228 JESUS HAS GIVEN PRIESTS THE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS

YOUCAT Lesson 228

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

228  Who can forgive sins?

God alone can forgive sins.  Jesus could say “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5) only because he is the Son of God.  And priests can forgive sins in Jesus’ place only because Jesus has given them that authority.  [1441-144]

Woodcut: …..At Capernaum, Jesus forgives the sins of a paralyzed man. ….. by Bernhard Rode 1780…..228

Many people say, “I can go directly to God; why do I need a priest?”  God, though, wants it otherwise.  We rationalize our sins away and like to sweep things under the rug.  That is why God wants us to tell our sins and to acknowledge them in a personal encounter.  Therefore, the following words from the Gospel are true of priests: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:23).

The Healing of a Paralytic...... When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.  Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.  They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.  Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”  Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,  “Why does this man speak that way?  He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?”  Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”  He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”..... Mark 2:1-12

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION

Only God forgives sin

…….1441   Only God forgives sins.(compare Mark 2:7.)³⁹    Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven."(Mark 2:5,10; Luke 7:48.)⁴⁰    Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.(compare John 20:21-23.)⁴¹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

…….1442   Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action his whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that he acquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation." (2Corinthians 5:18.)⁴²    The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God."(2 Corinthians 5:20.)⁴³ --CCC