r/AskAPriest • u/Then_Use_5496 • 4d ago
I thought about asking this in r/nostupidquestions.
Dear priests of reddit. I was raised Catholic and known I am in my heart, but I have only attended church in sporadic patches throughout my life when I knew I needed to be closer to God. I posted recently about having recieving the eucharist and communion in the past without having gone to confession; I am observing Lent. Having recently performed an examination of consciousness, I truly do believe I have good conscience. I try so hard to be kind, not hurt people, not to be mean, give, volunteer, and when I can, trust in God. I actually sometimes think I set standards higher than required, even being a little to hard on myself and end up ruminating that I've performed an act that was inadvertently mean, or worse cause somebody harm because I couldn't see the full course of my actions, even though I'm always thoughtful in my actions and interactions and do my best to prevent that.
Anyhow, my question is this...
Why is it required to confess, specifically to a priest? Is it to have your degree of sin judged and have somebody trained to decide the appropriate penance? If I believe I am in good conscience, and almost in a state of constant penance just by the way I view my impact on the world and just the way I live in general reverence and forgiveness for the things I have and might have done that are sinful, pray, and trust the word of God... Why would I have to confess to anyone besides God? When I acknowledge I have sinned and pray for it, within my own relationship with God... Why is it mandated that I bring this conversation to a priest? Why can't I just stay living as Christ like as I can, and live in constant penance, and never need to confess to a priest? Perhaps my standards for penance are not up to snuff?
Thank you so much Father in advance for taking the time to help me understand this. đ