Ten Good Reasons to Celebrate Confession
1. Taking Stock of our Spiritual lives. We are Christians! What would it say about us if we care for our bodies, for our minds, but neglect our spirits? Attention to the life of our spirit is an adventure of monumental proportions. It is a direct meeting between us and Almighty God. Begin… restart… continue with great expectation!
2. Letting go of anger, resentment, guilt, pain… The old adage, “Confession is good for the soul” has every truth to it. Anger, resentment, guilt, and pain are corrosive forces that wear us down. God never intended for us to carry such feelings. He intends for us to bring them to Him, lay them at His feet, and let them go.
3. Telling on ourselves. The only way to let go of whatever we are holding inside is to tell someone. When we confess our faults, our hurts to a friend, it is healing. When we confess our sins, our hurts to a priest, we are speaking with Christ himself; we know we will be forgiven, and we know we will receive grace in the form of growing wisdom and self-discipline.
4. Taking Responsibility. If we are honest, we will admit that we are a complicated mix of light and darkness. Taking responsibility for our failures gives life. It gives life in the form of restored relationship, healing for the other we have harmed, and healing for ourselves. It is a built-in need of the human psyche.
5. Realizing we’re not the only participant. During Confession, the priest relies on the power of the Holy Spirit for words of advice and counsel. The Holy Spirit of God meets us there in that confessional and the Spirit will help us recognize deep-seated attitudes and weaknesses that undermine us. The Spirit will also help us to recognize how we are gifted and called to mission in God’s kingdom.
6. Healing is Real. When the priest prays the words of absolution, we receive the assurance of Jesus Christ himself that our sins are forgiven (Matthew 18:18; John 20:23). We can put the past behind us. Psychologists recognize the power of this sacrament to heal spiritually and emotionally.
7. Reconnecting is Central. Jesus gave the Church the power to forgive sins because He understood that sin breaks down our relationship with God and other people. When we celebrate Confession, we not only receive God’s forgiveness, but the full affirmation and support of the Church. This sacrament helps us to see that we are not alone. It reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and we must keep that part of the Body healthy, joyful, and ready for mission!
8. Celebrating God’s Unconditional Love. The word “unconditional” is important because it assures us that no matter what we have done, God continues to love us. He wants us to grow in union with Him. Confession allows us to feel the joy of union with God.
9. Receiving Grace. Confession strengthens us spiritually. People who go to Confession discover that the longer temptation is allowed to linger, the more difficult it is to reject. Confession gives us the grace we need to recognize and respond to temptation quickly.
10. Gaining freedom and purpose. Confession allows us to experience something- and Someone- bigger than ourselves. We come face to face with the struggle over good and evil, and we come away with deep understanding that Jesus Christ has overcome sin. It produces a sense of wonder and awe. It offers new meaning in life and the kind of peace the world cannot give.
… Frequently asked Questions
… What are we suppose to wear?
Please wear the absolute best you have to offer and honor our Lord! Please keep in mind this is not a fashion show and your candidates are not there to draw attention to them, but to worship our God and to receive from Him the graces of a Holy Sacrament.
… What other preparations are we to participate in?
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in the Spring of 2021. More information will be posted as dates and times for workshops and the celebration of the sacrament are finalized.
… What if my question is not answered above?
Please contact Robin Miller…
E-mail: [email protected]
1. Taking Stock of our Spiritual lives. We are Christians! What would it say about us if we care for our bodies, for our minds, but neglect our spirits? Attention to the life of our spirit is an adventure of monumental proportions. It is a direct meeting between us and Almighty God. Begin… restart… continue with great expectation!
2. Letting go of anger, resentment, guilt, pain… The old adage, “Confession is good for the soul” has every truth to it. Anger, resentment, guilt, and pain are corrosive forces that wear us down. God never intended for us to carry such feelings. He intends for us to bring them to Him, lay them at His feet, and let them go.
3. Telling on ourselves. The only way to let go of whatever we are holding inside is to tell someone. When we confess our faults, our hurts to a friend, it is healing. When we confess our sins, our hurts to a priest, we are speaking with Christ himself; we know we will be forgiven, and we know we will receive grace in the form of growing wisdom and self-discipline.
4. Taking Responsibility. If we are honest, we will admit that we are a complicated mix of light and darkness. Taking responsibility for our failures gives life. It gives life in the form of restored relationship, healing for the other we have harmed, and healing for ourselves. It is a built-in need of the human psyche.
5. Realizing we’re not the only participant. During Confession, the priest relies on the power of the Holy Spirit for words of advice and counsel. The Holy Spirit of God meets us there in that confessional and the Spirit will help us recognize deep-seated attitudes and weaknesses that undermine us. The Spirit will also help us to recognize how we are gifted and called to mission in God’s kingdom.
6. Healing is Real. When the priest prays the words of absolution, we receive the assurance of Jesus Christ himself that our sins are forgiven (Matthew 18:18; John 20:23). We can put the past behind us. Psychologists recognize the power of this sacrament to heal spiritually and emotionally.
7. Reconnecting is Central. Jesus gave the Church the power to forgive sins because He understood that sin breaks down our relationship with God and other people. When we celebrate Confession, we not only receive God’s forgiveness, but the full affirmation and support of the Church. This sacrament helps us to see that we are not alone. It reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and we must keep that part of the Body healthy, joyful, and ready for mission!
8. Celebrating God’s Unconditional Love. The word “unconditional” is important because it assures us that no matter what we have done, God continues to love us. He wants us to grow in union with Him. Confession allows us to feel the joy of union with God.
9. Receiving Grace. Confession strengthens us spiritually. People who go to Confession discover that the longer temptation is allowed to linger, the more difficult it is to reject. Confession gives us the grace we need to recognize and respond to temptation quickly.
10. Gaining freedom and purpose. Confession allows us to experience something- and Someone- bigger than ourselves. We come face to face with the struggle over good and evil, and we come away with deep understanding that Jesus Christ has overcome sin. It produces a sense of wonder and awe. It offers new meaning in life and the kind of peace the world cannot give.
… Frequently asked Questions
… What are we suppose to wear?
Please wear the absolute best you have to offer and honor our Lord! Please keep in mind this is not a fashion show and your candidates are not there to draw attention to them, but to worship our God and to receive from Him the graces of a Holy Sacrament.
… What other preparations are we to participate in?
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in the Spring of 2021. More information will be posted as dates and times for workshops and the celebration of the sacrament are finalized.
… What if my question is not answered above?
Please contact Robin Miller…
E-mail: [email protected]