Spiritual Protection

 Spiritual Warfare - A video by Fr. Ripperger

 

A discussion of exorcism and how to defend yourself from attacks from evil. The importance of remaining in the state of grace and to participate frequently in the Sacrament of Confession.

 

Share your thoughts and comments!

Ten Areas of Deception of Catholics Part IV

I have now dealt with five of the "Ten Areas of Deception" in my previous three posts: Part I, dealt with the first 2 "deceptions", Part II dealt with the third "deception, followed by Part III dealt with some of the anonymous Protestant's problems with Mary and a couple of Marian sacramentals: the Rosary and the Brown Scapular.

*****************Part IV Begins here:
On to the next statements.
Next the anonymous author of the tract said:

[6] Catholics think the sacraments are a means of them receiving grace needed for salvation.

I would just like to preface my statements under this so-called "deception", that I do not believe any of his statements are indeed deceptions. However, Catholics do think the Sacraments are a means of receiving grace. Why? Because every single one of the Sacraments was instituted by Jesus Christ to give grace.

1) BAPTISM
This Sacrament was instituted by Christ and is necessary to be "born again" in "water and the spirit."

Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15, 16)

Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit." (John 3:5, 6)

The Catholic believes that the commands of Jesus are "the standard of Christian conduct." (Notes for Matt. 28:20) Jesus commanded the apostles to Baptize with His power. He gave them the power and the command to baptize. All Christians should take that seriously.

St. Peter took this commandment very seriously:

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2: 38,39)

Baptism was an important command of Our Lord Jesus to all Christians. It was instituted in the Church at the very beginning.

"She and her household had been baptized" (Acts 16:15)

"Then he and all his family were baptized at once." (Acts 16:33)

"Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8)

Whole households/families were baptized. This was to make them Christians; the entire family, men, women, children, were baptized as Jesus had commanded.

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit." (I Cor. 12:13)

We were meant to be one in this baptism; it was both saving and unifying.

"Who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him." (I Peter 3:20-22)

Baptism saves. Those who actually study scripture, let alone Christian history will understand that. What else can be said about it? Why do some who call themselves Christians deny its value in the plan of salvation? If you are not baptized according to Jesus Christ's word, are you "saved?" In my opinion, you would be hard pressed to say "yes" if you believe in Scripture.

2) CONFIRMATION
This Sacrament completes Baptism with a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and strengthens the Christian for their mission. This happened at Pentecost; the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles  and, by the way, they went out and eventually baptized about 3,000 people that day. 

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you." (John 14:16, 17)

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. It was a gift of the Spirit from the Father and the Son (or through the Son as the Orthodox would put it).  And, the apostles received the Holy Spirit 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:3)

The early Christians received charismatic gifts or signs that the Holy Spirit was present. For instance, the apostles spoke in tongues--the languages of the people waiting to hear them speak. The laying on of hands was the passing on of the Holy Spirit by the apostles, which is the Sacrament of Confirmation.

"Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit." (Acts 8:17)

"And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19: 6)

This laying on of hands is how the Holy Spirit was given to each successive generations of Christians. Today, the bishop lays his hands on the Confirmation candidates and they receive the renewing and strengthening of the Holy Spirit as promised us by Jesus Christ Himself.

3) EUCHARIST
What more is there to say about the Eucharist; Christ said it all. We, Catholics, believe what He said. It has been explained over and over and over by Catholic apologists since the beginning of the Church.

It is obvious to us that this Sacrament was instituted by Christ. The earliest account of the Sacrament in the Church is from the first letter of Paul to the Church at Corinth (I Corinthians) which scholars believe was written before the Gospel account.

"For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was handed over, took bread, and, after He had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is My body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself."

(I Cor. 11:23-29)

Here we see how much St. Paul believes in the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. If one does not discern the body and blood of the Lord, one brings judgment on oneself. How could a symbol bring judgment on anyone? There is no equivocation on this in Paul's account of the Eucharist and how it was passed down to him, and how he was passed it down to the church in Corinth.

But beyond St. Paul's account of the Tradition of passing down the Eucharist and its form, we see how Christ instituted this Himself, in His own words, witnessed by St. Matthew, one of His chosen.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to His disciples said, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” (Matthew 26:26-29)

This is a straight forward command by Jesus (which "should be the standard of Christian conduct") "This is My Body" He did not say "This is a symbol of My body." He said, "This IS My Body." For Catholics, it is just that simple--He said it; we believe it. He also said the wine was "My blood of the covenant..." He did not say it was a symbol of His blood; He said it WAS His blood. For Catholics, it is just that simple--He said it; we believe it. (Yes, I repeated that on purpose.)

We also believe that John chapter six tells us how He explained the what the Eucharist would mean to His apostles before the Last Supper; what it means to us now.

So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen [me], you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me and this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”

The Jews murmured about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know His father and mother? Then how can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all by taught by God.' Everyone who listens to My Father and learns from Him comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from Heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [His] flesh to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:32-58)

Here the true Bible-believers, Catholics, believe Jesus and take Him at His word. See how many times He says EAT and DRINK, which one must do to have life. We take His explanation of Himself, the Bread from Heaven, at His word.

