Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 October 2005 02:27:46
Penance is one of the sacraments in the Orthodox Church. While our Roman Catholic cousins often label seven, and our Protestant cousins have two, Orthodoxy tends not to restrict itself to these seven -- but anything and everything of the Church can be counted as a sacrament, or as Fr Hopko puts it, a "holy mystery".
It is interesting to read that confessions used to be made publically: one confessed their sins before and in the presence of all (James 5:16). I can not even imagine that: weak-willed person I am! As mentioned on this page of questions and answers on confession, this soon became impractical and the priest then "stood in" for the congregation, witnessing to the repentance and sorrow for the sins.
Before I am chrismated (confirmed), I will be required to make a "life confession": I haven't enquired very much about this but will have to soon. From what I understand I am to reveal all to my confessor. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit daunted: my life has been, is, and will be, rather sinful at times, especially in terms of my anger and short-temperedness. And then I shall be required to make confession throughout my life in the Orthodox Church.
Yet, despite the fears, I can see the benefit in penance. By God's grace, confessing them to my confessor, and taking on board his advice, will help me change my ways. I will still, and I believe it is entirely within Orthodox practice, to pray and confess at home to God alone. This is necessary. But having to confess my sins to another person, to my confessor, will hopefully, God willing, make the sins I commit, intentionally and unintentionally, more clear to me. And the advice he gives will, I pray, help me to amend my ways.
It is a mistaken belief by some people, especially in terms of RC Confession (as Orthodoxy is often not on the radar! ;-)), that the priest can forgive sins. This is the preserve of God alone. But God does exercise this, at least in Catholic/Orthodox thought, through the ministry of the priest. In addition, mere confession is not enough: one must be sorry and must desire to amend their way of life.