So as Easter is coming, we (Roman Catholics) should repent our sins to the priest to celebrate resurrection clean. My problem here is that the Bible doesn't say it should be performed like that. We should confess our sins only to God. But as I'm "programmed" to repent to the priest, I get scared of not doing it. Like I'm evil and a bad Christian. I'm supposed to do it today...
Any advice would help me, thanks
If you are interested in some background: The delegated authority to apostles and succession is clearly given in John 20:23 for "those sins you would forgive will be forgiven them". It is important to notice as well - that this is not just a symbol of urging others to confess as some evangelicals would have you believe. Because the power is delegated to "retain sins" as well, which means this is clearly delegated authority.
Despite asking on this forum many times, nobody ever gave a credible alternative meaning to those verses, preferring instead the forum sport of attacking catholic interpretation, never providing their own.
The church fathers are important because in origin there was no new testament, not finalised for several centuries after Christ, the truth passed on by tradition of word of mouth and letter to which the apostle Paul urges believers to hold true. The new testament clearly says in this context "the pillar and foundation of truth is the church" (not the bible you notice!! - and this - me speaking as an ex protestant became evangelical, then RCC is my bone of contetion with the reformationists. Sola scriptura is not biblical, logical or historical! - so you have to question which church is the pillar of truth?)
So looking at ECF from origen on there are references - who spoke of sinners
"does not shrink from declaring his sin to a PRIEST of the Lord" Cyprian of Carthage a few years later and many others since. They were speaking long before the new testament as you know it was decided at councils much later.
Believe what you will, but there is history. It was established practice up till the reformation, after which protestantism fractured into thousands of bits over differences of opinion of doctrine, many even losing bishops and priests alltogether despite the clear history there as well.. RCC as you know, has held fast to priestly confession for millenia and also some high church protestant denominations.