Then many of His disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it? (John 6:60)

If the disciples (not the 12 apostles) thought that He was speaking symbolically, why would they have a problem with it? It is obvious to those who have an open mind and heart that they were having a hard time accepting what He said because they took His words literally. In ancient times, telling the people to eat His flesh symbolically, would be the equivalent of someone saying "Bite me" today. It would have been an insult and the disciples could not imagine He was insulting them; He must therefore, have meant it literally.

The passage goes on:

Since Jesus knew that His disciples were murmuring about this, He said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?  It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” (John 6:61-65)

He asked them, as many Catholics asked Protestants, "Does this shock you?" What would be shocking if He was speaking symbolically? It would be insulting, as I stated previously, but it would not be shocking. Some Protestants like to explain it away by stating that Jesus said that the flesh is of no avail. Do Protestants really believe JESUS'S FLESH is of no avail? Then why in the world would one believe that Jesus was the savior of the world? If HIS FLESH is of no avail then what was the point of His dying on the cross? There would be no point. When He says flesh is of no avail, He is talking about the world versus the spirit. The words that he spoke which are "spirit and life" are His words that HE is the Bread from Heaven, that if we do not EAT His Flesh (bread) and DRINK His blood (wine) we cannot have LIFE. We believe Him.

We believe Jesus Christ at His word and believe, upon penalty of judgment, that He gave us His Flesh and His blood to consume; It is that which gives us eternal life. And, yes, the old accusation of cannibalism is a very old one. The early church had been accused of killing babies and eating them at their ceremonies. Not only was it not true then, it is not true today. And, no, the Body and Blood of Christ do not go through our digestive system to be excreted--one of the nastiest accusations a Protestant said on CDF once. Just as some nutrients are absorbed in the mouth before going to the stomach, so the Presence and Spirit of Jesus Christ becomes part of our souls before we even swallow the bread and wine. We don't excrete Christ; we become one with Him in Spirit and Truth.

The last statement under this "deception" says,

Such false teaching has also placed the Catholic in the mind set of thinking he must remain in the Catholic system to go to Penance and get communion (Holy Eucharist), which they also think should be worshiped as God.

i) It is not false teaching; it is Christ's teaching.
ii) The Catholic Church is not a "system"; it is the Body of Christ.
iii) I will touch on Penance next.
iv) Think about this: IF one believes that the Real Presence of Jesus is in the Bread, and IF one believes that means that it has transubstantiated (changed substance) into Jesus' real Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, why wouldn't one worship Jesus in the flesh? It only makes common sense. We worship Christ in the Flesh--not a piece of bread; as it is no longer bread but Jesus.

4) PENANCE

"I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to His apostles. In the above verse, He is speaking to St. Peter. He gave St. Peter the authority to forgive or not forgive.  What is forgiven on Earth is forgiven in Heaven.

In a different incidence after the Resurrection, Jesus Christ gave this power to all the apostles:

[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  (John 20: 21-23)

Here He gave an even more clear command. The apostles were sent out by Him as the Father had sent Him. He breathed the Holy Spirit on them and gave them a clear statement that they were to have the power to forgive sins. It is as clear as a blue sky.

And for the information of the Protestant, the priest is a physical representative of Jesus Christ in the confessional. There is nothing more comforting the actually hearing the words, "You are forgiven." It is relieving to hear it out loud. The Lord gave us five senses, hearing being one of them, and they enhance our spiritual experience in the church.

5) ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Christ and late His apostles healed the sick. Christ even brought people back from the dead.

People brought to Him all those who were sick and begged Him that they might touch only the tassel on His cloak, and as many as touched it were healed. (Matthew 14:35b-36)

"They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mark 6:13)


The tradition of anointing the sick is clear in this passage:

"Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven." (James 5:14-15)

The Catechism explains this Tradition very well:

1511 The Church believes and confesses that among the seven sacraments there is one especially intended to strengthen those who are being tried by illness, the Anointing of the Sick:

This sacred anointing of the sick was instituted by Christ our Lord as a true and proper sacrament of the New Testament. It is alluded to indeed by Mark, but is recommended to the faithful and promulgated by James the apostle and brother of the Lord.¹²⁵  125 Council Of Trent (1551): DS 1695; cf. Mk 6:13; Jas 5:14-15.125 Council Of Trent (1551): DS 1695; cf. Mk 6:13; Jas 5:14-15.

1512 From ancient times in the liturgical traditions of both East and West, we have testimonies to the practice of anointings of the sick with blessed oil. Over the centuries the Anointing of the Sick was conferred more and more exclusively on those at the point of death. Because of this it received the name "Extreme Unction." Notwithstanding this evolution the liturgy has never failed to beg the Lord that the sick person may recover his health if it would be conducive to his salvation.¹²⁶  126 Cf. Council Of Trent (1551): DS 1696.

