1456. Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: “All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly.”54
When Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, “for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know.”55
Aprofunde seus conhecimentos
569. How can vocal prayer be described?
554. In what does the prayer of intercession consist?
268. What is the effect of Confirmation?
401. In what does the social dimension of man consist?
272. When did Jesus Christ institute the Eucharist?
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
What does the Bible teach us about wisdom as a gift from God?
How does the story of Rich and Lazarus warn us about the consequences of greed? (Luke 16:19-31)
Jacob’s Wrestle with God: What is the significance of this story for us today?
What is the story of Uzziah and how was he punished for disobeying God?
What does 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 teach us about generosity and prosperity?
What is the example of perseverance in the faith that Paul set in 2 Timothy 4:7?
