Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest, rather than going directly to God?

Well, the quick answer is because that's the way God wants us to do it. In James 5:16, God, through Sacred Scripture, commands us to "confess our sins to one another." Notice, Scripture does not say confess your sins straight to God and only to God...it says confess your sins to one another.

In Matthew, chapter 9, verse 6, Jesus tells us that He was given authority on earth to forgive sins. And then Scripture proceeds to tell us, in verse 8, that this authority was given to "men"...plural.

In John 20, verses 21-23, what is the 1st thing Jesus says to the gathered disciples on the night of His resurrection? "Jesus said to them, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.'" How did the Father send Jesus? Well, we just saw in Mt 9 that the Father sent Jesus with the authority on earth to forgive sins. Now, Jesus sends out His disciples as the Father has sent Him...so, what authority must Jesus be sending His disciples out with? The authority on earth to forgive sins. And, just in case they didn't get it, verses 22-23 say this, "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'"

Why would Jesus give the Apostles the power to forgive or to retain sins if He wasn't expecting folks to confess their sins to them? And how could they forgive or retain sins if no one was confessing their sins to them?

The Bible tells us to confess our sins to one another. It also tells us that God gave men the authority on Earth to forgive sins. Jesus sends out His disciples with the authority on earth to forgive sins. When Catholics confess our sins to a priest, we are simply following the plan laid down by Jesus Christ. He forgives sins through the priest...it is God's power, but He exercises that power through the ministry of the priest.

Thanks Catholics Come Home

Also, check out this article about the Sacrament of Confession by one of my favorite authors!

Top Catholic Speakers of 2009!

Fallible Blogma and others have compiled the results of the 'Favorite Catholic Speaker' competition. How many of these ladies and gentlemen have you heard or read?

Your Favorite Catholic Speakers of 2009 Results

(Matthew 20:16)

* #101 – Rich Donnelly
* #100 – Marguerite Peeters
* #99 – Dave Sloan
* #98 – Brenda Sharman
* #97 – Jim Sedlak
* #96 – Joe McClane
* #95 – Bill Moyer
* #94 – Richard Lane
* #93 – Dave Durand
* #92 – Fr. John Bartunek
* #91 – Jim Stenson
* #90 – Jennifer Roback Morse
* #89 – Fr. Phillip Chavez
* #88 – Kathryn Jean Lopez
* #87 – Dr. Colleen Mast
* #86 – Colleen Hammond
* #85 – Barbara McGuigan
* #84 – Jeff Young
* #83 – Joseph Bottum
* #82 – Stephanie Wood
* #81 – Tarek Saab
* #80 – Fr. Clement Machado
* #79 – Danny Abramowicz
* #78 – Michael Cumbie
* #77 – Chris Stefanik
* #76 – John Salza
* #75 – Matthew Pinto
* #74 – Hector Antonio Molina Jr.
* #73 – Deacon Ralph Poyo
* #72 – Lisa Hendey
* #71 – Dr. Pia de Solenni
* #70 – Pam Stenzel
* #69 – Danielle Bean
* #68 – Fr. Dave Pivonka
* #67 – Thomas Howard
* #66 – Dr. Paul Camarata
* #65 – Fr. Jonathan Morris
* #64 – Dawn Eden (assigned to Causa Nostra Laetitiae)
* #63 – Monica Ashour
* #62 – Ralph Martin
* #61 – Joseph Pearce
* #60 – Eduardo Verastegui
* #59 – Fr. Michael Scanlan
* #58 – Steven Kellmeyer
* #57 – Thomas Woods
* #56 – Jesse Romero
* #55 – John Martignoni
* #54 – Dr. John Bergsma
* #53 – Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
* #52 – Fr. Roderick Vonhogen
* #51 – Fr. John Riccardo
* #50 – Dr. Robert George
* #49 – Fr. William Casey
* #48 – Fr. Stan Fortuna
* #47 – Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio
* #46 – Fr. Donald Calloway
* #45 – Teresa Tomeo
* #44 – Mike Aquilina
* #43 – Johnette Benkovic
* #42 – Michael Barber
* #41 – Mark P. Shea
* #40 – Marcel LeJeune
* #39 – Fr. Leo Patalinghug
* #38 – Matthew Kelly
* #37 – Fr. Dave Dwyer
* #36 – Greg and Jennifer Willits
* #35 – Karl Keating
* #34 – Rosalind Moss
* #33 – Jimmy Akin
* #32 – Mary Ann Glendon
* #31 – Todd Lemieux
* #30 – Alan Keyes
* #29 – Fr. Larry Richards
* #28 – Tim Staples
* #27 – Jason Evert
* #26 – Dr. Ray Guarendi (assigned to Catholic Tech Tips)
* #25 – Dr. Brant Pitre
* #24 – George Weigel
* #23 – Dr. Janet Smith
* #22 – Marcus Grodi
* #21 – Fr. Tom Euteneuer
* #20 – Alice Von Hildebrand
* #19 – Curtis Martin
* #18 – Dr. Tim Gray
* #17 – Dr. Edward Sri
* #16 – Fr. Robert Barron
* #15 – Steve Ray
* #14 – Mark Hart
* #13 – Raymond Arroyo
* #12 – Lino Rulli
* #11 – Kimberly Hahn
* #10 – Christopher West
* #9 – Jeff Cavins
* #8 – Patrick Madrid
* #7 – Dr. Peter Kreeft
* #6 – Fr. Frank Pavone
* #5 – Fr. Mitch Pacwa
* #4 – Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
* #3 – Fr. Groeschel
* #2 – Fr. Corapi
* #1 – Dr. Scott Hahn

What do Catholics believe about the 'End Times'?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks about the Church's teaching on what those who are alive then can expect to see happen during the “end times” in paragraphs 675 to 682:

675 Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.574 The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth575 will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.576

677 The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection.579 The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God's victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from heaven.580 God's triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world.581

What about the 'Rapture'?