1513 The Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum,¹²⁷ following upon the Second Vatican Council,¹²⁸ established that henceforth, in the Roman Rite, the following be observed: 127 Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Sacram unctionem infirmorum, November 30, 1972.
128 Cf. SC 73.

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil - pressed from olives or from other plants - saying, only once: "Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up."¹²⁹  129 Cf. CIC, Can. 847 § 1.123 Jas 5:14-15.

It may help healing or it may prepare the sick for death, note that sins are forgiven in this Sacrament. St. James outlines the healing Sacrament clearly. Again, Catholics take this Scriptural Tradition literally. Asking the Lord for healing certainly is not a "deception".

6) HOLY ORDERS

The threefold division of sacred ministers (bishops, priests and deacons)  prefigured in the Old Law (high priest, priests, Levites) is clearly revealed in Scripture. Yet, most so-called "bible-believing" Protestant churches do not have them. (Rev. Donovan, EWTN contributor)

The Sacrament was pre-figured in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the Church.

So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. (Acts 6:3-6)

Here we see the twelve in a dilemma; they were too busy and needed men to help them. So they chose seven men to help with "serv[ing] at table", in other words the Eucharist, and laid hands on them and prayed over them. Those chosen became priests anointed by the bishops (apostles).

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3)

Here is another incident of the laying on of hands and sending. Here Barnabas and Saul are made priests to help in the work at Antioch.

And, the tradition of celibate priests came from the fact that they gave their whole lives to Christ and His Kingdom. It is also implicit in Scripture:

 [His] disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept [this] word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”                  (Matt. 19:10-12)

Here are other Scriptures describing the qualifications of the bishops (and priests) and deacons, and the use of this gift of the laying on of hands: 1 Tim. 3:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-9; 1 Tim. 4:14; 1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Tim. 5:17-19; 1 Tim. 5:22.

7) MATRIMONY

 Marriage is, as St. Paul states, a mystery (mysterion).  The Latin word used to translate mysterion is "sacramentum". The sacraments are mysteries (as Eastern Christians still call them), for  one thing is visible and something else is known by faith. By faith, matrimony is a sign of Christ and the Church, as well as a special calling. Mt. 19:10-11; Eph. 5:31-32.

 “For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband. (Eph. 5:31-33;  Paul is quoting Jesus as testified to  in Matt. 19:5 and Mark 10:7,8)

http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19
These definitions and Scripture lists are from an EWTN article written by Rev. Colin Donovan called Sacraments in Scripture.

The anonymous author also said,

Because Catholics have been taught this way, they are trusting in the sacraments for salvation instead of the Lord Jesus as the Bible declares. 

On the contrary, we don't "trust in the sacraments for salvation instead of the Lord Jesus Christ." Each and every one of the Sacraments was instituted by Christ and attested to in the Scriptures. In obedience to our Lord, we depend on Him for our salvation. One of the things I don't understand about supposed "Bible-believing Christians" is that they don't actually obey Christ's commands in the Bible, ie, "Go into all nations...baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." In "trusting" in the Sacraments we are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ironically, the author does not cite a lick of Scripture in his condemnation of Catholicism here.) The dependence on the Sacraments is not a "deception"; his is a false premise.

[7] Catholics confess their sins to a priest instead of to God.

Indeed Catholics do not confess their sins to a priest instead of to God. Confession in the Sacrament is confessing to God. This, again, is a false premise.  He (the anonymous author) said,

 "We can go directly to God, without a priest or Mary and get forgiven, if we go in repentance, sincerity and humility" (Luke 18:13,14)

This statement, to me, would seem to be the opposite of humility. Yes, we can "go directly to God" but we can also use the means of Confession He instituted. (See discussion above on the Sacraments).

And, I am not sure what he is trying to emphasize by citing the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. All who come to the Sacrament of Confession come in humility. One who is not humble and sincerely sorry is not, I suspect, going to go any where near the confessional, anyway.

I would counter his statement with these:

If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.        (James 5:15b,16)

Paul believes he was given the "ministry of reconciliation".

And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18,19)

Whomever you forgive anything, so do I. For indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for you in the presence of Christ.  2 Cor 2:10

The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

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."⁴² The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God."⁴³  42 2 Cor 5:18. 43 2 Cor 5:20. CCC 1442

Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: "All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly."⁵⁴ 54 Council of Trent (1551): DS 1680 (ND 1626); cf. Ex 20:17; Mt 5:28.

When Christ's faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, "for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know."⁵⁵  55 Council of Trent (1551): DS 1680 (ND 1626); cf. St. Jerome, In Eccl. 10,11:PL 23:1096.  CCC 1456

Yes, we can go directly to God, but we can also go to the priest. He stands in the place of Jesus in the Sacraments, especially confession. Jesus is saying, "Your sins are forgiven you." It is powerful to hear those words.

