this is so fascinating! i often counsel protestants who dont believe in sacramental confession to confess to a pastor or friend and they are always glad they did. james 4 i think says confess sins to one another. but its also interesting that in the history of the church it used to be that public sins were confessed publically before the entire church. so adultry would be an example. i don´t know what your take on all this is but i think the maxim by st alphonsus that "the penance ought not be more painful than the sin" revolutionized catholic praxis as regards penance over centuries. i read a penance manual for priests out of 14th c italy once and the penances were sooo extreme! great post.
Thank you Stephen. I know that in the 1930s the Christian protestant mileux from which the 12 step movement emerged cited James as the justification for the practice. And ask you ask, no, I'm not advocating public confession for grave sins :)
this is so fascinating! i often counsel protestants who dont believe in sacramental confession to confess to a pastor or friend and they are always glad they did. james 4 i think says confess sins to one another. but its also interesting that in the history of the church it used to be that public sins were confessed publically before the entire church. so adultry would be an example. i don´t know what your take on all this is but i think the maxim by st alphonsus that "the penance ought not be more painful than the sin" revolutionized catholic praxis as regards penance over centuries. i read a penance manual for priests out of 14th c italy once and the penances were sooo extreme! great post.
Thank you Stephen. I know that in the 1930s the Christian protestant mileux from which the 12 step movement emerged cited James as the justification for the practice. And ask you ask, no, I'm not advocating public confession for grave sins :)
ha i didnt think so. lol.