“I Confess”, another episode of That Catholic Show
One of the joys of priesthood, at least for me, is the sacrament of Reconciliation. I guess I have been lucky, since I have always been at parishes that have promoted this wonderful sacrament. At St. James in Red Bank, we heard Confessions everyday, except Sunday, and there almost always were people seeking the Lord’s Mercy. At my current assignment, while we do not offer the sacrament as often as St. James, we always have a good number of people on Saturday.
Greg and Jennifer Willits has produced another wonderful episode of That Catholic Show, and this episode is about Confession. There is only one thing that I would add to what they say about the sacrament (and maybe they did but I missed it), in addition to the principle effect of forgiving sins, the sacrament also gives us the grace to grow in holiness. This is why the confession of things that we regularly struggle with, even if they are not mortal sins, is valuable. We need to overcome even the “small” vices. One of the prayers that the priest may say, after giving absolution, with I think is very beautiful and brings out the effects of the sacrament goes, “May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in Peace.”
Enjoy That Catholic Show, Episode #8, “I Confess”