Next,

[8]  Catholics who read and believe the Fatima Visions are dangerously thinking that Mary is our refuge and the way that will lead them to God.
[9] Many Catholics are just hoping to enter Purgatory and there get purged of their sins to afterwards go to Heaven.
[10] Catholics have been lethally misinformed about how to show their love for the Lord Jesus.

Confession Explained

Confession Explained
Posted by Catholic and Proud on Wednesday, September 16, 2015

SSPX and the Final Jubilee Year

Confessions at SSPX chapels, worldwide, are not only valid but completely licit!  Well, for the Jubilee Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis.  The Jubilee Year will begin on December 8, 2015 and last until November 20, 2016.

Interesting prophecies concerning this Jubilee Year!  Some are proclaiming this is "The Final Jubilee Year" and that it will usher in "the rapture" of Christian faithful.

This site predicts the Second Coming of Christ in 2016:
http://www.markbeast.com/70jubilees/jubileedates.htm

Likewise, this one claims that 6000 years of sin comes to an end in 2016:
http://www.7trumpets.org/

Now this one says the 70th Jubilee ends in 2024 or 2025 by adding in the "missing Sabbaths":
http://www.1260-1290-days-bible-prophecy.org/Jubilee-missing-Sabbaths.htm 
Of course, if you're adding in the alleged "missing Sabbaths" then 2015 would not mark the beginning of the 70th Jubilee year.

I find all these eschatology sites/ideas a bit interesting and I like to look at the math they use - but I am also reminded that "no man knows the day or hour" (Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32) so I don't put too much emphasis on these interpretations of numerology and prophecy, however it can be argued that they are not arguing for the "day or hour" but for the "year."  Hmmmm....   Interesting, however, we are to live each day as if it is our last day, ALWAYS being prepared for we do not know the "day or the hour."

Back to SSPX... for this allegedly "final Jubilee year" SSPX has been given faculties to hear confession and grant absolution, making the Sacrament of Penance completely valid and licit, even for those who have been skeptical in the past regarding "supplied jurisdiction."  So you might consider using this Jubilee Year to check out the SSPX in your area.  Remember, this could be your last chance! (grin)

In the Diocese of Phoenix, Our Lady of Sorrows has recently opened a brand new church in which to keep the sacred traditions of the Catholic Faith alive.  They have produced a five minute video talking about the new church and the parish facilities.  I have not been there yet, but it looks quite magnificent and very piously done.

SSPX Confessions Valid and Licit!

For the Jubilee Year, absolutions given by the priests of SSPX are not only valid, but licit too!  The Vatican Radio website reports:

“The Pope assures them: those who come near to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with the priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X will have to be certain that they were absolved from their sins,” Archbishop Fisichella told Vatican Radio.

This is not to say that SSPX is back in full communion, but the Radio Vatican article also goes on to say:

In addition to allowing the faithful to licitly receive absolution from the Fraternity, Pope Francis said he has been told by several bishops of the “good faith and sacramental practice” of those attending the Fraternity’s churches, and said he trusts “that in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity.”

This is encouraging news for those whose only opportunity for the traditional Latin Mass is through SSPX. 

 

Who Can Forgive Sins?

In response to an earlier posting about Steve Finnel, a David Smith asks a direct question which deserves an answer.  I am posting his response to a new article so that it won't be under automatic moderation.  Your comments accepted and appreciated.

David SmithTuesday, March 03, 2015 8:12:00 PM

Greetings.
I have no words about Mr. Finnell but your comments about him needing to find someone to submit to in order for his sins to be forgiven was to me quite shocking and disturbing. Who are these people that you speak of and how does someone find them? How many are there and not that forgiving sins is enough but do they have any other authority? Do you have any other verses besides John 20:23 that can back up this incredible statement. I am not using the word "incredible" lightly, its just so hard to believe that our salvation hinges on us finding these people and asking them for forgiveness. Never the less, let God's will be done. I look forward to your reply.

RESPONSE:

When God speaks, how many more verses do you need?  John 20:23 should suffice for all Bible believing Christians.  Those whom Jesus empowered were our first bishops, the Twelve Apostles.  Jesus, in the same context just a couple verses prior said:  "He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you." (John 20:21).  So they were to do as Jesus did, and send out others.  Therefore the authority to forgive sins falls under the jurisdiction of a bishop who is in the succession of bishops from our first bishops.  Only they, or one whom they have likewise empowered, have the authority to forgive sins.

Now, it is not up to me to determine the personal salvation of anyone - that is left to God, our Judge, but I agree with you that it certainly would appear that salvation hinges upon the valid reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), which is something you do not find at ANY Protestant church.  We I can do is present what Scripture clearly states - and that would seem to me to be in accordance with God's will be done.

AMDG,

Scott<<<

Court Ruling Against the Seal of the Confessional

Bill Donohue of the Catholic League comments on a ruling made by the Supreme Court of Louisiana:

In 2008, a fourteen-year-old girl alleges that she told her parish priest that she was being abused by a now-deceased lay member of their parish. The girl alleges the disclosures came during the Sacrament of Confession. Now her parents are suing the priest, and the Diocese of Baton Rouge, for failing to report the alleged abuse. The State’s Supreme Court has ruled that the priest, Fr. Jeff Bayhi, may be compelled to testify as to whether the Confessions took place, and if so, what the contents of any such Confessions were.

