Benedictine monk and hermit in Fifteenth century Sicily.
Saint of the Day Quote: Saint Paganus
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
THE SEAL OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
The seal of the Sacrament of Penance is protected by every man made law in a court of law.
A court of law does not accept hearsay or third hand overheard testimony from evesdropping. Two witnesses establish a judicial fact.
In the Sacrament of Penance, the penitent confesses his sins to Jesus Christ. The priest acting “in persona Christi” consumates the sacrament with penance and absolution.
Anything the priest says outside the Sacrament of Penance is his own opinion, and is hearsay, uncorroborated testimony, unacceptible, as the priest’s testimony is from evesdropping at a conversation between a penintent and Jesus Christ.
If this is not true, then the priest has overstepped his bounds and has excommunicated himself because he has violated the sacred trust of the relationship of Christ with a penitent.
Jesus Christ gave priests the power to act as His representatives in the Sacrament of Penance. Jesus did not betray His friends, nor should His representatives betray His friends.