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What is the Sacrament of Confession
"Your sins are forgiven, go in peace." -Jesus, Lk7:48-50
The Sacrament of Confession, also known as Penance or Reconciliation, is the Sacrament of God's loving mercy. Since all have sinned, all are in need of forgiveness (Rom.3:23-24). Confession is how God chose to impart His mercy. Literally in Confession we admit our sins to God and the Priest acts as God's mediator. The Priest will hear the Confession, offer some spiritual encouragement, assign the penance, say the words of Absolution, and tell us to 'go in peace;' but it is God who grants the forgiveness. The beauty of the Sacrament of Confession is that God is promising to send forth His healing Grace! We all struggle, but a Saint is someone who gets back up (spiritually in Confession) and goes forward with God. Our Father desires for us to encounter His loving mercy, receive healing, and go in peace. Be not afraid to make a Confession, for in this Sacrament, we will encounter Divine Love.
Do I need to Confess to a Priest?
In short, yes, because this is the pattern Jesus established (John 20:19-23). In the Gospels we see Jesus heal the sick, cure the cripples, and forgive sins. He indeed, as God, has such awesome power. In the Gospels we also see that this great gift of pardoning sin is handed on to the Apostles. It is Christ who established the Sacraments and their minister. The Priest is the instrument for Our Blessed Lord. Could God forgive by going directly to Him, yes; however, this is not the path He chose. Hebrews 5 reminds us Priests were chosen from among man and no one should presume to take this upon themselves. In humility (a virtue), we Confess with the minister of the Church, allowing Christ to absolve through him. This action of humility unites us to Christ on the Cross and then in HIs Resurrection.
In John 1:9 we hear, “If we confess our sins he (God) will be faithful and forgive.” God wants to forgive anything and everything, but we have to be willing to make use of this Sacrament. If you need help in the Confessional, Father is there to help you.
How often do I need to go?
The minimal requirement of any Catholic is to make use of Confession once a year (CCC1457).
It is far more helpful, efficacious, and loving to go to Confession on a regular basis. Catholics who practice their Faith, are encouraged to make monthly use of the Confessional. The way to fight sin and encounter love is by using this Sacrament.
If it has been a long time....Just go! Do not be afraid, for God is anxiously waiting for you (Luke 15:11-32).
What is Penance?
This is a prayer or prayers the Priest will ask you to say after Confession. The prayers of Penance are not a punishment. Although our sins are forgiven, by God through the Sacrament, the effects of our sin are still present in the world. The prayers are given for our Penance not as punishment, but as an attempt on our part to make up for the effects of our sins.
“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking Him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Dan. 9:3).
“I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).
Are all my sins forgiven?
Yes. So long as we do not intentionally (on purpose) avoid listing a known mortal sin of ours, all the sins are forgiven. This includes the sin that we accidentally forgot. When we go to Confession, the power of the Holy Spirit helps us. Romans 8:26 says, "...Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." Christ conquers all.