Confession is one of the most sacred rites in the Church. The Sacrament is based on a belief that the seal of the confessional is absolute and inviolable. A priest is never permitted to disclose the contents of any Confession, or even allowed to disclose that an individual did seek the Sacrament. A priest who violates that seal suffers automatic excommunication from the Church.

As a result of this ruling Fr. Bayhi may now have to choose between violating his sacred duty as a priest and being excommunicated from the Church, or refusing to testify and risk going to prison. The Diocese said Fr. Bayhi would not testify.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the free exercise of religion. Just as government cannot compel anyone to follow a particular religion, it likewise cannot prevent anyone from exercising the tenets of  his faith. By deciding that Fr. Bayhi must choose between his faith and his freedom, the Louisiana Supreme Court has endangered the religious liberty of all Americans.

The Catholic League supports Fr. Bayhi and the Diocese of Baton Rouge in their quest for a reversal of this ruling, and a recognition that clergy cannot be forced to violate their faith.

Go To Confession!

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-be-courageous-and-go-to-confession/

Pope Francis encouraging everyone to go to the Sacrament of Penance (Confession).  It is the gift of Grace to God's People.

The Holy Father spoke of the healing available in the sacrament of reconciliation at his Feb. 19 audience:

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Through the Sacraments of Initiation, we receive new life in Christ. This life we carry in earthen vessels, however, and we still experience temptations, suffering, and death. Because of sin, we can even lose this new life. Jesus therefore willed that the Church continue his works of salvation for her members, in particular through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which flows from the Paschal Mystery. The forgiveness we receive is not the result of our own efforts, but is the gift of the Holy Spirit reconciling us to God and to each other. While the celebration of the Sacrament is personal, it is rooted in the community of the Church, in which the Holy Spirit is present, uniting us all in Jesus Christ. When confessing our sins then, we confess to the priest who represents not only God but also the community of the Church that accompanies us on the path of conversion. Though this Sacrament is a great treasure, we may be tempted to dismiss it, perhaps due to laziness or embarrassment, or because of a diminishing sense of sin and its effects. Too often, we see ourselves as the center and measure of all things, and our lives can go adrift. The Sacrament of Reconciliation calls us back to God, and embraces us with his infinite mercy and joy. May we allow his love to renew us as his children and to reconcile us with him, with ourselves, and with one another.

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/02/19/general_audience_of_pope_francis_on_feb._19/in2-774489

Confession restores our soul to the state of Grace, in communion and harmony with the Spirit of God.  Do not fear the confessional - for even though you may feel some shame in approaching it, the feeling of having the slate wiped clean again more than compensates for any apprehension.  If it has been a while for you since you've been to confession - don't wait any longer!  Seek out your confessor, or any priest.  Call your local parish and ask to meet with him, no priest will turn down a soul eager for repentance!   What ever your rationalizations have been which have kept you from going - put them aside!  Come home!

Why Penance?

Why do we go to Confession?  Why do we NEED to go to Confession?  These are a couple questions answered in the sermon I heard yesterday.  The priest, Fr. Terra, opened with a story of a man who was quite depressed.  He had lost everything, or so he thought, cheated on his wife who left him and took the kids, lost his job and many friends.  So late one night he downed a bottle of barbiturates and chased that with a fifth of whiskey.  The obituary was "kind" stating he died by "accident."   What this man really needed was the confessional!  He pushed God out of the center of his life and replaced Him with his own desires and immediate wants.  Humbling ones self before God and seeking true reconciliation from one duly authorized to grant absolution is what this man needed.  He could have united his sufferings in some way to the sufferings of Christ on the Cross.  However small, however large our sufferings are - we can unite them to Jesus' Sacrifice for our sins.  Did this man die alone?  No!  His death affects so many others!  Not just physically, oh yes, his family and friends will miss him - but spiritually too!  This man, had he come before the Lord and begged forgiveness - he may have become a great inspiration to others, or even if only a small inspiration, he could have inspired others to come to the Lord - but he is gone, tragically gone.

Then, today I received a DVD in the mail from my mother-in-law.  It is Matthew Kelly's "Seven Pillars of Catholicism" - and pillar number one is "Confession."  Inspired by a story from that DVD comes the next paragraph....

