My Catholic Repentance on Reformation Sunday

Last updated on: October 27, 2013 at 12:00 am by Billy Kangas

My Catholic Repentance on Reformation Sunday 2013-10-27T00:00:00-04:00 Billy Kangas

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today is reformation Sunday, a day where protestants honor the reformation, and in particularly the story of Luther’s nailing of the 95 thesis to the door of the church in Wittenberg, where he was a teacher. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther is purported to have nailed 95 thesis, all attacking the practice of indulgences in the Catholic Church, about which Luther wanted to debate. These were serious concerns about a problematic growth of corrupt practices related to an abusive understanding of the theology of purgatory within the Catholic Church. These 95 concerns were translated, and gave voice to many of the concerns of people throughout Germany. People took hold of Luther and soon he was at the center of a movement, which we know today af the reformation.

I grew up Lutheran, and Reformation Sunday was always a big deal, and even though I’m now a Catholic I still like to remember it. As a Catholic it offers me a good opportunity to repent.

The reformation is one of the great tragedies in the Church, resulting in thousands of Christian sects and a scandal of disunity in the global Christian church that continues until today. I long to see the church united, but I know that until the Catholic Church can live out the Gospel message consistently, there is little hope that our separated brethren will return to the fold…. and so I repent and ask others to do the same.

I repent of denying the love of Christ to other Christians because I didn’t agree with how they sought to love Christ
I repent of loving myself more then my neighbor
I repent of holding my own possessions too tightly, and not seeing them as blessings given so that I might bless
I repent of making excuses for the sex abuse scandal
I repent of putting political ideology above Gospel fidelity
I repent of denying my cross daily
I repent of viewing others as simply means to my own fulfillment, rather then fulfilling my love for Christ by loving them with my means.
I repent for staying quiet when I needed to raise my voice, and raising my voice because I was afraid to stay quiet.
I repent of taking the seat of honor, putting myself first
I repent of exchanging the Pearl of Great price for the most menial comforts
I repent of betraying my Lord for much less then 30 pieces of silver
I repent of selectively living the Gospel
I repent of using Church teaching as a way to avoid the hard task of actually loving people
I repent of believing that I don’t need God’s grace
I repent of pretending I have all the answers

If I have ever hurt you through any of these things, or through some other failing on my part I ask your forgiveness, and pray that as God works in my life day by day that the brokenness that keeps the churches separated might find some small healing at work.

This is my heart’s cry this reformation Sunday

One final confession… I still love Martin Luther.

Luther is the writer and thinker who first introduced me to the radical grace of God, and for that I will be forever grateful. I hold out hope that I will meet him someday at the wedding supper of the lamb. Here are a few Luther related things that I love…

The Luther insulter
95 theses but the pope ain’t one
Sin Boldly Mug
A prayer for Fathers (that I return to often)
This Drinking Advice
Hans Fine’s Brilliant YouTube Channel, Lutheran Satire
Finally… I REALLY want to the below image turned into into a real episode

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 25, 2013

Pope Francis says hungry bellies stem from greedy gullets

Next Post

October 31, 2013 Interview with "rebuilt" author, Tom Corcoran

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Bible Books CCC Prayer Christmas Current Events Family Film Free Photo Fridays Humor hunger liturgical calendar liturgy Music Photos pope Prayer Prayerful Leader questions Quotes Review Saints Satire Scripture SYNOD SYNOD FOR THE FAMILY teaching Uncategorized video Weekly Round Up

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 April 2026 February 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 February 2025 January 2025 September 2024 June 2024 May 2024 February 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 November 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 September 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 August 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 October 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the mother of Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Martha