Weekly Confession

Reprinted here from August 1oth, 2006) I felt on my heart today that we must not forget to return to the foundations time and again especially in these days of urgency. I believe we should waste no time in availing ourselves of this Sacrament, which bestows great graces to overcome our faults, restores the gift of eternal life to the mortal sinner, and snaps the chains which the evil one binds us with.

NEXT to the Eucharist, weekly Confession has provided the most powerful experience of Gods love and presence in my life. Confession is to the soul, what a sunset is to the senses Confession, which is the purification of the soul, should be made no later than every eight days; I cannot bear to keep souls away from confession for more than eight days. St. Pio of Pietrelcina It would be an illusion to seek after holiness, according to the vocation one has received from God, without partaking frequently of this sacrament of conversion and reconciliation. Pope John Paul the Great; Vatican, Mar. 29 (CWNews.com)

+ + + OF course, one can ask God directly to forgive ones sins, and He will (provided of course, we forgive others. Jesus was clear on this.) We can immediately, on the spot as it were, stop the bleeding from the wound of our transgression. But this is where the Sacrament of Confession is so necessary. For the wound, though not bleeding, may still be infected with "self". Confession draws the puss of pride to the surface where Christ, in the person of the priest (John 20:23), wipes it away and applies the healing balm of the Father through the words, "may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins." Unseen graces bathe the injury aswith the Sign of the Crossthe priest applies the dressing of Gods mercy. When you go to a medical doctor for a bad cut, does he only stop the bleeding, or does he not suture, cleanse, and dress your wound? Christ, the Great Physician, knew we would need that, and more attention to our spiritual wounds. Thus, this Sacrament was his antidote to our sin. While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call "light": if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession. Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. (1863, Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. Augustine; 1458)

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AFTER one of my concerts, the hosting priest invited me to the rectory for a late supper. For dessert, he went on to boast how he hadnt heard confessions in his parish for two years. "You see," he grinned, "during the penitential prayers in Mass, the sinner is forgiven. As well, when one receives the Eucharist, his sins are removed." I was in agreement. But then he said, "One only needs to come to confession when he has committed a mortal sin. Ive had parishioners come to confession without mortal sin, and told them to go away. In fact, I really doubt any of my parishioners have really committed a mortal sin" This poor priest, unfortunately, underestimates both the power of the Sacrament, as well as the weakness of human nature. I will address the former.

Suffice it to say, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is not an invention of the Church, but the creation of Jesus Christ. Speaking only to the twelve apostles, Jesus said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Jesus conferred His authority on the first twelve bishops of the Church (and their successors) to forgive sins in His stead. James 5:16 commands us to do as much: Therefore, confess your sins to one another... Neither Jesus, nor James distinguishes between "mortal" or "venial" sin. Neither does the Apostle John, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9) John says "all" unrighteousness. It would seem then that "all" sin should be confessed. What this priest failed to recognize, it would seem, is that he is the representative of Christ, the one to whom sinners can look to as a sign of mercy and forgiveness. That he, in the person of Christ, becomes a conduit of grace. As such, every time someone comes to confession, they encounter sacramentthey encounter Jesus,reconciling us to the Father. Jesus, who created us and knows us inside out, knew that we needed to audibly speak our sins. In fact, psychologists (not intending to imply belief in the Catholic Faith) have said that the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church is one of the most healing things a human can partake of. That in their psychiatric offices, often this is all they try to do: create an environment in which a person can unload their guilt (which is known to be a factor in poor mental and physical health.) Criminologists have also asserted that crime investigators will work leads for years since it is a known fact that even the most cunning criminals eventually confess their crime to someone. It seems the human heart simply cannot bear the load of an evil conscience. No peace for the wicked! says my God. (Isaiah 57:21) Jesus knew this, and so, has provided for us a means by which we can not only audibly confess these sins, but more importantly, audibly hear that we are forgiven. Whether its a transgression of impatience, or a matter of mortal sin, it doesnt matter. The need is the same. Christ knew this. Unfortunately, the priest did not. Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Fathers mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession." There are profound reasons for this. Christ is at work in each of the sacraments. He personally addresses every sinner: "My son, your sins are forgiven." He is the physician tending each one of the sick who need him to cure them. He raises them up and reintegrates them into fraternal communion. Personal confession is thus the form most expressive of reconciliation with God and with the Church. (1458, 1484, Catechism of the Catholic Church)