Why go to Confession?  Because it gives you a chance to look at two versions of yourself.  The first version is who you are now and the second is who you could be.  Lord, make me more like the person I could be!  Every visit to the confessional gives you the opportunity to examine these two people, who you are and who you could be.  And we go to Confession and we feel so good!  A burden has been lifted!  But how often do we go?  Once every twenty years?  Once every ten years?  Heavens no!  (pun intended!)   Consider how you feel after you wash your car.  It's all clean on the outside, vacuumed and cleaned on the inside - and it feels great!  And what do you pray for?  "Oh God, don't let it rain!  I just washed my car!"  You're driving down the road and you see a mud puddle - what do you do?  You drive around it!  Why?  "I just washed my car!"  You come out one morning and it feels a little chilly, so you bring your jacket.  Well, as the day goes on, you find you don't need your jacket - and you put it neatly in the backseat, "I'll get that later."  You don't.  You go to the fast food place, and after you're finished you think, "I can't just throw this trash in my clean car!"  So you carefully cram everything back into the bag it came in - and put it on the floor in the backseat, "I'll get to that later."  You don't.  It's Sunday, you go to Mass and come out with the bulletin, which you've already read - and you put it into the backseat, "I'll get to that later."  Soon you have all sorts of little things piling up in the backseat, and you have this "big" thing you need to throw away - well, it's hardly going to be noticed among all these little things... it goes into the backseat.  That mud puddle you avoided, well, it's no biggie - your car is so dirty on the inside now, you just drive through it.  Before you know it, your car is a mess again - and it needs another trip to the car wash.  How many of you would actually drive your car in such a state for weeks, months or even years?  Yet, when it comes to our own soul, some of us will avoid "the car wash" for months, if not years!  Why do we go to Confession?  It's a spiritual "reload" for us!  It's a chance for us to examine those two persons - who we are and who we can be.  We need to strive to what we can be, even in little ways each week.  When we stumble, get a little "dirty," get back to the Confessional immediately and get re-invigorated to continue moving toward whom we can become.

Do not fear the confessional.  It may be an old cliche', but it's true - you're not that unique!  There's nothing you can say that hasn't been said already in the confessional.  Just GO!  You don't have to go all prepared to tell the priest volumes of details - just GO!  You just begin with telling him how long it has been, then you begin to list (not detail) the sins you are aware of from the time of your last confession.  If the priest needs more detail of a specific deed, he'll ask - but likely, he'll let you proceed through your list.  The burden that will come off your shoulders will be SO comforting!  Don't put it off, just GO!  

As for myself - I try to go at least once a month!  You don't have to have a "major sin" to confess to go to Confession - even minor sins can be confessed.  Like those "little things" you put in the backseat of your car, you don't have to wait for "something big" before you clean it out!  With frequent Confession, your spirit is "recharged" and it's SO much easier to avoid those "mud puddles" and keep your soul clean.

Matthew Kelly's DVD is free, just pay for shipping and handling - and/or include a donation if you wish.  It's a GREAT tool to give to a friend, especially a Catholic friend who may have become a bit luke-warm.  

Why go to Confession?

Why must I go to Confession?  Can’t I go directly to God?

There are three main reasons why we ought to go to Confession for the forgiveness of our sins.  The first is because it has been set up this way since the very early years of our children in the faith.  The Jewish people have been giving sin offerings for the atonement of their sins through the priest for centuries.  Jesus taught this same idea of the forgiveness of sins through those He appointed and gave such necessary authority that the Jewish people never had.

Secondly, both John and James mention the need to confess our sins to each other.  These men tell us to confess our sins to each other but more specifically James says that certain men have this power to forgive the sins of others (James 5:14-15).  We find in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9, verse 6 Jesus forgiving the sins of a paralytic man and saying: “your sins are forgiven” and Matthew goes on to say in verse 8 that these powers are given to men (plural).

Thirdly, we know that Jesus has the authority on earth to forgive sins (Matt 9:6) and that Jesus sends His apostles with the words: “As the Father sent me, even so I now send you.” (John 20:21).  Therefore it is clear that Scripture teaches us that Jesus gave His apostles the authority to forgive sins.  These have been given this same authority as well as the authority to pass this authority on to their successors all the way through history to our bishops and priests of today.

To recap, true sacramental forgiveness of sins is a fulfillment of the sacrificial system of the forgiveness of sins of the Jewish people.  It is also the power of God working through men (bishops and priests) and is instituted by Jesus Himself and passed on through apostolic succession to the bishops and priests of today.

If you were dying of cancer and you prayed everyday for God to heal you, God could easily heal you instantly.  But before that happens you will no doubt constantly visit the doctor to help you.  Now say you are healed by the doctors help.  It is not the doctor that healed you, it was God.  The doctor was just the intermediary for God.  God used the doctor to perform His miracle.  This is the same way that God uses a priest to administer the sacrament of confession to us.  Sin is like a cancer and we need to go to the doctor (priest) to be healed.

So why go to confession?  Because Jesus Christ set it up this way.  Yes, if you ask forgiveness with a repentant heart, you will be forgiven but this only for venial sins.  If you’ve completely cut yourself off from His communion by performing mortal sin then you must go to confession so as to reconcile yourself to Him and His Church.

If Jesus truly set it up this way then who are we to assume we that we don’t need to go?  Don’t delay in going to Confession.

