ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: “A penitent’s sins are forgiven, not when the priest says the sacramental words of absolution over him or her, nor when the penitent completes the assigned penance, but the instant the penitent is truly sorry for his or her sins.” POPE BENEDICT XVI: “An inmate asked the pope why he had to go to confession for pardon instead of just getting on his knees and asking God for forgiveness. Pope Benedict XVI responded, “Naturally, if you get on your knees and, with real love for God, pray that God forgive you, he will.”
#askafriar What about the other type of penance we should do to repair our sins, that is like having the habit of do penance? Also, is it still profitable to do penance if we are in mortal sin? And can we offer our daily struggles as penance? How exactly do we do that?
Perhaps the key difference between Roman Catholicism and historic Protestant theology is the understanding of grace. Is grace more of a substance or power that is given by God? Or is it the favor of God and thus more of an abstract concept? Closely linked to this is the different understandings of sin. Roman Catholics hold that there is a distinction between sins such that some are ‘mortal’ and cause us to no longer be in a state of grace. Repentance, confession, and penance are then about returning the sinner to a state of grace and helping them to cooperate with that grace or experience its effects. Historic Protestants do not acknowledge a distinction between sins such that some are mortal and others not. The grace (i.e. favor) of God, once given, cannot be lost. This does not negate the need for continued repentance, but it effects how the Christian understands their relationship to God. I hope I have summarized this correctly.
If you do an honest confession , all sins will be forgiven ( whether you confessed a venial or mortal sin, or both) meaning you will be in a state of grace (without sin) so you will not required purgatory. However, if you commit any minor sins after confession, you will require purgatory.
What a marvellous clarification of the sacrament of penance. We do penance because we are forgiven. Thank you, Father Cuddy. Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
If I recall correctly, confession and penance only addresses the eternal consequences of sin, while it is indulgences which addresses the temporal consequences.
ISAIAH 43: The Lord God says: Remember not the events of the past. The things of long ago, consider not. See, I am doing something new! Do you not perceive it!? You burdened me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes. But is I, I who wipe away your offenses for my own sake. I remember them no more. PSALM 103: God does not deal with us according to our sins; he does not punish us for our crimes. He has compassion as a father having compassion on his children.” Ps. 103:10, 13. PSALM 103: Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. Not according to our sins does he deal with us. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
I say this with respect and love - It seems Catholicism doesn't acknowledge fully what a gift is, and salvation is a totally *completed* G-I-F-T from God to his human creation. If it's a completed gift, there is nothing left to do but to accept it and benefit from it as recipients of the gift. The best part is - God alone gets all of the glory because he's done all of the work necessary. He is that loving and merciful. Now we live our life in utter thankfulness by boldly exercising our faith.
"We are not forgiven because we do penance, rather we do penance because we are forgiven." There hasn't been one step in my conversion to Catholicism where the free gift of God's mercy in salvation has not been emphasized. Penance is not a burden, but a beautiful moment to sit in the magnitude of His grace and let that humble me. It's an active acknowledgement that I didn't do anything to merit His forgiveness, yet He gave it to me anyway. In fact, what I did was disrespect His gift by sinning, yet I come to confession and He wipes it away just like that. It's very healing and it's one way that God gives that gift to us. I come out more patient, stronger against the temptation to sin, more charitable, and that's all Him pouring grace out, it's certainly not me overcoming sin by my own work or power. I've seen progress in things I've struggled to quit for years, like swearing and road rage. I couldn't do that on my own, Christ makes me better and He does it through the sacraments, including confession. Yes, salvation is a completed gift, but I'm not yet free from my sinfulness. Confession is a way that God cleanses us from our sinfulness along the way to Heaven. It's one way that He is inviting us to experience that gift here and now. If we imagine the gift of salvation as a really awesome model car, the sacraments are the wheels, the doors, the paint, etc. They're certainly not greater than the car on their own, but they're part of it. It wouldn't make sense to reject the wheels and say, "He gave me a completed CAR, not wheels!" My experience has been that Catholics believe He gives us salvation now, throughout life, along the way, and after death, not just after our death.
@@phetmoz thank you for your respectful comment. I will also try to respond with respect and love. Catholicism totally acknowledges that justification comes from the grace of God (CCC 1996). No one can merit the initial grace (CCC 2027). Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man (CCC 1989). Justification establishes cooperation between God’s grace and man’s freedom. Based on your comment, I’m speculating that you are inferring “faith alone” and eternal security. You stated “there is nothing to do but accept it and benefit from it as recipients of the gift”, are you insinuating that man does not have to cooperate with God’s grace? The Catholic Church teaches that Baptism is Christian participation in the grace of Christ. How does one fully acknowledge the gift from God, where does justification begin in your denomination? Faith, Hope and Love.
