Abbey-Roads2

Although practicing Roman Catholics never thought Confession was outdated. 

I noticed an interesting news item concerning Internet confession sites again today.  This has been a novelty news item in the past year, once again getting notice on Spirit Dailyand a few blogs.  One blog describes it as “Disturbing“.  I say, not at all.

The Catholic Church had it right all along.  With the advent of psychoanalysis in the 1920’s, then psychological counseling and support groups in the 1970’s up to our own day, people have felt a pressing need to confess, as it were.  Hence the Internet confessional, supported by protestant churches, seems to be a natural.  Unfortunately, all of these means of auricular confession lack one major component, the sacramental encounter with Christ, as well as His forgiveness and absolution of sins through the ministry of the priest. 

It is one thing to confess one’s sins, it is quite another to receive forgiveness for one’s sins.  In telling another the sins one has committed, whether in an on-line chat-room or even in a blog, one’s sense of guilt may be alleviated, however, sacramental confession removes the quilt entirely.  The sin is so completely removed by the blood of Jesus, it no longer exists, whereas a sin posted on a website remains.

The encounter of penitent and priest, who represents Christ and has been ordained with His power to forgive sins, effects the sacrament.  It is not a virtual encounter, but a real physical experience, it is a sensible sign.  The sacrament was instituted by Christ to give grace, and is the visible means of the transmission of grace while remaining the  normal means for receiving the forgiveness of serious sins after Baptism.  The sacrament also provides a remedy for sin, as well as the means of making satisfaction for sin - in and through the penance imposed by the priest.

The Sacrament of Penance can also be a convenient way to receive spiritual direction in one’s spiritual life.  Even if the penitent has no serious sin to confess, venial sins may be confessed, thus supplying an increase in grace as well as bestowing actual grace.  It is not uncommon for a soul to experience actual grace in such a manner as to free him from the attachment to a particular habitual  sin, sometimes spontaneously or over time.

No, I don’t think the desire to confess one’s sins on the Internet is really very disturbing, after all, confession is good for the soul.  It is just too bad people do not understand the Catholic Church and Her sacramental system, along with the great benefits of the Sacrament of Penance.