Reconciliation 10 Things You Should Know
Nov 24, 2017 10:41:04 #
04/22/2015 Ten Things Every Catholic Should Know About Confession
FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER
Confession I’m struck by how few Catholics take advantage of the sacrament of confession, and I wonder why.
I think one of the reasons is that many cradle Catholics were hauled off to confession every week as children and they weren’t really taught about the healing power of the sacrament.
Their understanding of the sacrament was legalistic and routine.
“You couldn’t go to Mass unless you’d been to confession so you had to go to confession to go receive communion so off you went with your list and father waved his hands, muttered the words and you were cleaned up for another week.
Is that the way it was? I don’t know, but I suspect so.
In fact, the sacrament of confession is a powerful, personal and beautiful sacrament and Catholics should understand these ten things about it:
1. The Seal of the Confessional is absolute –
Not only can a priest not talk to anyone else about your confession, but he can’t talk to you about it outside the confessional. He also won’t talk about who has come to confession. Moms, don’t go up to the priest and ask, “Father, I just want to know whether my Jimmy has been to confession or not.” He won’t tell you.
2. Absolution is Objective –
When the priest pronounces the words of absolution your sins are forgiven. This is a fact and it doesn’t depend on whether you “feel forgiven” or not. If you retain feelings of guilt and shame you can talk to the priest about that and he may give you some advice on how to deal with those feelings. I advise people to use Mass as an offering and when you see the priest offer up the gifts you offer up your feelings of guilt and ask Jesus to take them. He will. It might take some time–especially if you have been nursing those feelings for some time, but they will go as you pray to know the power of the sacrament. Affirming that the absolution is unconditional and objective will help with that.
3. Jesus forgives you through the Priest –
The church is the body of Christ. Therefore it follows that the church does what Jesus Christ did on earth. He forgave sins and he gave his apostles the power to forgive sins in his name. The priest has received that authority through his ordination by a successor of the apostles. When the priest pronounces the absolution he is enacting that 2000 year old gift of Christ to his church. Jesus is alive and he is there to forgive you! Receive the gift!
4. A Good Examination of Conscience is Necessary –
You should take time to prepare for confession by making a good examination of conscience beforehand. Remember, the sins of which you are ashamed and fearful may not be the most serious sins. Our feelings of guilt and shame are not necessarily a good guide to the seriousness of our sin. Go here to find a good examination of conscience.
5. Confess Your Own Sins … Not Others –
Mind your own business. You are not there to tell the priest the bad things your husband has done and how long suffering you’ve been. You are not there to tell the priest how good you’ve been and how you’re “making progress” on those bad habits. Neither are you there to tell him all the bitty little venial sins you’ve committed. It’s not a sin to be late feeding the dog one day. If you have trouble knowing how to make a good confession talk to the priest and ask his advice and help. He should know what he’s doing and be able to assist you to make a good confession.
6. Pray Before You Go to Confession –
As you’re waiting in line ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind any sins from the past that should be forgiven. It’s amazing how the Lord will open up your memory and bring things you had forgotten to the surface in order for them to be forgiven.
7. Confession Brings Healing of the Memories –
Have bad things happened to you in the past? Do you have wounds and hurts caused by others? You can’t confess the sins of other people, but you can confess your own reaction to those things and ask for healing. If someone has injured you and sinned against you, you can ask to be forgiven for not forgiving them. You can confess your negative reactions to what has happened and as you do you will be set free from those hurts and painful memories.
8. Confession is Healthy –
In my experience as a Catholic priest I have found that, generally speaking, Catholics are far less in need of counseling, have fewer mental and emotional health issues than others. I think this is because confession helps them take responsibility for bad things that have happened. Confession brings the healing of Jesus Christ into our lives in a most natural and healthy way. Problems that might develop are prevented and the side effects of serious sins are avoided.
9. Confession Affirms that you live in a moral universe –
In a society where anything goes, where relativism reigns supreme and people follow “their t***h”, confession and a good examination of conscience reminds us that we live in a world created by God with clear guidelines for behavior which lead to health, wholeness and a strong and vibrant spiritual life. Confession helps us get our lives and minds organized around those principles.
10. Confession is Where You “Accept Jesus into your heart” –
Evangelical Christians are very intent on having “a personal relationship with Jesus Christ” and wonder why more Catholics don’t have this. I wonder too! In fact, in confession is where we establish, refresh and maintain that “personal relationship with Jesus.” The other sacraments are more congregational, formal and ritualistic. In confession it is a one on one with Jesus. In Evangelical meetings they call on people to “come forward and pray the sinner’s prayer”. This is where the person confesses their sins and accepts the forgiveness of Jesus.
For Catholics this happens in confession. Think about it. The same basic t***saction takes place, but we have the advantage that the “prayer counselor” is a trained, qualified and validly ordained priest. Not only that he has the apostolic authority to absolve us of our sins.
If an Evangelical ever asks you “have you been saved?” or “have you accepted Jesus?” you should be able to say, “Absolutely.
I have repented of my sins and accepted the forgiveness of Jesus Christ personally. Furthermore, I have been forgiven of my sins by one of his personally appointed and empowered representatives on earth.”
