Bože! A Grace Catholic Project
OC/IC Theology – Mechanics of Forgiveness
The Power to Bind – Initial Thoughts On Absolution
I’m still very much in the initial stages of pulling my thoughts together on this. It strikes me that in the rite of absolution the prayers and actions point to God, his love for us, his mercy, his compassion, and understanding, only once – and then only briefly is the “power to bind” mentioned – [...]
"The Power to Bind" – Stepping through the door towards understanding forgivness
In the context of recent discussions on the mechanics of forgiveness Fr. Chris Tessone & I were debating the concept of restitution (among other things); in that debate, changing tack, Chris asked: “what do you think the power to bind means, as given to the church and especially the apostolic priesthood in the Gospels?” At [...]
Restitution: A part of forgiveness?
In another place there is a discussion developing on a theory of the mechanics of forgiveness that, has raised an interesting question for me – indeed it is a revisiting of a discussion that began some months ago. The theory being submitted is that forgiveness requires restitution; citing the story of Zaccheus who having encountered [...]
Forgiveness & Personhood
There is something in this “mechanics of forgiveness” which my other half raised last night at dinner. Christ’s summary of the Law (Lk. 10.27): You shall love the Lord, your god, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself. The phrase [...]
The "Context" of Forgiveness?
There is another aspect of the mechanics of forgiveness that I’ve not previously considered. It appears to me, that of the examples in the Gospels (and even in the OT) of forgiveness being carried out, that there is an assumption of both an ongoing relationship that is damaged, and that the intent is for that [...]
How Exactly Do We Undertake Forgiveness?
I’m starting a new thread here that is in part based on a very interesting conversation that began on my friend John Plummer’s blog, and inspired by similar posts in other blogs I’ve visited lately. Our topic: the mechanics of forgiveness. I’m jumping into it with a modified edition of one of my contributions to [...]