Confession, a meaningful practice in Lent
By
ATEACHER in religious instruction once asked her class, “What is the first requirement to be forgiven in confession?” The teacher expected the answer to be: “Repentance” (sorrow for sins).
But one pupil stood up and said: “Ma’am, you must first commit sin!”
*** Then a priest once said to another, “There’s a lot to be said for sin, you know. If it didn’t exist, we’d be out of job.” Indeed, one of the distinctive tasks a priest is ordained to do is to forgive sins.
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One meaningful practice in Lent is personal renewal through the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession of our sins. Thus, we have such worthwhile activities like “Kumpisalan ng Bayan.”
Some observers remark: “Many are receiving Holy Communion but few are going to confession.”
*** While it is true that you need not confess if you do not have a mortal sin, a good Catholic should go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation once a year, especially in Lent or Holy Week, a practice which is called the “Easter duty.” That’s the least of our obligation. But more frequent, say, once in three months, is desirable, or when one feels the necessity to go due to remorse of conscience.
*** CONFESSING SAME SINS. In regard to confessions that center around common faults, like impatience, unkindness, swearing, one should not feel discouraged.
I remember what the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said: “The confession of petty sins is like being stoned to death with pebbles.”
*** But confessing light sins means that we continue to make the EFFORT to overcome these — even though it takes a lifetime.
Without regular confession, there might well have been for the individual concerned a descent from impatience to a more serious sin like unrestrained anger leading to violence.
*** SINS OF OMISSION. Another pitfall on confessing one’s sins is the tendency to be too negative or too much concerned with the violation of formal laws. Did I miss Mass on Sunday? Did I steal? Did I receive communion without observing the eucharistic fast of one hour?
*** Confessing offenses is a vital part of the sacrament but what the penitent often forgets is what he or she OMITS to do in regard to charity as summed up in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Thus, we should ask ourselves such questions like: “Did I make a positive effort to be kind to those with whom I live and work with?
*** Did I fail to reach out to a person in need when I could have done it? Or was I wanting in saying a compliment or sincere appreciation where it is deserved?” *** “WHY CONFESS TO A PRIEST… who’s also human and sinful like me?” one might ask.
Indeed, God alone is perfect and can remit sins.
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But He can give this power to his apostles and their successors who are all human. And this He actually did when Jesus said after his resurrection: “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained” (John 20, 22).
Through the Church ministry of Penance, may God grant you pardon and peace!
*** ACTION: For a meaningful Lenten season, resolve to go to confession.
*** ST. JUDE. Today, Thursday, join us in our novena to St. Jude Thaddeus at the Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Seminary, on E. Rodriguez Boulevard, QC after the 6 p.m. Mass.
A healing pray-over and anointing of holy oil will follow.