Confession, Reconciliation at World Youth Day

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Q) Why do Catholics go to confession instead of directly to God for forgiveness?

A) Well, to be frank, you’d have to ask Christ himself, because he told us to do so (Jn 20:23). One of the first acts of the Lord after his resurrection was the bestowal upon the Apostles of his own power to forgive sins. Priests are also delegated by bishops to forgive sins, though in cases of emergency a priest needs no such permission. As the Father sent Jesus to announce the good news of salvation that is Christ himself, so too bishops and their priests also announce this salvation, especially through preaching and the celebration of the sacraments. And just as those in the Lord’s time approached him for forgiveness and received it through his words and touch, so too now he extends his forgiveness through the sacraments of the Church, particularly through baptism and confession.

Now, on a purely human level, I think the confession of our sins to a priest is actually quite psychologically helpful — it means we must verbally acknowledge our failure, which is a good thing when done well; it means we hear it said “you are absolved,” which is a very good thing when heard well; and we are exhorted to make some kind of amends for the sins we have committed, which is an excellent and necessary thing.

Q) Why do Catholics pray the Stations of the Cross? And, do they only do that during Lent?

A) The Stations of the Cross remind us of the Lord’s great love for us, a love unto death. While especially appropriate on Fridays in Lent, they may be prayed on any Friday of the Church year, and indeed, on any day of the Church year. The devotion developed to accommodate Catholics who could not travel to the Holy Land to walk the actual route of the Lord’s Passion on pilgrimage. The first Stations of the Cross were developed by the Franciscans, who continue to have a special devotion and connection to this beautiful and beloved prayer.

Father Erickson is pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale. Send your questions to [email protected] with “Why Do Catholics Do That?” in the subject line.