Forgiveness of Sins

Forgiveness of Sins

We find in 1 John 1:9 what we find throughout the Scriptures, that God does indeed forgive us our sins.  John tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.”  Only God has the power to forgive sins but we Catholics believe that He can exercise this power through men.

But what does Scripture say about Confession?  First, its important for you all to realize that this belief in the forgiving of sins by priests is something that has been believed before the Scriptures were ever written.  Makes sense since they wouldn’t be able to write about something unless they already believed it.  This Tradition has been passed down to us and part of it was written down in an inspired fashion and found its way in our Bible.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the son asks for his share of the inheritance from the father in effect saying that his father’s dead to him.  He leaves and squanders everything and finally realizes what he’s done and decides to return home.  The father, seeing his son in the distance, runs out to meet him with a hug and a kiss.  Through one loving gesture, the father forgives the son – and the son hasn’t even made his confession yet!  When he does, it seems the father hardly listens.  The confession is not the most important thing here; the important thing is that his son has returned home. 

Let’s have a look at the story of the paralytic man that was brought down from the ceiling because the crowds were blocking their access to Jesus as found in Gospels of Mark and Matthew.  In the Gospel of Mark the story begins in the second chapter and as his friends brought the man down from the ceiling and “[w]hen Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (verse 5)  But the scribes sitting there were outraged at what he spoke saying: “It is blasphemy!  Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  Those who believe that no man can forgive sins, that only God can do that, are on the same camp as the scribes in this story.  Generally speaking, to be in agreement with the scribes of the time of Jesus is not a very good place to be.  Well, Jesus answered their objections with: “that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he turned to the paralytic and said – “Rise, take up your mat and go home.”  In verse 8, chapter 9 of Matthew’s version, we see the scribes reaction to this revelation.  When they saw this miracle “they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.”

Notice this last word.  Matthew didn’t write that the authority to forgive sins was given to a man, he said it was given to MEN, plural.  So now the question is do all of us have this authority to forgive the sins of others whom we may not even know as Jesus could do?  James clearly points to the fact that only some men were given this authority because he writes to go get the elders so that their sins may be forgiven (James 5:14-15).  But who received this authority?

To answer this question all we need do is go to John 20:21.  These events are happening on the day of our Lord’s rising from the dead.  All of His followers left and scattered.  His disciples, the twelve locked themselves into a room for fear of the Jews.  Jesus then appeared to the apostles in that locked room and said: “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”  When He said this he “breathed on them” and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (verses 21 and 22)

There are a few things to consider in these short passages.  First we need to remember that only the apostles were in that room on the first day of His Resurrection (except for Thomas and Judas who weren’t there). 

Second, Jesus said that He sends these apostles in the same way that He, Himself was sent.  Going back to the story of the healing of the paralytic in Matt 9 verse 6, we know that “the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”.  Therefore Jesus sends the apostles with that same authority, the authority on earth to forgive sins.  And since He also has the authority to give this authority to others, then so do the apostles who then hand this authority to their successors all the way down through history to today’s bishops and priests.

Third, Jesus tells them that if they forgive the sins of any they are forgiven BUT He also tells them that if they retain the sins of any they are retained.  For the apostle to know which sins to forgive and especially which sins to retain they need to have some kind of knowledge of them therefore we see the need to CONFESS our sins to these apostles or successors.

To recap, there are three main reasons why we ought to go to Confession for the forgiveness of our sins.  Firstly because it has been set up this way since the very early years of our children in the faith, the Jews (see Leviticus 5:5-6 for an example of this).  Jesus taught this same idea of the forgiveness of sins through those He appointed and gave such necessary authority that the Jewish people never had.

Secondly, both John and James mention the need to confess our sins to each other.  These men tell us to confess our sins to each other but more specifically James says that certain men have this power to forgive the sins of others (James 5:14-15). 

Lastly, we know that Jesus has the authority on earth to forgive sins (Matt 9:6) and that Jesus sends His apostles with the authority to forgive sins as well as the authority to pass this authority on to their successors all the way through history to our bishops and priests of today.

So true sacramental forgiveness of sins is a fulfillment of the sacrificial system of the forgiveness of sins of the Jewish people.  It is also the power of God working through men (bishops and priests) and is instituted by Jesus Himself when He breathed on them and passed on this power through apostolic succession to the bishops and priests of today.

If you were dying of cancer and you prayed everyday for God to heal you, God could easily heal you instantly.  But before that happens you will no doubt constantly visit the doctor to help you.  Now say you are healed by the doctors help.  It’s not the doctor that healed you, it was God.  The doctor was just the intermediary for God.  God used the doctor to perform His miracle.  This is the same way that God uses a priest to administer the sacrament of confession to us.  Sin is like a cancer and we need to go to the doctor (priest) to be healed.  So why go to confession?  Because Jesus Christ our Lord and God set it up this way.  Who are we to say that we don’t need to go?

Missed past week’s leaflets?  Questions?  Comments?  Come visit our Blog at www.parishofthepreciousblood.blogspot.com

Are Non-Practicing Catholics Still Catholics?

