In my experience in the Eastern church before becoming Anglican, confession isn’t pushed as much as in the Roman church, but it’s still made as a requirement in some sort of regularity.
Hello from British Columbia, Canada Father. My wife and I have been enjoying your videos. Might I add one thing to your excellent talk that we have found very helpful when it comes to Confession? That is, there is something to be said for the Church to view Confession in a "medical" sense, and not only a juridical one. In this regard, there is that aspect of Sacred Tradition called soul-mending, which is part of what the church anciently called the "science of spiritual medicine." In such a practice, the priest may be seen (for example) like our modern day medical doctor, with the individual making confession being like the "patient." In Canada, it is common to go for an annual "check-up" and, of course, to go to the doctor when there is a specific concern with symptoms of illness. The Orthodox (at their best) employ this mindset while often also saying that the Church is a "spiritual hospital." It has been our experience that, besides the general confession during the mass, it is very good to follow this sort of practice when it comes to individual sacramental confession. This medical perspective is, I believe, akin to the Irish anamcara and St John Cassian's "spiritual friendship" idea (Cassian having been a Celt himself). Anyway, thank you for your videos. And the spirit in which they are given. God bless YOU!
@@dionysius96 you're quite right and I wish I had emphasised the medical aspect of Confession more as I personally believe that this is precisely what it is. I think in the Western Church we still unconsciously fall into juridical ways of thinking which don't do justice (pardon the pun) to the richness of the Atonement.
Just letting you know that I appreciate this video. Confession was one of the big issues for me converting from RC to Anglican. Confession was something that drew me to Catholicism from the Methodist Tradition I was brought up in.
is there any more that can be said on the orthodox approach on this? do you have any recommendations for what to read on this from official church documents?
You might try The Eastern Orthodox Church by Fr John McGuckin. That's helpful because it looks at the practice of the Orthodox Church as it follows inseparably from its theology. Fr McGuckin is an Orthodox priest of great learning.
Hi Fr jonathan. an update. so i found out from the parish priest, that bar a few exceptions that may remain unknown to the broader denom, the anglican church of south africa only has a single anglo-catholic church, which i have been attending. I am planning to join this church for the foreseeable future. im going to do confirmation with the children of this church, because i have yet to be confirmed - in my previous church it was only offered to teenagers. and then in the near future the parish priest says i could serve as a lay subdeacon. but the future is uncertain. as the local bishop dislikes the parish, and or there is a dearth of priests who are willing to serve in the parish, most are former priests who were nearing retirement age, and were assigned to this parish. luckily even if the parish is 'taken over' or turned into a mainline anglican church, I do know that the 'Anglican Catholic church' has planted a few churches in the country. although I have no idea how i would connect with this denom or his eminence Archbishop Haverland. but Perhaps i need not worry about that eventuality. I believe God does desire to see anglocatholicism continue in the country, and the church is still popular at 8.30 and 10 am mass. so the denom may yet see value in it. I hope i can convince the bishop (the archbishop sees value in the parish but not the local bishop) in time that a young candidate such as myself may be useful to him, as he would not (hypothetically) have to worry about hiring a new priest every 3-5 years for this parish. but thats not something to worry about for now. I have honours studies to concern myself with, and perhaps even masters. but God willing perhaps there is an opportunity for myself (to learn how the anglocatholic tradition works) and perhaps an opportunity for a young potential priest to keep (perhaps) this unique parish going. but I know GOd is faithful and He will yet provide. and the Blessed Virgin will pray for all of us. perhaps even especially for a parish that gives her due honour.
@@Warwickensis thank you Fr. Jonathan. I will email him. the Rt Rev sounds familiar, i think i saw his name on the directory of missionary diocese of the eastern cape. though as of yet I dont think there is a missionary diocese in my province of the western cape.
@@HenryLeslieGraham he might be able to direct you better. I'm trying to think where the boundary with our second province of Southern Africa lies. You might have to check in with Archbishop Mdunyelwa. There's also this, but I don't know what's happening here: anglicancatholic.org.za/directory/
In my experience in the Eastern church before becoming Anglican, confession isn’t pushed as much as in the Roman church, but it’s still made as a requirement in some sort of regularity.
