You read the headline. You know what I’m writing about. So, let’s get right to it. No sense in waiting just to fill space.
Why you should go
- You love God. Do you truly love God with all of your heart, soul, etc.? Yeah? Have you sinned too? Ah, not good.
Have you ever disappointed your parents (or any other elders) and felt bad, especially when you saw how much it hurt them? You were sorry, right, and wanted to make it better? It’s the same with God. He’s given you everything. Sorry, he’s given US everything and we sin (too often) which goes against his very love for us.
If you feel that love-filled “I’m sorry,” head to the “Booth of Mercy” (I can’t take credit for that metaphor for the confessional. I’m borrowing it from a friend of mine.)
- You want to receive Holy Communion. If you have just one mortal sin on your soul, you cannot worthily receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
While technically you only have to receive once a year during Easter, it’s a really really good idea to receive more than that. Only good things can come from the Eucharist.
Regular Confession is a great idea for those who want to center their lives around the Eucharist. You’ll never be without it.
- Hell bad, Heaven good. None of us wants to suffer for all eternity totally separated from God.
If the stain of serious sin is separating you from God, fix it. Don’t wait until the last minute.
If we accomplish nothing else on this Earth, we’ve got to get to Heaven. God wants us there and we should want to be there.
Life’s great tragedy is that for those who aren’t there, they did it to themselves. Don’t make that wrong choice. Prepare yourself for Heaven. Be right with God and go to Confession.
- It’s a gift from God. Our Lord gave us this sacrament as a gift to us. He wants us to take advantage of it. It’s free with re-entry allowed if necessary. No hand stamping is required.
I know it’s an uncomfortable experience. Our human selves can go through such anxiety realizing what we’re doing — telling a man in persona Christi (the priest) all of the terrible things we’ve done recently, but we’ve been invited by God to do that. He’ll give us the grace and the strength to make it through.
- You won’t regret it. It’s not a perfect art or science, human flaws as they are, but more often than not, you’ll come out better than you went in.
It’s a chance to hear the words of the priest giving you absolution and to feel the mercy of God flowing through you.
You can feel His love and know he’s giving you the strength to start over. This is your “go and sin no more” moment.
Why you shouldn’t go
I know. How could I even suggest such a thing? There are some reasons though.
- It’s not a “car wash”. If you’re going in the booth for the sole purpose of being made clean to be made dirty again, that’s not good enough.
Your intention every time you go in there should be never to do any of the things you’ve listed ever again.
(“Car wash” is another metaphor I can’t take credit for. This one came from a priest in our diocese.)
- You’re not ready to tell the full story. I’m not suggesting you wait forever to say all of the bad sins you’ve done, but while you examine your conscience, ask yourself if you’re ready to spill it all.
I’m sympathetic to the reason why you’d be hesitant to tell confess certain sins. Sins hurt. Hurt hurts. If there’s something you can’t get out yet, make the effort to get there.
If you know you’re hesitant to confess something, by all means, talk to the priest and have him help you through it.
It might hurt, but you’ve got to get it all out.
- You’re also seeking spiritual direction. If you’ve mortally sinned, yes, go to Confession, but if you’re seeking a little more than what the sacrament can provide, be mindful of that. You can try to meet with the priest of your choice at another time or with a spiritual director or counselor for an extended conversation.
Again, your sins have to be confessed, and sometimes a priest will offer some advice in the booth, but not always, and that’s OK. Some priests and penitents keep the whole process brief.
Don’t be disappointed or feel cheated if you feel like you didn’t get what you want.
You can still receive the sacrament, which is what it’s there for, but other help may have to be sought elsewhere.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.