Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

33On the Holy Confession 65 66Quintessence of Religious Doctrinessince the latest confession was made. They must do so freely,frankly and fearlessly. Technically speaking, they must tellthe priest only the truth and all the truth without anyreservation. This must be done with a contrite heart and witha resolution not to repeat them. No faithful shall take umbrageon the plea that some extraneous force led them to committhe sins. It is because the S.O.C. does not believe in predetermination,as some of the Western Churches preach.For the S.O.C. the onus or the burden of every sin is on theindividual himself or herself. Therefore the instruction to thefaithful to speak out their hearts to the priests. Only thencan the priests intercede for the sinners.4. The priest shall not divulge the confessional secrets. If he doesso, he will incur the divine judgment.Ref: (a) Prov. 11:13. A gossip tells everything; but a truefriend will keep a secret. (L.B.)(b) Prov. 25:9.... Do not reveal any secrets. (G.N.B.)CommentThis is a very serious instruction to the priests. Even on thepenalty of death, the priests shall not let know anybody else,the secrets confided in confession. This provision is to makethe candidate for confession free from the fear of Ecclesialshame or ignominy or social stigma. If a priest behavescontrarily he can be subjected to the severest of thepunishments, prescribed on this score, by the Canon Law.5. Sins are forgiven by the priest not because of any merit orauthority inherent in them.Ref: Acts. 3:13. When Peter saw the people he said tothem, “Fellow, Israelites, why are you surprised atthis and why do you stare at us? Do you think thatit was by means of our own power or godliness thatwe made this man walk?” (G.N.B.)CommentIt is reiterated that the authority of the priest to grant remissionof sins is not personal but vicarious or in the capacity as herepresents Jesus. In other words, it is a right that he obtainsthrough ordination. The implication here is that the principalactor in the remission of sins is Jesus Himself.6. It is rather due to the moral instruction of the priest to the sinners;Ref: Jas. 5:19, 20. My brothers if one of you wandersaway from the truth and another one brings himback again remember this: whoever turns a sinnerback from his wrong way will save that sinner’s soulfrom death and bring about the forgiveness of manysins. (G.N.B.)CommentIt is said again that remission of sins is effected also on thebasis of the moral and ethical instructions imparted to theconfessing souls. In their instructions the priests shall notcreate scare among the confessing faithful. The priests,rather, must handle every case with the milk of humankindness and even handed justice.7. Their prayers,Ref.: 1Tim 2:1. First of all, then, I urge that petitions,prayers, requests and thanks-giving be offered toGod for all people. (G.N.B.)CommentThe duties of the priests do not end with the formal confessionceremony. The priests have to intercede for the erred soulsindividually and generally as occasion warrants.8. And due to the grace they have received from Lord Jesus. Ifthe raising of the dead woman to life by St. Peter is attributed tohim without considering that Jesus worked through Peter, theassertion that the priest brings out the remission of sins throughconfession is not at all erroneous. More over, as the priests doso in accordance with the decree of Jesus that, ‘if you forgivepeople’s sins, they are forgiven’, there is nothing blasphemousin saying that the priests brought it out.