De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

"Bring your desire for holiness and everything else will take care of itself"... Well worth watching this video about confession from Fr Casey. It is a gentle, useful reminder on how to approach the sacrament. This needs discussion more often as well because you have to remember that our experience of confession as a lay person is extremely subjective. We have no idea how anyone else does it, what they confess or how they confess. Therefore an objective, experienced guide like this is very useful in my opinion. I also recognised myself in all the examples Father gives!  Enjoy!

This is the full text from Pope's Homily for Opening of Jubilee of Mercy yesterday: Dear Brothers and Sisters, In a few moments I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door of Mercy. We carry out this act, so simple yet so highly symbolic, in the light of the word of God which we have just heard. That word highlights the primacy of grace. Again and again these readings make us think of the words by which the angel Gabriel told an astonished young girl of the mystery which was about to enfold her: “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1:28). The Virgin Mary was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. When Gabriel entered her home, even the most profound and impenetrable of mysteries became for her a cause for joy, faith and abandonment to the message revealed to her. The fullness of grace can transform the human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the ...

On August 24th, I was contacted by a concerned parishioner from Arundle & Brighton Diocese, who was shocked and concerned that ACTA were advertising a meeting at Sacred Heart Parish in Caterham. Further, the Parish newsletter states that "Five of our members met with Bishop Kieran recently, and he has approved meetings within his diocese." As a result of this, I wrote to Bishop Kieran, asking him for clarification. I have not, as yet, received any response. This morning, I was contacted by another incredulous parishioner, concerned about ACTA's infiltration of Arundle & Brighton, who pointed me toward St. Dunstan's , Woking, and their newsletter , which states: A Call to Action – ACTA - at the Sacred Heart Church, Caterham. Saturday 28th September 2-5 pm. (Vigil Mass for Sunday to conclude). Guest Speaker: Fr Tom O’ Loughlin. A call to action is simply a movement within the church of England & Wales to keep alive the principles and spirit of ...

Talking to a much loved aunt yesterday, I was regaled with stories from her parish of general absolution and face to face confession. Of course, to offer general absolution in place of individual confession is strictly prohibited. The Code of Canon Law states that: Can. 959 In the sacrament of penance the faithful who confess their sins to a legitimate minister, are sorry for them, and intend to reform themselves obtain from God through the absolution imparted by the same minister forgiveness for the sins they have committed after baptism and, at the same, time are reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by sinning. Can. 960 Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary means by which a member of the faithful conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and the Church. Only physical or moral impossibility excuses from confession of this type; in such a case reconciliation can be obtained by other means. Can. 961 §1...