Carl Olson has more to say on the subject...

Thanks Catholics Come Home

What is 'apologetics'? and why are we apologizing anyway....

What is apologetics? And why are we apologizing?
The word "apologetics" is derived from the ancient Greek word apologia, which means, an apology. Not an apology in the modern sense of the word - which is to say you're sorry for something. But rather, an apology in the ancient sense of the word - which is to make a reasoned defense of something or someone. In ancient times, the word apology referred to the case a lawyer would make on behalf of his client.

Apologetics is about building the case for our Faith...learning how to explain and defend our Faith. Catholic apologetics encompasses all of Christian apologetics - since Catholicism is the fullness of Christianity - but Catholic apologetics tends to focus on those truths of Christianity that are not generally believed by non-Catholic Christians. Truths such as: the Catholic Church having been founded directly by Jesus Christ; the papacy; the Sacraments; the Immaculate Conception, and others.

Are there any rules for 'doing' apologetics?

Basically, take a tip from our Holy Father who tells us that Truth and Charity must always go together. Loving someone means sharing the truth always and truth without charity is not truth.

We need to always keep in mind 1 Ptr 3:15 which says, "Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you..." Always be prepared Scripture tells us! So, how can we "always be prepared" to make a defense of our Faith?

Rule #1: Pray. Pray to the Holy Spirit. Pray that He will give you the courage to share your Faith and the wisdom to choose your words carefully and profitably.

Rule #2: You don't have to know everything right now! Just learn a little bit more about your Faith each and every day. Read Scripture. Read the Catechism. Listen to apologetics tapes. Read books on or by the Saints. Learn a little bit at a time.

Rule #3: Luke 5:10, "Do not be afraid, henceforth you will be catching men."Jesus said this to Peter, but He's also saying it to us. Will you make mistakes? Will you get into tight spots...when you start sharing your Faith with others? Of course you will, but Peter made mistakes! He got into tight spots. Yet, Jesus told Peter not to be afraid. Why? Because if we are sincere in our desire to share the truth with others...to share Jesus Christ with others...then Jesus will find a way to make something good come out of even our mistakes.

Rule #4: Always view a question about your Faith, or even an attack on your Faith, as an opportunity - an opportunity to share the truth. Stay calm and stay determined to bring light into darkness.

Rule #5: Don't get frustrated. Quite often Catholics get frustrated by what I call the doctrinal dance...you get asked about Purgatory, Mary, the Pope, the Sacraments all in rapid fire succession. Before you can answer one question, you're asked another. Just keep firmly, but gently, guiding the discussion back to one topic until you've said all you want to say...then move on.

Rule #6: Very, very important! Never be afraid to say, "I don't know," when asked a question about your Faith. Don't try to "wing it." However, always follow, "I don't know," with, "But, I will find out and get back to you." And make sure you do!

If you follow these rules, you will be prepared the next time God puts you in a position to explain and defend your Faith.

How do I answer if someone asks me if I've been Saved or Born Again?

Answer with a resounding, "Yes!" Tell them that it is through Baptism that you were saved, just as the Bible says in 1 Ptr 3:20-21 and that it is through Baptism, water and the Spirit, that you are "born again," just as the Bible says in John 3:5.

You see, many Protestants believe that they are saved by making one single act of faith at one single point in time in their lives. Nowhere does Scripture say such a thing. As Catholics, however, we believe that salvation is a process which begins with our Baptism and continues throughout our lifetimes, just as the Bible teaches us.

There are so many places in Scripture, which talk about how one is "saved", but not one of them says we are saved by one act of faith at just one point in time. As I just mentioned, 1 Ptr 3:20 says we are saved by baptism. In Hebrews 12:14 it says that we will not see the Lord unless we are holy, and that we have to strive for this holiness. In Matthew 6:14-15, it says we must forgive others or we will not be forgiven. Can you attain salvation if God hasn't forgiven you? No! So, our forgiving others is necessary for our salvation.

1 Tim 2:15 says that woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with modesty. John 6:54 says we will have eternal life by doing something...eating the flesh and drinking the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Matthew 19, verses 16 and 17, Jesus is asked directly what one must do to have eternal life. Did He say, accept me into your heart once and that's it? No! Jesus said to keep the commandments and you will have life.

Yes, as Catholics we are born again. And, as Catholics we believe that we were saved, as Paul says in Rom 8:24; that we are being saved, as Paul says in 1 Cor 1:18; and that we will be saved, as Paul says in Rom 5:9-10, provided we persevere and keep our eyes on the prize. Salvation is a process, just as Catholics believe, and just as the Bible clearly teaches.

hat tip Catholics Come Home

Solidarity with the Orthodox?

"...the time has come to move from a failure to meet and competition, to solidarity, mutual respect and esteem; I would even say, without a doubt, that we must move to mutual love," he stressed. "Our Christian preaching can have effect, can be convincing also in our contemporary world, if we are able to live this mutual love between us, Christians."

Check it out!

http://www.zenit.org/article-26927?l=english