The importance of frequent Confession

THE IMPORTANCE OF FREQUENT CONFESSION

Jn. 20:19-31

Today is Mercy Sunday and I feel the Lord is urging me to speak on the subject of Confession.

This is what I believe about Confession.  It is a command of the Church that we are to go to Holy Communion and Confession once a year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday.  In fact the only time a person must go to Confession is when they have committed serious sin and have grievously offended God.  Most people go to Holy Communion every Sunday, but going to Confession is another matter.  Is it true that the majority of Catholics hardly ever go to Confession and there are some who do not go at all.  I feel as a priest I would be failing if I do not speak on this subject.  People do not realise the beauty of this sacrament and how they could better their relationship with Jesus.  I want to encourage them.

St. Pope John Paul II says this: "If you do not go to Confession once a month you are not taking your spiritual life seriously."

Why did he say that?  I can think of three reasons.  The first is that when we go to Confession it is Jesus we meet and to Him we confess our sins, so that in itself is a good reason for going.

The second is every time we go to Confession Jesus not only forgives our sins but He also gives us an increase of grace and all the help we need for the future.  So that when a crisis hits us we have built up sufficient grace never to turn our backs on Him.  Monthly Confession ensures a personal relationship with Jesus for we never want to be separated from Him.

 
The third reason is that monthly Confession is our ticket to Heaven.  I cannot imagine, if we make a good Confession every month, Our Lord saying to us when we die: 'I don't know you!'  Rather I can hear Him say, 'I know you because every month you came to Confession to tell Me how sorry you were for your sins.'

If we have a bank account we like to have a monthly statement to confirm whether we are in credit or debt.  Does it not make good sense, too, to give God a monthly statement about our spiritual life?

Going to Confession is not easy and hardly anyone loves going to Confession.  But we must believe that this sacrament is given to us by Jesus as a great help of keeping us close to Him.  There are people who say: "I confess my sins to God, I don't need a priest."  But we must be forgiven Jesus' way.  It is He who wants us to go through a priest for He said to the apostles: "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven and whose sins you shall not forgive they are not forgiven."  If He said that we should obey His instructions for He is God.  That power given to the apostles has been handed on to priests at their ordination.

People say: "But Father, I am ashamed of having to confess my sins".  It is healthy to feel shame, it keeps us humble, and the priest receives this confession with love and tenderness and forgives us on God's behalf.  Even psychiatrists recommend Confession to be good for us to unburden ourselves.  Yes, it is good to talk with a priest and tell him things which are weighing on our heart.  We should not be afraid of Confession!  After going there we will feel free, happy and above all forgiven.  This is the beauty Confession!  When I go to Confession I like to think of our heavenly Father putting His arms around me and saying, "I never want to lose you."

Lord Jesus, Confession is Your gift to us assuring us that our sins are forgiven.  May Your Holy Spirit encourage us to make great use of this Sacrament every month.

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