313 FORGIVENESS

YOUCAT Lesson 313

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

313  Why must a sinner turn to God and ask forgiveness?

Every sin destroys, obscures, or denies what is good; God, however, is all-good and the author of all good.  Therefore every sin goes against God and must be set right again through contact with him.  [1847]  224-239

 

Photo: Penitents waiting in line to enter the confessional. …..313

“Write, speak of My mercy.  Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy (the Sacrament of Reconciliation).  There the greatest miracles take place (and) are incessantly repeated.  To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one’s misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated.  Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human stand point, there would be no (hope of) restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God.  The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full.  Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy!  You will call out in vain, but it will be too late.”  -- 1448, Diary, Saint Faustina

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

1847

MERCY AND SIN

1847 "God created us without us: but he did not will to save us without us."( St. Augustine, Sermo 169,11,13:Patrologia Latina 38,923.)¹¹⁶ To receive his mercy, we must admit our faults. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."( 1 Jn 1:8-9.)^{117 --CCC}