@@jdub3999 Thank you for your thoughtful response. I appreciate the respect and love with which you've engaged in this discussion. In scripture, we see that justification is by grace through faith alone, as Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This passage clearly indicates that the initial grace of salvation is received by faith, not by any merit or work from us. While Catholicism acknowledges grace as the source of justification, the inclusion of human cooperation in the process of salvation seems to suggest a role for works in maintaining or increasing one's justified state. Here, I believe there's a crucial distinction to make: Good works are indeed the fruit of faith, as James 2:26 teaches that faith without works is dead. However, these works are not what justify us before God; they are evidence of a living, saving faith. Regarding your question about cooperation with God's grace, the idea in Protestant theology, particularly in the Reformed tradition is that salvation is entirely a work of God. Once we accept the gift of salvation by faith, God continues His work in us, sanctifying us. This doesn't mean we don't strive to live righteously, but our efforts do not secure or maintain our justification - that's solely based on Christ's righteousness imputed to us. On Baptism, we view it as an ordinance commanded by Christ, symbolizing the believer's union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). However, the act of baptism itself does not confer grace; it is an outward sign of the inward grace already received by faith. Justification begins at the moment one has genuine faith in Christ for salvation. Faith, Hope, and Love are indeed central to the Christian life, but in the context of justification, faith is the instrumental cause. As Paul writes in Romans 5:1, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Faith alone is the means by which we receive the grace of justification, leading to the hope of glory, and love as the fulfillment of the law in our lives. I hope this clarifies our position. We believe the Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone, by grace alone, not through a cooperative effort with grace but through the sovereign work of God in the believer's life. God bless you.
@@phetmozHi! About your comment, we would say that since we know that "Baptism now saves" and that salvation is through grace and faith then we know that Baptism gives grace, and grace infuses in the person receiving it the virtues of faith, hope and charity. (I hope I didn't get anything wrong). We know and affirm that salvation is a free gift, and like with all other gifts you have to accept it to receive it, but this acceptance must be continual because one can fall pretty quickly due to grave sin.
“ we are not forgiven because we do penance but rather we do penance because we are forgiven “ super key for people to keep in mind 🙏🏾
Hey guys, would you be able to make a video explaining the Jubilee Year and what plenary indulgences are?
use hashtag askafriar
@anthonyw2931 thanks!
And I'd like to #askafriar how indulgences work in general.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: “A penitent’s sins are forgiven, not when the priest says the sacramental words of absolution over him or her, nor when the penitent completes the assigned penance, but the instant the penitent is truly sorry for his or her sins.”
POPE BENEDICT XVI: “An inmate asked the pope why he had to go to confession for pardon instead of just getting on his knees and asking God for forgiveness. Pope Benedict XVI responded, “Naturally, if you get on your knees and, with real love for God, pray that God forgive you, he will.”
Nice, thank you! I learned something important here. God bless you!
#askafriar What about the other type of penance we should do to repair our sins, that is like having the habit of do penance? Also, is it still profitable to do penance if we are in mortal sin? And can we offer our daily struggles as penance? How exactly do we do that?
yes we can do that pray the rosary
Perhaps the key difference between Roman Catholicism and historic Protestant theology is the understanding of grace. Is grace more of a substance or power that is given by God? Or is it the favor of God and thus more of an abstract concept? Closely linked to this is the different understandings of sin. Roman Catholics hold that there is a distinction between sins such that some are ‘mortal’ and cause us to no longer be in a state of grace. Repentance, confession, and penance are then about returning the sinner to a state of grace and helping them to cooperate with that grace or experience its effects. Historic Protestants do not acknowledge a distinction between sins such that some are mortal and others not. The grace (i.e. favor) of God, once given, cannot be lost. This does not negate the need for continued repentance, but it effects how the Christian understands their relationship to God. I hope I have summarized this correctly.
Does penance fall under Habitual Grace or Actual Grace? Does penance remove temporal punishment lessening time in purgatory?
If you do an honest confession , all sins will be forgiven ( whether you confessed a venial or mortal sin, or both) meaning you will be in a state of grace (without sin) so you will not required purgatory. However, if you commit any minor sins after confession, you will require purgatory.
@ I believe while absolution forgives the eternal punishment of sin, it does not remove all the temporal consequences.
That is my understanding too. Regular confession lessens the time there.
What a marvellous clarification of the sacrament of penance. We do penance because we are forgiven.
Thank you, Father Cuddy.
Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
If I recall correctly, confession and penance only addresses the eternal consequences of sin, while it is indulgences which addresses the temporal consequences.
If you do a sincere confession and penance, and then die immediately after, will you have to endure purgatory?
ISAIAH 43: The Lord God says: Remember not the events of the past. The things of long ago, consider not. See, I am doing something new! Do you not perceive it!? You burdened me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes. But is I, I who wipe away your offenses for my own sake. I remember them no more.
