly religious stuff like confessing your sins to a priest when all along I could have just talked to God myself. Why go to the priest anyway???  And the whole rosary thing I never understood. I was taught all the religious aspects  but never the way to know for sure that you have eternal life. Which is FAITH in Jesus and trusting that He is the ONLY way to get to heaven. For it is by grace we have been saved through FAITH and this is not from us but it is a GIFT from God, not by works so that no one can boast. I am so glad that I KNOW that I have eternal life!!!! -I am not saying anything bad about Catholics but just my experience. I actually know many catholics who believe it is by faith and that the other religious stuff means nothing. Besides "religion" is man made, it doesn't matter what one you are as long as you have faith in jesus for salvation.
639971
I do believe that the prayer below sums up what a Catholic believes.....I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school from 1st grade to 12th grade.\n\nWe believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten son of the Father.  (God of God) light of light, true God of true God. Begotten not made, one in being with the father, through Him all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary and was made man; was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried; and the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end. And (I believe) in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, with the Father and Son he is glorified, He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. the communion of saints and the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen." \nBelow are a couple of links that might help.  By the way, that prayer is said in our Mass after the Gospel.  It is called the Nicene creed.  Also known as the profession of faith.
359718
No, if you said it, it is covered.  And always add at the end for these sins and the sins that I have failed to mention because I cannot remember them.  Because once the priest offers the absolution, you have a clean slate.  Go forth and sin no more.\n\nAddition:\nI agree also with punkchik below me.  In the sense that if you feel that you need to get it off your chest then say it again for counciling purposes.  But sacramentally you are covered.\n\nAddition:\nI love how people are answering a catholic question with non catholic answers.  The question asker is not asking for an opinion on whether or not they should confess to a priest or not. They are asking if they should repeat the sin again.\n\nI am Catholic and studied 8 years of Catholic Theology.
268488
The catholic church belives that in order to reach salvation you must not only have faith in god but also recive the sacraments. Its a requirement! so its really not a choice for them.  I on the other hand find it to be ridiculus and a major distraction from what jesus was all about.  They orginated much much later after the death of christ... you would of thought he would have mentioned them if they were that important.
269335
I am a Christian. :)  I wasn't always though. (I'll spare you the gorey details of my sinful life and just focus on religion)\n\nI was raised Roman Catholic.  I received my holy communion when I was young.  About a year before I was to be confirmed, it just fizzled out.\n\nA little while after that a new girl came to our school; her father was a pastor.  I hung out with her a lot and eventually went to her church with her.  It was like nothing I've seen before.  It was very "in your face" and it actually scared me.  The people jumped around and waved their hands in the air and were speaking wildly, it didn't even sound like a real language.  Then one night they told me that I was going to burn in hell forever unless I got saved.  The pressure they put on me was unbearable.  I never remember feeling any love, just judgement because I was not "saved."   As you can imagine that left a VERY BITTER taste in my mouth for Christianity. \n\nThen I studied Wicca.  I worshipped Diana, Helene, Pan, Hecate, and Kernunos.  I practiced white magic during my studies and worship.  That too faded away.\n\nI attempted to study Buddhism but I lost myself in Koans and I just wound up frustrated and confused.\n\nThen I believed in nothing.  I was bitter, at the end of my rope, probably at the worst point in my life.  I hated everything and didn't care one way or another.  I figured that it's fine, we live we die the end.\n\nI dated a guy in the Army and he gave me a painting with "Footprints" on it.  I thought it was cool since it was something that had a hint of hope to it, but I refused to believe what it stood for.\n\nThen one day my world just crashed and I looked at the "footprints" and I fell to my knees crying out to the Lord.  It all made sense.  I confessed my lifelong list of sins.  I begged Christ to forgive me of all my terrible sin.  I asked Him to break me, to come into my heart, to bend my soul to His will.  I asked Him to show me the truth.  I thanked him for giving up so much, for dying on the cross to forgive my sins; for shedding his blood for such an unworthy person.  \nHow did I know what to say?  How did I know it was true?  I tell you, I believe God was with me throughout my entire life and it was at that moment that I finally heard Him and was set free.  He was in my heart all those years, He was with me through it all, He never left me.  It was my time to be set free.\nI've come a long way on my spiritual journey and I know that Jesus is Lord.  I know that God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  I believe that the Bible is the Truth.  I believe God's word with all of my core.  I pray everyday.  I spend time in the Word everyday.  My life has changed so much, it's unbelievable.  My attitude is so much better about everything.  I am doing things that I never thought someone like me could.  So many doors have been opened up.  I am learning so much.  To have a relationship with Jesus Christ is an undescribable, beautiful thing.  The unconditional love and understanding is so wonderful.  To know that God has a place for me in His Kingdom is so wonderful.  \n\nI have tears in my eyes as I write this to you.  Why?  Because I am so overcome with joy sharing this.  Yes it may sound corny to others and yes it's quite lenghty, but that's okay.  It's the Joy of the Lord, which is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  \n\nNever ever in all my life would I expect to be the woman I am today.  Had I never trusted in the Lord, had I never asked him to come into my life, had I never submitted to God and His will I would be missing out on such a wonderful and perfect thing.\n\nDoes this mean that I'm Ms. Wonderful and everything is just peachy-keen?  Of course not. :)  I have hard days like anyone else.  It is my faith in Jesus Christ and my faith in God's will and His Word which get me through such times.  More often than not am I full of joy.\n
303370
It depends on if you are going to view it as fiction(which is what is intended).  But, it does make one stop and wonder if any of it is true.  Which would mean that the Catholic Church, and a lot of other important folks have kept a lot of truths from all of us for many years.  And why would they do that?  Check out the book"Demons and Angels", by Dan Brown.
629165
Yes, all the time.\n\nTo name a few:\n\nWhen I was baptized.\n\nEvery week at Mass when I receive the body and blood of Christ. \n\nWhen I asked God to forgive my sins and He did.\n\nWhen I married my wife.\n\nWhen I saw my children being born.\n\nI like to think of humans as not physical beings with a spiritual side but as spiritual beings with a temporary physical side.\n\nWith love in Christ.
491006
This is in the Catholic Religion??? I have NEVER heard of this one!\n\nWOW ya learn something new everyday!!!!\n\n\nCatholic baptism and salvation\nIn Catholic teaching, baptism plays an essential role in salvation. This teaching dates back to the teachings and practices of first century Christians, and the connection between salvation and baptism was not, on the whole, an item of major dispute until Martin Luther's teachings regarding grace. The Church teaches that "baptism is necessary for salvation" (Catechism, 1257) and entry into heaven; and therefore, a person who knowledgeably, willfully and unrepentedy rejects baptism has no hope of salvation. Three forms of baptism are acknowledged by the Church. Baptism by water refers to the traditional baptism where the individual is immersed or infused with water in the name of the Trinity.\n\nThe Church also recognizes two other forms of baptism: "baptism of blood" and "baptism of desire." Baptism of blood refers to unbaptized individuals who are martyred for the Faith, while baptism of desire refers to catechumens who die before they can be baptized. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes these two forms:\n\nThe Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament. (1258)\n\nFor catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. (1259)\n\nAs for unbaptized infants, the Church is unsure of their fate; "the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God" (Catechism, 1261).
976596
i think confirmation is the strongest one among them all - baptism and communion are basically imposed on people, while confirmation (assuming it really comes from the bottom of one's heart) is about accepting God in ur heart\n\njust my opinion, no offence ppl
877136
Sacraments ARE signs from Jesus that bring grace. (Did you mean to say "feel" instead of "fill?" "Feel" or "see" are more correct than "fill.")\n\n"Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification (Catechismus concil. Trident., n.4, ex S. Aug. "De Catechizandis"\n\nhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm
85879
It has shown me that truths mixed with lies make up the most devious of untruths, more difficult to spot the actual inaccuracies. I grew up a Catholic but when I opened my eyes and began to actually study the word of God I ran like heck from that church, repented of my sins became baptized in the remission of sin and by the grace of god hope to continue in the faith until that glorious day that I meet my creator.
