The Seal of Confession

Description

Can a priest share my sins? Confession, telling our sins to a priest, can be really intimidating. However, Fr. Josh shares about the seal of confession and how seriously it is held by the Church. Fr. Josh also shares about a saint who died in order to keep the seal of confession.

Snippet from the Show
If there was a chance that a person’s sins could be revealed, they would not go to confession.

Glory Story (1:39)

Listener Question (4:20)

Can a priest break the seal of confession if the person confesses committing a serious crime?

Saint Story: Blessed Jan Sarkander and St. John Nepomucene (10:22)

Blessed Jan Sarkander was born in December 1576 in Austrian Silesia. He was ordained a priest in 1607 and served at multiple parishes. After being a priest for 11 years, the Protestants took over the local government. Two years later, Fr. Jan was arrested and imprisoned. He was eventually tried by the Hussites and was then tortured and killed. He was canonized in 1995. Blessed Jan Sarkander’s feast day is March 17.

Saint John Nepomucene was born in 1345. He was raised by faithful parents and once he was grown, he became a priest. After some years of being a priest, Fr. John was invited to the court of King Wenceslaus IV. During his time in court, he served many people including the queen as her confessor. Due to this, Fr. John was one day approached by the king and asked to divulge what the queen shared in her confessions. Fr. John refused to break the seal of confession. The king had him thrown in prison. The king asked him once more and threatened to kill him if he did not break the seal of confession. Fr. John remained strong and denied the king. Fr. John was tortured and then drowned. His feast day is May 16.

---