PSALM 103: God does not deal with us according to our sins; he does not punish us for our crimes. He has compassion as a father having compassion on his children.” Ps. 103:10, 13.
PSALM 103: Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. Not according to our sins does he deal with us. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.
I say this with respect and love -
It seems Catholicism doesn't acknowledge fully what a gift is, and salvation is a totally *completed* G-I-F-T from God to his human creation.
If it's a completed gift, there is nothing left to do but to accept it and benefit from it as recipients of the gift. The best part is - God alone gets all of the glory because he's done all of the work necessary. He is that loving and merciful. Now we live our life in utter thankfulness by boldly exercising our faith.
"We are not forgiven because we do penance, rather we do penance because we are forgiven." There hasn't been one step in my conversion to Catholicism where the free gift of God's mercy in salvation has not been emphasized. Penance is not a burden, but a beautiful moment to sit in the magnitude of His grace and let that humble me. It's an active acknowledgement that I didn't do anything to merit His forgiveness, yet He gave it to me anyway. In fact, what I did was disrespect His gift by sinning, yet I come to confession and He wipes it away just like that. It's very healing and it's one way that God gives that gift to us. I come out more patient, stronger against the temptation to sin, more charitable, and that's all Him pouring grace out, it's certainly not me overcoming sin by my own work or power. I've seen progress in things I've struggled to quit for years, like swearing and road rage. I couldn't do that on my own, Christ makes me better and He does it through the sacraments, including confession. Yes, salvation is a completed gift, but I'm not yet free from my sinfulness. Confession is a way that God cleanses us from our sinfulness along the way to Heaven. It's one way that He is inviting us to experience that gift here and now.
If we imagine the gift of salvation as a really awesome model car, the sacraments are the wheels, the doors, the paint, etc. They're certainly not greater than the car on their own, but they're part of it. It wouldn't make sense to reject the wheels and say, "He gave me a completed CAR, not wheels!"
My experience has been that Catholics believe He gives us salvation now, throughout life, along the way, and after death, not just after our death.
@@phetmoz thank you for your respectful comment. I will also try to respond with respect and love.
Catholicism totally acknowledges that justification comes from the grace of God (CCC 1996). No one can merit the initial grace (CCC 2027).
Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man (CCC 1989). Justification establishes cooperation between God’s grace and man’s freedom.
Based on your comment, I’m speculating that you are inferring “faith alone” and eternal security. You stated “there is nothing to do but accept it and benefit from it as recipients of the gift”, are you insinuating that man does not have to cooperate with God’s grace? The Catholic Church teaches that Baptism is Christian participation in the grace of Christ. How does one fully acknowledge the gift from God, where does justification begin in your denomination?
Faith, Hope and Love.
@@jdub3999
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I appreciate the respect and love with which you've engaged in this discussion.
In scripture, we see that justification is by grace through faith alone, as Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This passage clearly indicates that the initial grace of salvation is received by faith, not by any merit or work from us.
While Catholicism acknowledges grace as the source of justification, the inclusion of human cooperation in the process of salvation seems to suggest a role for works in maintaining or increasing one's justified state. Here, I believe there's a crucial distinction to make: Good works are indeed the fruit of faith, as James 2:26 teaches that faith without works is dead. However, these works are not what justify us before God; they are evidence of a living, saving faith.
Regarding your question about cooperation with God's grace, the idea in Protestant theology, particularly in the Reformed tradition is that salvation is entirely a work of God. Once we accept the gift of salvation by faith, God continues His work in us, sanctifying us. This doesn't mean we don't strive to live righteously, but our efforts do not secure or maintain our justification - that's solely based on Christ's righteousness imputed to us.
On Baptism, we view it as an ordinance commanded by Christ, symbolizing the believer's union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). However, the act of baptism itself does not confer grace; it is an outward sign of the inward grace already received by faith. Justification begins at the moment one has genuine faith in Christ for salvation.
Faith, Hope, and Love are indeed central to the Christian life, but in the context of justification, faith is the instrumental cause. As Paul writes in Romans 5:1, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Faith alone is the means by which we receive the grace of justification, leading to the hope of glory, and love as the fulfillment of the law in our lives.
I hope this clarifies our position. We believe the Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone, by grace alone, not through a cooperative effort with grace but through the sovereign work of God in the believer's life.
God bless you.
Catholic Confession manifests that Humility which is pleasing to God.
@@phetmozHi! About your comment, we would say that since we know that "Baptism now saves" and that salvation is through grace and faith then we know that Baptism gives grace, and grace infuses in the person receiving it the virtues of faith, hope and charity. (I hope I didn't get anything wrong).
We know and affirm that salvation is a free gift, and like with all other gifts you have to accept it to receive it, but this acceptance must be continual because one can fall pretty quickly due to grave sin.