Confession: We need to appreciate it

Going to confession regularly has given me a new appreciation for this sacrament. I often ask why people don't go to confession today more than they do. It can't be that we're sinning less. Can we have lost our appreciation for the sacrament of reconciliation because we no longer realize how terrible sin is? Is it that we no longer appreciate the suffering and death of Jesus, that he died for us? Do we no longer realize that all we have to do, to claim the benefits of his suffering, is to confess our sins and to rely on his mercy?

It is much easier to strive for holiness when you can go to Jesus in this sacrament. It is a great spiritual consolation, and a reminder of Jesus' great love, to be able to come to the priest and to hear those great words, 'Your sins are forgiven." As long as we are making an effort to avoid sin, we know that in the sacrament of reconciliation we are cleansed and we can start afresh ...

In speaking of sin, repentance, and spiritual growth, we must realize that the Evil One has a very subtle weapon he uses to discourage souls in their quest for God. That weapon is guilt ...

Some people have a terrible guilt hanging over their heads even after they have been to confession. This robs them of the joy of the Lord and of receiving the Lord's forgiveness in a personal and conscious way. Not to be able to forgive yourself is pride. When we go to confession, we realize that we fell, but Jesus' forgives us. That's the beauty of our good and compassionate God.

~ by Sister Briege McKenna

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