Then you can ask your friend, “Can you say the same?”
FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER
Confession I’m struck by how few Catholics take advantage of the sacrament of confession, and I wonder why.
I think one of the reasons is that many cradle Catholics were hauled off to confession every week as children and they weren’t really taught about the healing power of the sacrament.
Their understanding of the sacrament was legalistic and routine.
“You couldn’t go to Mass unless you’d been to confession so you had to go to confession to go receive communion so off you went with your list and father waved his hands, muttered the words and you were cleaned up for another week.
Is that the way it was? I don’t know, but I suspect so.
In fact, the sacrament of confession is a powerful, personal and beautiful sacrament and Catholics should understand these ten things about it:
1. The Seal of the Confessional is absolute –
Not only can a priest not talk to anyone else about your confession, but he can’t talk to you about it outside the confessional. He also won’t talk about who has come to confession. Moms, don’t go up to the priest and ask, “Father, I just want to know whether my Jimmy has been to confession or not.” He won’t tell you.
2. Absolution is Objective –
When the priest pronounces the words of absolution your sins are forgiven. This is a fact and it doesn’t depend on whether you “feel forgiven” or not. If you retain feelings of guilt and shame you can talk to the priest about that and he may give you some advice on how to deal with those feelings. I advise people to use Mass as an offering and when you see the priest offer up the gifts you offer up your feelings of guilt and ask Jesus to take them. He will. It might take some time–especially if you have been nursing those feelings for some time, but they will go as you pray to know the power of the sacrament. Affirming that the absolution is unconditional and objective will help with that.
3. Jesus forgives you through the Priest –
The church is the body of Christ. Therefore it follows that the church does what Jesus Christ did on earth. He forgave sins and he gave his apostles the power to forgive sins in his name. The priest has received that authority through his ordination by a successor of the apostles. When the priest pronounces the absolution he is enacting that 2000 year old gift of Christ to his church. Jesus is alive and he is there to forgive you! Receive the gift!
4. A Good Examination of Conscience is Necessary –
You should take time to prepare for confession by making a good examination of conscience beforehand. Remember, the sins of which you are ashamed and fearful may not be the most serious sins. Our feelings of guilt and shame are not necessarily a good guide to the seriousness of our sin. Go here to find a good examination of conscience.
5. Confess Your Own Sins … Not Others –
Mind your own business. You are not there to tell the priest the bad things your husband has done and how long suffering you’ve been. You are not there to tell the priest how good you’ve been and how you’re “making progress” on those bad habits. Neither are you there to tell him all the bitty little venial sins you’ve committed. It’s not a sin to be late feeding the dog one day. If you have trouble knowing how to make a good confession talk to the priest and ask his advice and help. He should know what he’s doing and be able to assist you to make a good confession.
6. Pray Before You Go to Confession –
As you’re waiting in line ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind any sins from the past that should be forgiven. It’s amazing how the Lord will open up your memory and bring things you had forgotten to the surface in order for them to be forgiven.
7. Confession Brings Healing of the Memories –
Have bad things happened to you in the past? Do you have wounds and hurts caused by others? You can’t confess the sins of other people, but you can confess your own reaction to those things and ask for healing. If someone has injured you and sinned against you, you can ask to be forgiven for not forgiving them. You can confess your negative reactions to what has happened and as you do you will be set free from those hurts and painful memories.
8. Confession is Healthy –
In my experience as a Catholic priest I have found that, generally speaking, Catholics are far less in need of counseling, have fewer mental and emotional health issues than others. I think this is because confession helps them take responsibility for bad things that have happened. Confession brings the healing of Jesus Christ into our lives in a most natural and healthy way. Problems that might develop are prevented and the side effects of serious sins are avoided.
9. Confession Affirms that you live in a moral universe –
In a society where anything goes, where relativism reigns supreme and people follow “their t***h”, confession and a good examination of conscience reminds us that we live in a world created by God with clear guidelines for behavior which lead to health, wholeness and a strong and vibrant spiritual life. Confession helps us get our lives and minds organized around those principles.
10. Confession is Where You “Accept Jesus into your heart” –
Evangelical Christians are very intent on having “a personal relationship with Jesus Christ” and wonder why more Catholics don’t have this. I wonder too! In fact, in confession is where we establish, refresh and maintain that “personal relationship with Jesus.” The other sacraments are more congregational, formal and ritualistic. In confession it is a one on one with Jesus. In Evangelical meetings they call on people to “come forward and pray the sinner’s prayer”. This is where the person confesses their sins and accepts the forgiveness of Jesus.
For Catholics this happens in confession. Think about it. The same basic t***saction takes place, but we have the advantage that the “prayer counselor” is a trained, qualified and validly ordained priest. Not only that he has the apostolic authority to absolve us of our sins.
If an Evangelical ever asks you “have you been saved?” or “have you accepted Jesus?” you should be able to say, “Absolutely.
I have repented of my sins and accepted the forgiveness of Jesus Christ personally. Furthermore, I have been forgiven of my sins by one of his personally appointed and empowered representatives on earth.”
Then you can ask your friend, “Can you say the same?”
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