Come On Father, Can't I Just Skip Confession?

Oh My Gosh (OMG)! Isn't it terrible how some of us just dread going to Confession? Well, let me just say this, you're not alone. I'm right there with you. And why? I really couldn't tell you why. It’s not like I'm some kind of criminal. Sure, I sin too, and I know that, but telling those sins to the priest is not easy for me and maybe it's the same story for some of you reading this too.

Like so many people, I struggle with going to Confession, and if I ask myself, ”when was the last time you went to Confession?”, I'd have to answer, too long ago.

Now, I ask you, how often do you go to Confession? Be honest; do you make it a priority? Do you go as often as you should?

Let's face it, some of us just like to avoid Confession! Period! I know that sounds awful, but isn't Confession sometimes one of those things many Catholics struggle with? Ask yourself that question? Wouldn't we just love to be able to find some easier way to get absolution without actually having to go before a priest for it? I'm sure for some of us, a sincere act of contrition suffices, but is that what’s expected of us or just what we expect of ourselves? Is that really what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is about?

The Sacrament of Reconciliation or as we know it, ‘Penance or Confession’, is so much more than that, and to put it simply, it reunites our soul with God.

Through this wonderful sacrament we are reunited with God, because sin has caused us to be separated from Him. We are given absolution by the priest, which was empowered to him when he received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The Sacrament of Reconciliation allows us, once absolution has been given to us, to feel happy again knowing that our souls are ‘one with God’, because of the sanctifying grace we received.

Additionally, we are given, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, special graces, which are referred to as ‘Sacramental Graces’ and these graces help us to NOT commit the sin again.
I guess it's fair to say that if we have a better understanding of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we might as Catholics feel more comfortable about going to Confession, because there's so much to be gained. Knowing this sacrament allows us to obtain God’s mercy and His absolution for our sins through the words of the priests, which are “I absolve you of yours sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, is comforting and relieving.

Those words can bring us a true sense of comfort and happiness if we allow them to and. no matter what our sins may be, whether mortal or venial, they have been absolved. So I ask myself again …..

“Do I need Confession?”

“YES!” I reply.
“Most definitely!”

“Will I look at the Sacrament of Reconciliation differently?”

Again I reply, YES! Absolutely.

“Will I now make more of an effort to go to confession?”

YES! I say. Without a doubt!

God’s blessings be upon you during this beautiful holy season.