354799
The Catholic Church believes that Jesus instituted the sacrament of Reconciliation.
365134
I also believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. He came to pay for our sins which we inherited from Adam. He did this by allowing himself to be killed on the cross. His shed blood was God's requirement to pay for our sins.\nHe gives me peace (John 14:27). He is coming back soon to take all TRUE Christians to Heaven (1st Cor. 15:51-53) (the rapture).
896338
In the Catholic faith, we believe forgiveness is offered only if certain things are preseent. ( And FYI, confession to a priest is only necessary for mortal sins, not venial sins.)  God alone does the forgiving, not the priest.  The sinner must acknowledge that what he has done is truly a sin, and that it was done out of free will.  He must plan to try to not do it again.  He must be truly sorry .  He must be willing to make up for his sin in some way.  The priest, after hearing the confessor, is in a position (through the power of the Holy Spirit) to express what God has offered, forgivess.  Of course, if the confessor is lying, and doesnt have true remorse, or immediately goes out to sin again, then obviously God sees the reality of it all and forgivess was not present.  Jesus understood human nature perfectly when he instituted this sacrament: we have a need to talk to someone when we are feeling anxious, upset, and guilty.  A trained person who can listen and offer comfort and help us work through our sinfull desires, and then assure us, only after he himself is sure, that our loving and forgiving Father has welcomed us back with open arms.
857886
I was born as a catholic christian.  It comes a time that I personally asked God and it is also the time that I am losing belief in God and siding to belief that God was only a figurative thing.  Until, I was fed up one day with my problems and I raised my head and uttered to God that He is not real, to my surprise He answered and shown me a vision up to this time I can vividly recall.  His voice is the one described by the prophets, gentle, forgiving and powerful.
132755
OK, now I'll give you the Catholic viewpoint on these two events.  As to Holy Communion, it is the time when Catholics (who haven't committed any serious sin without going to Confession and having completed the requirements necessary for a good Confession) and members of any of the schismatic churches (Eastern Orthodox [Autocephalous and otherwise], Polish National Catholic Churh, Society of St. Pius X [and Pius V]) receive bread (and maybe the wine too) that has been consecrated by the priest during Mass.  This bread and wine is believed to be substantially the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  Only a priest ordained by a bishop in one of the aforementioned Churches (he must also use the proper form, i.e. "Take, eat, this is my body which will be given up for you" and "Take, drink, this the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant, it will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven, Do this in memory of me") is believed to have the power to conduct the transubstantiation that makes the Body and Blood of Christ substantially present.  Anyways, the meaning of Holy Communion for Catholics is basically eating of Christ's flesh and drinking of His blood as is commanded in John 6:53-7.\nConfirmation, for Catholics happens sometimes at birth and sometimes at around the time of 8th or 9th grade, or immediately after Baptism for adults.  Unlike Baptism, Catholics do not acknowledge the Conirmations of Protestant churches.  In the Catholic mindset, Confirmation is sort of like a personal Pentecost.  In this sacrament, the bishop (or a priest in EXTRAORDINARY circumstances in the lAtin Rite, or most of the time a priest in the Eastern Rites) anoints the "confirmandee" with chrism (a perfumed oil" and says "[Confirmation Name] be sealed with the Holy Spirit."  The confirmation name is the name of a saint the confirmandee takes to be his/her special patron saint.  In olden times the confirmation name often became that person's middle name.  The confirmation name, tradition, though, is really only upheld in the West, where teenage confirmation is the norm.  In the Eastern Rites, though, Confirmation takes place immediately after baptism even for infants.  This Confirmation has the same character of sealing the Confirmandee with the Holy Spirit, though.  Confirmation really is like a sending forth and is considered a "sacrament of initiation" by the Catholic church whereby the confirmandee becomes a full member of the Catholic Church.  Oh, and in the West, as well, the confirmandee must have a confirmation sponsor which is pretty much like godparent and is supposed to instruct the confirmandee in the Faith.  Hope this si what you wanted.