Struggle with sin, a fall, confession, forgiveness
August 26, 2020
Today, God seeks to save the United States through heroic men who are ready to struggle against sin to the point of shedding their blood (Heb 12:4).
What is the Bible’s position on sins against the Sixth Commandment?
When a young man turns from the path of sin to God during evangelization or by another intervention of God’s grace, he faces a tough fight with the strongest passion, which he did not even consider a sin before.
It is a sin against the Sixth Commandment, called onanism. He must now start a radical fight against sin. The words of the Savior about the cutting off of the hand or foot and the plucking out of the eye apply to this too. Jesus adds: “It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed or with one eye, rather than having two hands or two feet or two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” (cf. Mt 18:8-9)
It does not mean to physically cut off a member of the body but rather to radically cut off a thought, feeling, image or intention to sin. A young man must struggle not to present his members as instruments of sin. In this struggle, he needs to ask for supernatural help from God.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.” (Ps 119:9) “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1Jn 2:14) “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer.” (1Tim 2:8)
The way of receiving the forgiveness of sins by Catholics
In this struggle for purity, if sin inflicts a serious blow to the soul or causes a sudden fall, a Catholic believer must immediately make an act of contrition and a firm resolution to confess this sin in the Sacrament of Penance as soon as possible.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation has five parts:
1) Examination of conscience – devote to it at least 15 minutes before sacramental confession and admit embarrassing sins both to yourself and to God
2) Contrition – you should have a heartfelt sorrow over the sin that offended God the most
3) Purpose of amendment – it includes a firm determination not to commit grave sins again and to avoid the near occasion of sin
4) Oral confession to a priest (but not to a priest who is in inner unity with the heretical and invalid Pope)
5) Satisfaction – it is necessary to make amends for the wrong you have done; the sins against the First Commandment must be compensated for by penitential acts, fasting, almsgiving…
As for the need for prayer, at least one hour of personal prayer should be included in your daily routine. It can also be accompanied by reading the Scriptures.
The way of receiving the forgiveness of sins by non-Catholics
The essence of sin is pride and turning away from God. The essence of repentance is humiliation and turning back to God. Salvation depends on one thing – repentance. A sinner hides from God. Repentance is associated with confession of sins and healing. Sin is the cause of the disease of the soul and often of the body too.
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church [presbyterous] to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. … If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins… so that you may be healed.” (Jam 5:14-16)
The reference here is to the elders of the church [presbyterous], prayer, confession of sins, forgiveness of sins and healing.
Public confession is at the same time an act of humility and faith and leads to salvation.
How can the non-Catholics who do not have the sacrament of reconciliation – auricular confession – have the assurance of the forgiveness of grave sins, including sins against the Sixth Commandment? The Scripture teaches that presbyterous – i.e. the elders of the church – should pray and the penitent should confess his sins. In a separate room, two or three elders of the church first pray for themselves and confess their sins: “Confess your sins to each other.”
Then the penitents come individually. Each of them kneels and briefly confesses his sins. The elders pray with him for his sins to be forgiven, but also for his spiritual and mental healing, or even for his physical healing. Sin is often associated with physical illness. Sometimes there is a need for prayer for liberation and casting out demons as well as anointing with oil. For it is said about the apostles: “They went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” (Mk 6:12-13).
Presbyterous (elders) are bound in conscience to keep secret the sins that penitents confess to them.
One day of penance should be set aside each month for the opportunity to confess sins and pray for healing. Fatima Saturday for Catholics and as for non-Catholics, the first Saturday of the month, the so-called new moon, is the most advantageous.
+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
+ Methodius OSBMr + Timothy OSBMr
Secretary Bishops
The Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate (BCP) is a community of monks, priests and bishops living in monasteries. The BCP is headed by Patriarch Elijah with two Secretary Bishops, +Timothy and +Methodius. The BCP arose from the need to defend the fundamental Christian truths against heresies and apostasy. It does not recognize pseudo Pope Bergoglio and is not subordinate to him.