Have you ever thought about what confession means to us Catholics and why it is important in our spiritual lives? Well, Friday's session was defnitely an interesting one where I am sure most people would have at least grasped something new and useful to them about the Sacrament of Reconcilitaion. I guess the main question in everyone's hearts are, why do we need to go for confession?
During the session, Father Robin explained that when we sin, we are actually weakening our own Christian spirit and weakening the body of Christ. What that means is that we are not only harming our personal relationship with God, but we are also harming the membership of the body as sin is before all else an offense against God and a rupture of communion with him.
Therefore, by going for confession, our sins are forgiven but what I realised from the session was that confession also :
During the session, Father Robin explained that when we sin, we are actually weakening our own Christian spirit and weakening the body of Christ. What that means is that we are not only harming our personal relationship with God, but we are also harming the membership of the body as sin is before all else an offense against God and a rupture of communion with him.
Therefore, by going for confession, our sins are forgiven but what I realised from the session was that confession also :
- helps us to be more sensitive to our offenses to God, including the small things that we do. As we gradually learn to reflect on our sins, we grow to be more aware of the things that we should and should not do.
- gives ourselves a break as we do not have to carry a burden that we do not need to carry.
- cuts across our self deception by keeping us honest to ourselves and in our relationship with God.
- frees us and gives us a certainty that we are forgiven as God just loves to forgive us when we are truly sorry for the things we have offended Him with.
To be truly sorry for our sins, we have to admit them and confess them but also important is that we repent of our sins and do penance for our sins. According to paragraphs 1434 onwards in the Cathecism of the Catholic Church, there are many forms of penance in the christian life and if you want have a read about it, here's the link
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm
Some of you curious ones asked for the reason that we need to go for confession through a priest. Well the reason is that it is a blessing that we have from Christ as Christ has established this as a way of forgiveness. By confession to a priest, God is acting through the minister by giving words of encouragement, penance and word of absolution to us. What Father Robin said was that as a priest, hearing confessions gives him a sense of the goodness of humanity and he is grateful to them for going for confession. Everything we receive is mediated through the Church.
How often should we go for confession you may ask? This is not a definite answer but preferably, we should all go for confession at least once a year.
Especially to those who missed out, hope this post helps you understand better about Reconciliation.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm
Some of you curious ones asked for the reason that we need to go for confession through a priest. Well the reason is that it is a blessing that we have from Christ as Christ has established this as a way of forgiveness. By confession to a priest, God is acting through the minister by giving words of encouragement, penance and word of absolution to us. What Father Robin said was that as a priest, hearing confessions gives him a sense of the goodness of humanity and he is grateful to them for going for confession. Everything we receive is mediated through the Church.
How often should we go for confession you may ask? This is not a definite answer but preferably, we should all go for confession at least once a year.
Especially to those who missed out, hope this post helps you understand better about Reconciliation.
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