Don’t go to confession because you want to receive Holy Communion. Even though the priest is available for confession any day of the week, Saturday confession is a widespread practice in many Catholic churches. People have been seen to attend the confessional more frequently so that they might receive Holy Communion on Sunday.
At the confessional, the priest says; “Go and sin no more”. These words are not mere words of dismissal but exhortation. We are expected to strive against sin by avoiding the occasions of sin. The occasions of sin do not only mean a club house and a brothel but all the persons, places, habit, words and things that may easily lead us into sin.
More so, let’s avoid repeating sins. Repeated sins result to ‘Obstinacy in sin’ – one of the six sins against the Holy Spirit. Obstinacy in sin is the willful persistence in wickedness, and running on from sin to sin, after sufficient instructions and admonition. In Obstinacy, you ask for mercy yet willfully return to such sin. Spiritual life in a vicious circle is not a sign of spiritual growth. Obstinacy can be forgiven like all sins, but only when it ceases.
Again, don’t glory in sin and say to yourself “I will go to confession afterwards.” Listen, even though you go to confession you deny yourself the grace of forgiveness. How? The Church teaches that the fundamental condition for receiving forgiveness is repentance founded on supernatural love for God, sometimes called perfect contrition. When repentance is based on something less or motivated by mere routine, we deny ourselves forgiveness. So, don’t go to confession because you want to receive Holy Communion. Go to confession because you want to repent and resolve to live a holy life.
In 2 Cor.7:10 Paul distinguishes between wordly sorrow and godly sorrow. Paul says; worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. While godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. So, in wordly sorrow we only express sentimental regrets, we close our eyes so tight until we begin to shed tears but our hearts are not broken. This act is common in many churches today. What a crying shame!
In godly sorrow; we rise like the prodigal son, we put our acts together and say ‘I must go back to my Father’ – ‘I must return to God’; “I was lost, now I am found’. In godly sorrow, our hearts are broken and we embrace repentance and salvation. Even though we shed tears; it’s in mortification and penance not pretence.
Let us pray for grace and seek counselling. Some persons don’t need confession but counseling. Certain habits or vices should be confronted by counseling. Oftentimes, time spent at the confessional is not sufficient for counseling and redress. So after confession, penitents are encouraged to seek counseling and spiritual direction where it is possible.
Have a nice day!
#witnessline
Father Daniel
