Get Thee To A Confessional! (beautiful insight for those who dread going to Confession)

Radical Catholic Mom ^ | August 18, 2007

[NYer]

It has been 4 months since my last confession. After each confession I come out thinking, "I am going to do a monthly confession." And then a few months go by and here I am. I finally had to schedule "Confession" on my calendar to ensure I would get in there. I decided to read up on the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance/Confession at New Advent. It is good to read what they have to say. Here are a few bullets that jumped out at me.

• While this sacrament as a dispensation of Divine mercy facilitates the pardoning of sin, it by no means renders sin less hateful or its consequences less dreadful to the Christian mind; much less does it imply permission to commit sin in the future. In paying ordinary debts, as e.g., by monthly settlements, the intention of contracting new debts with the same creditor is perfectly legitimate; a similar intention on the part of him who confesses his sins would not only be wrong in itself but would nullify the sacrament and prevent the forgiveness of sins then and there confessed.
• Strangely enough, the opposite charge is often heard, viz., that the confession of sin is intolerable and hard and therefore alien to the spirit of Christianity and the loving kindness of its Founder. But this view, in the first place, overlooks the fact that Christ, though merciful, is also just and exacting. Furthermore, however painful or humiliating confession may be, it is but a light penalty for the violation of God's law. Finally, those who are in earnest about their salvation count no hardship too great whereby they can win back God's friendship.

I am sure I am not the only one who dreads the Confessional so I will share a few thoughts with you about how I get myself in there.

1. Years ago I broke my ankle. In order for the doctor to make sure it healed correctly, he had to twist my ankle to the right position and set it before he put the cast on it. THE PAIN! Oh my goodness, the pain! It was excruciating to have my foot set, but completely necessary if I ever wanted to be healed correctly. The Sacrament of Penance is a soul cleansing that hurts. The pain comes from having to tell someone our deepest, darkest secrets, that maybe our spouses don't even know about. Our pride takes a hit, because during the day we tell ourselves that we are good people, but in the Confessional, all is stripped away and we are vulnerable before God and another human being.

2. Father has heard it before. Nothing I say will surprise Father and if I do surprise Father, well, that will help a future person who won't HAVE to surprise el Padre.

3. God already knows what I have done. It is useless to pretend things did not happen. He knows. So, I might as well be bluntly honest and tell Him I know He knows what I have done and that I am sorry.

4. Being forgiven is fabulous! There are no words to describe the peace one has after a good soul cleaning. If I want to receive the fabulous grace from the Sacrament, I have to first get myself in there.

5. No matter what I have done God forgives me AND He allows me a second and third, and infinite number of chances to get it right.

6. I have received some terrible, against the Church advice in the Confessional before. Since that experience, I always pray that God sends me to the right priest and will prepare the priest for Confession. In the Confessional Father, I don't want to hear what I want to hear, I want to hear what I need to hear. Since I have started to pray for my priest before I get into the Confessional, the results are very powerful.

7. Now that I am a mom, it is not just about me. I have to demonstrate to my daughter how to be a Catholic. Using the Sacraments is a good place to start.

[NYer]

And from the Diary of St. Faustina ...

Today the Lord said to me, Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls. (1602)

[Klondike]

Confession gives a Human touch with the assurance of forgiveness that an Ambassador of Christ can give. It makes us own our faults and teaches us humility in verbally admitting our sins. It opens an avenue for the Priest in acting for Christ can give us good counsel and heal our wounds.

[samiam1972]

Ah, thank you! I forwarded this on to my husband. We’ve been trying to become monthly confessors but never seem to make it either. This really hit home! I think we’ll try again! :0)

[TaxachusettsMan]

Did you ever hear the story of Monsignor Ronald Knox' reply when someone at one of his addresses/lectures/retreats asked advice on how to make a good Confession?

As any of us would, the person asking the question expected a rather lengthy, erudite response.

Monsignor Knox is said to have responded:

"BE BRIEF. BE BLUNT. BE GONE."

:-)

[Salvation]

Thank you for this thread.

[Salvation]

Examination of Conscience

A Guide for Confession

How To Make a Good Confession (especially if you haven't gone in years)

Why Go to Confession? (Part 1) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte

Why Go to Confession? (Part 2) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte

Why Go to Confession? (Part 3) - Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Bruno Forte

Pulling Sin up by the Roots: The Need for Mortification

Reasons for Confession [Sacrament of Reconciliation]

Cardinal Stafford's Homily at Penitential Liturgy With an Examination of Conscience

How to Go to Confession

Fr. Z’s 20 Tips For Making A Good Confession

Learning to Confess

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What happened to confession – Changing mores reflective of use

Confession Comeback

Repentance and Confession - Introduction [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]

The Spiritual and Psychological Value of Frequent Confession

Pick a sin, any sin (Confession gone awry)

The Early Church Fathers on Confession / Reconciliation - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus

Catholics called from the idiot box to confession

Get Thee To A Confessional! (beautiful insight for those who dread going to Confession)

[Salvation]

For the education of our inquiring RCIA classes:

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[SaltyJoe]

“pride takes a hit”

That “pride” is the devil being ripped out of our hearts. It hurts because he’s bit and clawed his way in, and he doesn’t want to go back to hell.

Let “disobedient pride” be the first sin I confess and perhaps the others will fall off without such a struggle.