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llblarosa
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| Joined: | Thu Apr 10th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Started Baptist, Tried Many, Converted to Catholicism |
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Posted: Wed Apr 16th, 2008 12:40 pm |
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I have been taking my young son, 11, to confession, because when we were welcomed into the Church, he was confirmed at that time (having been baptized in a Baptist Church. The last time we went the priest told him he did not need absolution. Why do you suppose he did that? Because he thought he hadn't been confirmed? Because of some other issue?
Thanks,
Lisa
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1714 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Apr 16th, 2008 01:15 pm |
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Lisa, was this before or after he had confessed? If after, it simply means that what your son had mentioned in his confession was not really a sin and did not need absolution. This is perfectly understandable, because sometimes we get the wrong idea about what is a sin and what is not. This would be a learning moment for your son.
But if the priest was saying without hearing his confession that your 11-year-old has no need for absolution, this could be serious, depending on what he meant.
If the priest meant that he has seen through his prior confessions that the boy is committing no serious sins, then it is true that absolution is not required. Venial sins can be forgiven by other means. Then again, venial sins can still be brought into the confessional for absolution if the penitent so desires. It is an excellent way for someone to grow in virtue and grace.
The other possibility is that the priest was intimating that children cannot commit mortal sins; and this is false. The sacrament of Confirmation has nothing to do with it. Children can and do sin mortally, even as young as six or seven years of age, just as soon as they begin to distinguish evil from good (what we call “reaching the age of reason”). So if this is what the priest meant, it would be best for you to seek a different confessor for your son.
David
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Apr 16th, 2008 06:23 pm |
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I agree completely with David, and I would further suggest that it would be worth asking the priest what he meant. It's possible, for example, that the boy may have asked the priest to hear his confession so he could go to communion, and the priest asked him, "Do you have any mortal sins to confess?" If the boy said no, the priest could have said, "You don't need absolution" meaning that only unconfessed mortal sins need to be absolved before receiving communion.
I think it's worth digging a little deeper to find out the nature of the conversation as far as what questions led to the response, and the actual meaning of the priest's statement. It's quite possible your son is misunderstanding something about the sacrament which might well need to be corrected.
Of course, it's also possible that the priest does not believe in confession (some don't) or that kids can sin mortally. In either case, that is something that would lead me to find another confessor.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Parodyonlife
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jan 14th, 2008 |
| Location: | Corning, New York USA |
| Posts: | 112 |
| First Name: | John | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | NEW CATHOLIC!!! W( ) ( )T!!! |
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Posted: Wed Apr 16th, 2008 06:31 pm |
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I agree completely with david also. The entrie reason for confirmation is because that is the age of reason in the catholice church they understand what their doing now. So I don't think the priest meant this. Because he most likely knows it might be for someother reason.
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llblarosa
Member
| Joined: | Thu Apr 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Started Baptist, Tried Many, Converted to Catholicism |
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Posted: Wed Apr 16th, 2008 08:25 pm |
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I tried to get more information out of my son, Daniel, but he was tight-lipped, and I did not pry further. My older son, David, said Daniel told him what it was, and David, 14, said that it is a mortal sin.
Lisa
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Apr 16th, 2008 09:50 pm |
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llblarosa wrote: I tried to get more information out of my son, Daniel, but he was tight-lipped, and I did not pry further. My older son, David, said Daniel told him what it was, and David, 14, said that it is a mortal sin.
That's good enough for me. He definitely needs access to absolution. If the priest doesn't agree, find another priest.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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