Topic: Prayer for forgiveness of sins

Source of this posting: Question answered via email from CatholicQandA.org posting

Date originally posted: January 25, 2002

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Vetter

Question:  Do Catholics have to pray to Mary and other saints to be forgiven of their sins?  Why do we have to confess our sins to a priest?  Can't we just talk to God directly?

Answer:

Catholics are not "required" to pray to Mary and other saints--for forgiveness of sins or for any other purpose.  Catholics believe in eternal life, and the Communion of Saints.  So, just as we would ask a living friend to pray for us, we ask those who have gone to God.  We feel the strength of our fellowship with them.

Catholics see Confession or Reconciliation as one of the 7 sacraments--one of the principle ways we experience the presence and action of God in our life.  In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the person confesses his or her sins (the worst thing they can admit about themself) and experiences forgiveness, acceptance and love from the priest (who represents God and the community of believers).  The experience of being accepted and loved in spite of one's sins is difference from simply a belief that God forgives me if I am sorry.  This experience is a special grace that many Catholics appreciate.

We do believe, however, that God has other ways of forgiving sins. Even sacramentally, Catholics believe forgiveness of sins comes through repentance and the reception of Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick and Baptism.