Friendly Reminder: Go to Confession!
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Friday, January 29, 2010 12:00 PM
We all need spiritual nudges now and then.
And when it comes to the sacrament of reconciliation, some of us need a really big nudge (read: kick in the pants) to get ourselves there.
I used to aim for going to confession once a month. That meant that in reality, I got there every 2-3 months. No good.
So now I aim for every 2 weeks. And that means I do usually get there about once a month. Every once in a while I surprise myself, though, and find myself saying “It’s been ... two weeks—hey, two weeks!—since my last confession ...”
More frequent confession pays off not only in self-awareness and graces received, but also in my own comfort level. It’s never fun to speak aloud your own faults and failings, but like all difficult things, going to confession does become easier when you make a it regular habit. No mystery, no drama.
And that’s why I was so pleased to see Fr. Z’s 20 Tips for Making a Good Confession this week.
His list is simple and straightforward. For novices, it takes the guess work out “What do I say?” and “How do I say it?” “What do I do next?” I especially appreciate the ones that address people’s worries about what the priest might think. It’s helpful to have a priest’s perspective on the matter that clarifies that 1) they’ve heard it all before 2) they are bound by the Seal not to share what you say and 3) rather than judging you, they are likely admiring your courage to speak the truth.
So, consider yourself nagged. Read the list, make your own, and then find yourself some good old fashioned grace in the confessional this weekend!
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