Here is an excellent video clip that offers an explanation of why we must confess our sins to a priest. As we start the new year it may be worthwhile for us to consider more frequent confession.
""The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship." Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation." Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true "spiritual resurrection," restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God." (CCC 1468)
Excellent, thanks very much for this. It makes complete sense and actually reaffirmed what my RCIA teacher explained when we covered the sacrament of Reconciliation.
ReplyDeleteGoing more frequently to receive this sacrament is definitely what I need to do. Whenever I do so I’m surprised at the relief and peace if feel and I wonder why it took me so long to go to confession in the first place! What I am disappointed in though is that whenever I do go for confession there’s less than a handful of people there to receive the sacrament. Either people are very good in my parish, or they just don’t believe in the sacrament anymore. Watching a video about St. Padre Pio I was amazed to see entire crowds going through to confess their sins to him whenever he listened to confessions. Why don’t Catholics embrace this sacrament anymore? Is it a lack of understanding? Is it because priests no longer remind people that in order to receive the Eucharist that one must be in a state of grace and that confession is a means to obtain such a state of grace?
I wonder how much of this can be associated to the “new” way of doing things in the Church since Vatican II. I’m beginning to believe that there is a greater respect for sacraments of Confession and Eucharist when Holy Mass is celebrated in the Extraordinary Form. I believe that we should not forget that when we receive Communion that we are really receiving the body and blood of Christ. We should be in complete awe when we go to receive Communion and embrace the fact that one must receive the Eucharist while in a state of grace. Perhaps with this being emphasized to the people a greater appreciation and recognition of the sacrament of Confession and its purpose will be achieved.