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Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, February 10, 2011 2:58 PM
Excited talk of the new Confession App has led to a statement from the Vatican clarifying that the application is “not a substitute for the personal dialogue between the priest and the penitent required for the sacrament.”
“This app is intended to help a person prepare for the sacrament of confession,” stated Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office. “It is not intended to function as a replacement for confession!”
Apparently the main stream media is not getting the message. According to Elizabeth Scalia, over at The Anchoress, there are reports from people who have heard at least one reporter from CNN declare that the Vatican had “signed off” on the new app as an acceptable substitute for confession. Not true!
I think most Catholics know and understand that part of the sanctifying grace (and beauty-through-pain) is, as Fr. Lombardi explained, “the relationship of personal dialogue between penitent and confessor, as well as absolution on the part of the confessor present.”
But it’s definitely good to be reminded of this fact. I actually sent a text to a priest-friend recently, asking him if he could receive my confession via the beauty of technology. (To explain, I had tried going to confession on a Saturday afternoon and was the next person in line when time ran out. So frustrating!). My friend reminded me of this important aspect of personal dialogue and it was worth the effort when I made it to confession a few days later and did things the right way.
I’m sure many of us in our sinful nature would prefer to simply tap the screen of an iPod to bathe our soul in grace, but that’s just not how it works. If it was that easy, I can’t imagine we’d feel as free as when we walk out of the confessional with a soul renewed.
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