The usual practice for Roman Catholics is to go to a confessional and tell a priest what sins he has committed. Then some sort of penance is prescribed. At least, that’s how it worked on the Father Dowling mysteries. But since the coronavirus thwacked Italy mercilessly, many Catholics could not or did not want to leave their homes. Pope Francis addressed this issue on March 19, 2020, after Italy had been in lockdown for nine days, according to an Internet article by Cindy Wooden of Catholic News Service.
Francis affirmed that God welcomes wholeheartedly each sinner: “It’s like going home.” But people were asking him where they could find a priest to confess their sins to? His response was:
Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says. It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your Father, and tell him the truth. Say, “Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,” and ask for pardon with all your heart.
Make an act of contrition, the pope said, and promise God, “I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now.” And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God.
Well, now, what a novel idea—going to God directly in prayer—just as the New Testament teaches! In Luke 11:1, Jesus’ disciples said to Him: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Jesus said nothing about going to a priest. He taught them to pray to the Father (Luke 11:2-5). The apostles had been threatened in Acts 4, but they met and prayed to God—without any help from a priest. In fact, even in the Old Testament, when many of the Levites actually were priests, the Israelites still prayed to God directly. It will probably not surprise New Testament Christians, but the Bible does not mention acts of contrition, either.
To Catholic friends we ask: “If you can pray directly to God now, why can’t you do so all the time, as Jesus taught His followers?” Incidentally, all Christians are priests, according to the apostle Peter. He told Christians they were a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). God does not have an earthly priest standing between anyone and Himself—just Jesus, Who is our High Priest and Mediator (Heb. 5:9-10; 1 Tim. 2:5). No acts of contrition are needed, either. Just stop the sin by repentance—changing the way you live.