How I've Come to Reconcile with the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Grace is one of the most powerful gifts that I think we can get directly from God. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, it states,“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weakness, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” When we leave the confessional, we are again in the state of sanctifying grace. I know it is the one sacrament that most people avoid. I did myself for quite a long time. I was under the impression that every time I saw a priest outside the confessional that he’d remember all I had told him the last time I was in confession. He would look at me and think, “Oh yeah, she’s the one who likes to gossip or she loses her patience all the time.” For many years, high school and some of college, I avoided confession like many people avoid the dentist. It almost became like a game with me and God. He’d call to me to go and I’d find the perfect excuse why I couldn’t – I had to study for a test, had class, was too busy, etc. I kept this up for many years but decided to try going again.

But I still had an issue. How could I go to confession with that priest and then sit and chat in the dining hall with him, knowing that he knows all the bad things I did? In college, our campus priest was very active with us and I wasn’t comfortable seeing him in the confessional and then socializing with him. Until God demonstrated to me the gift he has given to priests. God has given priests an amazing gift to leave everything they hear in the confessional, when it comes to the sins of the penitent. I’m totally serious. I have no problem talking with any of the priests that I’ve confessed to in the past several years as I’ve come to learn that they cannot remember anything that is said in the confessional and if they do, they are not allowed by Canon Law to reveal it. They face excommunication if the seal of the confessional is broken. It is a gift from the Lord so that we may be able to come back to Him without the worry of our sins being revealed to others. I have become very close with both the priests at my parish and have no problem going to confession with them and then going out to dinner with them or just sitting in a meeting with them afterwards. So, if you were like me and avoided the Sacrament of Reconciliation for quite a while, I’m urging you – go, ask for forgiveness and feel the load lifted off your shoulders! Don’t worry about not remembering what to do. Just let the priest know it’s been a while and he will assist you through the process. It’s time for a new beginning so go to confession and feel the grace of God coming back to you after you hear the words of absolution. Let me know how it goes – cubberlyteach@yahoo.com.