Recently I've been confronted with the following questions and I wish to share my answers to them:

Question:  Is someone who was baptized into the Catholic Faith, but seldom if ever goes to Mass, still considered a Catholic?

Answer:  Yes!

Q:  How can that be?

A:  It can be because the "mark" of baptism is not something one can wash away.  Denial of the mark does not make it go away.  Once validly baptized - you cannot remove baptism.  

Q: But if someone is baptized and never goes to a Catholic church anymore, in what way are they still Catholic?

A:  They are Catholic, but not a "faithful Catholic."  A faithful Catholic adheres to the decrees of the Church, one of which is that which is commonly called "the Sunday obligation."  This is summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in "the first precept:"

CCC 2042 The first precept ("You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor") requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the Mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days. The second precept ("You shall confess your sins at least once a year") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.
The third precept ("You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2042

Willful violation of any of these precepts would constitute a "mortal sin" - one which separates the Christian from Sanctifying Grace and therefore necessitating a return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) prior to receiving the Eucharist again.

Q: So, should a Catholic who has missed Mass refrain from going to Mass until they have made it back to Confession?

A:  No!  Why compound the sin?!  The requirement of "the first precept" is not necessarily to receive the Eucharist every Sunday - but to gather at the participation of the Eucharist.  The "Sunday obligation" therefore is not fulfilled by receiving the Eucharist - but by BEING THERE.  Reception of the Eucharist is only "required" at least once during the Easter season (which would be from the beginning of Lent until Pentecost Sunday).  Now of course, if you are "there" to receive the Eucharist, you've already fulfilled the Sunday obligation.  The reception of the Eucharist then is a renewal of Actual Grace for the Christian.

Q:  Does a Catholic "keep holy" the Day of the Lord (Sunday) in attending a non-Catholic service?  

A:  For the most part, no.   A Catholic could fulfill the Sunday obligation at an Orthodox church, but not at any Protestant church.  

Q:  Why does a Catholic not fulfill the first precept at a Protestant church?

A:  Because it is not a valid celebration of the Eucharist.  The Eucharist is key to and central to the Catholic Faith.  While Protestants share in some measure of the truth, they do not share at all in the Eucharist and the precept specifically states that we are to participate in (not necessarily receive) the Eucharist.  Therefore it is impossible to fulfill the "Sunday obligation" at a Protestant gathering.

Q:  What should a Catholic do who has not been to Mass for weeks, months or even years?

A:  Well, the first thing they should do is break the cycle of not going to Mass!  GO!  Get there THIS Sunday if at all possible.  The next step is to reconcile the sin of the absences, and you should not wait long there either, for you stand in a state separated from Sanctifying Grace.  

Q:  But if I've been gone for so long, and willfully refused to go to Mass - how can God forgive me?

A:  God can and will forgive you!  Do not fear going back to the confessional!  Scripture tells us of the joy and celebration, even in Heaven, when a sinner repents and reconciles him/herself.  

Q:  But why must I go to a priest for confession?  Can't I just express my sorrow directly to God and start going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist again?

A:  Well, primarily the reason you cannot just go and take care of this yourself is because God has not empowered you with the forgiveness of sins.  You must go to one whom He has so empowered.  Part two of your question, you cannot receive the Eucharist unworthily, for that would bring upon yet another layer of sin.

Q: So who has God empowered to forgive sins?

A:  This is spelled out in Scripture, John 20:23 to be specific:

Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Jesus was speaking specifically to His Disciples, for only they were present at the time (see v. 19).  So authority to forgive sins was given to them, the Disciples - our first bishops, thus the faculties to forgive sins belongs with the bishop - and to those whom the bishop has allowed to act in his stead (the priests of his jurisdiction).  Therefore sins they do not forgive - are not forgiven.  One can rationalize this all they want, but ultimately they cannot get around the fact that specific men were given this authority and outside these men, no one else has been given this authority.  

Q:  But I'm too embarrassed to go to confession and talk to a priest not only about missing Mass, but I've got some other sins I'd rather not talk about.  Why do I need to go to the priest?

A:  Well, that answer has already been given, just previously, but fear not!  The priest hearing your confession has likely heard anything you have to confess numerous times already, you're not going to surprise him with some new sin... in fact there are no "new sins" - sin is just sin.  The priest is bound by the secrecy of the confessional - that means he cannot talk about your confession to anyone.  What you confess is basically between you and God through one of God's duly ordained representatives.  Again, the fact that you have come back to the Church is cause for rejoicing and celebration!  Come home!  Just as the Prodigal Son returned, even after wasting away all his inheritance, the father welcomed him home with open arms, and had a huge celebration over the fact that his son, who was dead, has returned to him. 

So, your primary responsibility is to get back to the Mass.  No more excuses, just get back to Mass.  Next, get to Confession.  If you wish, you could arrange to visit with your local priest and discuss this with him prior to going to Confession.  The most important thing is to stop putting it off.  Come home.