Hello from British Columbia, Canada Father. My wife and I have been enjoying your videos. Might I add one thing to your excellent talk that we have found very helpful when it comes to Confession? That is, there is something to be said for the Church to view Confession in a "medical" sense, and not only a juridical one. In this regard, there is that aspect of Sacred Tradition called soul-mending, which is part of what the church anciently called the "science of spiritual medicine." In such a practice, the priest may be seen (for example) like our modern day medical doctor, with the individual making confession being like the "patient." In Canada, it is common to go for an annual "check-up" and, of course, to go to the doctor when there is a specific concern with symptoms of illness. The Orthodox (at their best) employ this mindset while often also saying that the Church is a "spiritual hospital." It has been our experience that, besides the general confession during the mass, it is very good to follow this sort of practice when it comes to individual sacramental confession. This medical perspective is, I believe, akin to the Irish anamcara and St John Cassian's "spiritual friendship" idea (Cassian having been a Celt himself). Anyway, thank you for your videos. And the spirit in which they are given. God bless YOU!
@@dionysius96 you're quite right and I wish I had emphasised the medical aspect of Confession more as I personally believe that this is precisely what it is. I think in the Western Church we still unconsciously fall into juridical ways of thinking which don't do justice (pardon the pun) to the richness of the Atonement.
Just letting you know that I appreciate this video. Confession was one of the big issues for me converting from RC to Anglican. Confession was something that drew me to Catholicism from the Methodist Tradition I was brought up in.
Thank you!
is there any more that can be said on the orthodox approach on this? do you have any recommendations for what to read on this from official church documents?
You might try The Eastern Orthodox Church by Fr John McGuckin. That's helpful because it looks at the practice of the Orthodox Church as it follows inseparably from its theology. Fr McGuckin is an Orthodox priest of great learning.
For something more official, you might try p212 of The Holy Standards (St Theophan the Recluse Press)
Hi Fr jonathan. an update. so i found out from the parish priest, that bar a few exceptions that may remain unknown to the broader denom, the anglican church of south africa only has a single anglo-catholic church, which i have been attending. I am planning to join this church for the foreseeable future. im going to do confirmation with the children of this church, because i have yet to be confirmed - in my previous church it was only offered to teenagers. and then in the near future the parish priest says i could serve as a lay subdeacon. but the future is uncertain. as the local bishop dislikes the parish, and or there is a dearth of priests who are willing to serve in the parish, most are former priests who were nearing retirement age, and were assigned to this parish.
luckily even if the parish is 'taken over' or turned into a mainline anglican church, I do know that the 'Anglican Catholic church' has planted a few churches in the country. although I have no idea how i would connect with this denom or his eminence Archbishop Haverland. but Perhaps i need not worry about that eventuality. I believe God does desire to see anglocatholicism continue in the country, and the church is still popular at 8.30 and 10 am mass. so the denom may yet see value in it. I hope i can convince the bishop (the archbishop sees value in the parish but not the local bishop) in time that a young candidate such as myself may be useful to him, as he would not (hypothetically) have to worry about hiring a new priest every 3-5 years for this parish. but thats not something to worry about for now.
I have honours studies to concern myself with, and perhaps even masters. but God willing perhaps there is an opportunity for myself (to learn how the anglocatholic tradition works) and perhaps an opportunity for a young potential priest to keep (perhaps) this unique parish going. but I know GOd is faithful and He will yet provide. and the Blessed Virgin will pray for all of us. perhaps even especially for a parish that gives her due honour.
I don't know whether Bishop Solomzi Mentjies will be able to help you.
His email address is rev.mentjies@gmail.com
@@Warwickensis thank you Fr. Jonathan. I will email him. the Rt Rev sounds familiar, i think i saw his name on the directory of missionary diocese of the eastern cape.
though as of yet I dont think there is a missionary diocese in my province of the western cape.
@@HenryLeslieGraham he might be able to direct you better. I'm trying to think where the boundary with our second province of Southern Africa lies. You might have to check in with Archbishop Mdunyelwa.
There's also this, but I don't know what's happening here:
anglicancatholic.org.za/directory/