A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
We've been talking about the Sacrament of Confession the last two Sundays. Today we'll look at how to more effectively receive this Sacrament, specifically by remembering: Confession, like all Sacraments, serves as a major source of grace; there are other ways to obtain forgiveness of our sins apart from formally confessing them to a priest.
Note that we're not mitigating the central role Confession plays in our lives. A deepened awareness of Confession as a primary source of sanctifying grace doesn't minimize its role in forgiveness of sins; rather it should enhance our desire to go to Confession. And the knowledge that there are other ways to obtain forgiveness of our sins by no means pushes Confession to the sidelines. Instead, it provides us with opportunities to seek forgiveness immediately upon our becoming aware that we have offended God. You might think of it this way:
If we're injured seriously enough, we don't ignore the injury until we get to the hospital. For example, when I fell and hit my chin, causing a deep cut that required stitches, we first did what we could to stop the bleeding before heading for the emergency room. In the same way we can "stop the bleeding" when we're aware of having committed a sin by immediately seeking forgiveness. Later we get the "professional" spiritual attention we require when we confess our sin to a priest.
Getting back to our main theme, it's time to enlist the help of a more solid Catholic source. Last time we briefly discussed why so many Catholics keep Confession at a safe distance. For many years, I was in that camp. But even though I've returned to regular Confession - by the grace of God - I've recently come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of this Sacrament with the help of Fr. Alfred Wilson. Today I'll share what I've learned from his wonderful book, Pardon and Peace. But first, here's a quick personal story to set the stage for Father's wise counsel.
While the decision to finally go to Confession after many years was daunting, the priest who heard me say "Bless me father for I have sinned, it's been ___ years since my last confession" was really helpful. I emerged from the box feeling like a new man. But since I knew that this wasn't a one shot deal, I committed to developing the habit of regular Confession. While getting to Confession every month or so wasn't quite as daunting as that first reversion, something felt "off" each time I went to Confession. When I finally came across Father Wilson's wise words in Pardon and Peace, I learned why. Simply put, I was focusing on "appeasing" God too much.
"Confession is not necessary to appease God’s anger and win His pardon. An act of perfect contrition gains us instantaneous pardon and immediate restoration to grace. The truly contrite receive pardon as readily and as quickly as the Good Thief. We must not allow our faith in the readiness of God to forgive to be dimmed or obscured by Confession..."
While we seek forgiveness for our sins when we go to Confession, it's important we do so in the right spirit. That right spirit begins with the recognition that God is merciful. Unless we're inveterate sinners who have no desire for forgiveness, He is ready, willing, and able (of course) to forgive us forthwith. With this understanding, Father Wilson provides a proper context for Confession:
“Confession expresses a human need, not a Divine need, and is necessary to satisfy man, not to satisfy God. When our Savior instituted Confession, He was thinking of us, not of Himself. Whenever there is sincere contrition, He pardons in a flash, and would pardon without more ado, if such an arrangement were good for us. He saw, however, that it would not be good for us to be let off without an apology for serious sin. Parents often insist on an apology from an erring child even when they have long since forgiven it in their hearts. They insist, not for their own sake, but for the sake of the child, whose ultimate good they unselfishly consider. In the same way, God insists on an apology from us, for our sake not for His."
Note the comparison between God's forgiveness and that of our parents. I hadn't really understood this as a child, but I can attest to it as a parent. Your insistence on an apology is for the good of your child, not to satisfy you. So too with our Heavenly Father: Isn't that wonderful!
As for the benefit of regular confession (e.g., once a month or so), Father explains:
"Confession is also necessary to intensify our realization of the malice of sin. If we ‘got away with’ sin too easily, we might make light of it. God insists on a formal, penal apology for serious sin to prevent us from confusing His mercy with unconcern. If He made no fuss about serious sin, we might easily conclude – to our own undoing – that it is not really so heinous and so odious to Him. He has, therefore, obliged us to confess our sins because He is wise and kind.”
So along with an understanding that God is merciful, we should know not only that God is just, but also why and how He applies His justice: not because He is a terrible, vengeful God; rather, because of His wisdom and kindness. As Father further explains,
“The Sacrament of Penance was instituted to make reparation for sin easier, not to make it more difficult. The inspiration of Confession is mercy not justice. It is remedial not revengeful...Let us not defeat our Savior’s merciful designs by approaching Confession as though it were the imposition of a prosecuting-attorney anxious to trap us into further mistakes."
I don't know about you, but for me Confession has indeed been a source of anxiety. There have been times when I've avoided the box for a week or two because of this. And it's not always been because I've had some particularly embarrassing sin that I dreaded having to tell my confessor. Most times, no matter the sins I had prepared to confess based on my examination of conscience, Confession, as a rule, became a strain. Father Wilson counters this:
"...we must not, make Confession a worrying nerve-straining effort. Straining is prohibited not commanded. Because Confession is not meant to be a bugbear...All our Lord demands is that we take enough trouble to make our confession sincere. When we have confessed sincerely, there is absolutely no need to worry because we did not confess with the greatest possible earnestness and intensity."
We're chided if we strain to make our Confession (notice he says straining is prohibited) simply because it indicates a lack of confidence in God's mercy:
"...Over-anxious penitents might profitably ask themselves what they do leave to the mercy of God...A single, simple, straightforward effort is enough. He who has done his best, with moderate diligence, has done all that Christ demands. If a penitent wants to do more than is demanded, he should examine his motive. If the motive is love, well and good; if the motive is fear, it is cowardly distrust and far from good...”
By now you can see why his book is called Pardon and Peace. While there's quite a bit to chew on in these few passages, there's quite a bit more worth tasting. And so we'll continue with Father Wilson's wise counsel next week. Until then, I hope you'll join us during the week for our regular posts that focus on our work lives. And if you've not been to Confession for a while, consider joining the "regular Confession club" this week too.
Meanwhile...
Note that we're not mitigating the central role Confession plays in our lives. A deepened awareness of Confession as a primary source of sanctifying grace doesn't minimize its role in forgiveness of sins; rather it should enhance our desire to go to Confession. And the knowledge that there are other ways to obtain forgiveness of our sins by no means pushes Confession to the sidelines. Instead, it provides us with opportunities to seek forgiveness immediately upon our becoming aware that we have offended God. You might think of it this way:
If we're injured seriously enough, we don't ignore the injury until we get to the hospital. For example, when I fell and hit my chin, causing a deep cut that required stitches, we first did what we could to stop the bleeding before heading for the emergency room. In the same way we can "stop the bleeding" when we're aware of having committed a sin by immediately seeking forgiveness. Later we get the "professional" spiritual attention we require when we confess our sin to a priest.
Getting back to our main theme, it's time to enlist the help of a more solid Catholic source. Last time we briefly discussed why so many Catholics keep Confession at a safe distance. For many years, I was in that camp. But even though I've returned to regular Confession - by the grace of God - I've recently come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of this Sacrament with the help of Fr. Alfred Wilson. Today I'll share what I've learned from his wonderful book, Pardon and Peace. But first, here's a quick personal story to set the stage for Father's wise counsel.
While the decision to finally go to Confession after many years was daunting, the priest who heard me say "Bless me father for I have sinned, it's been ___ years since my last confession" was really helpful. I emerged from the box feeling like a new man. But since I knew that this wasn't a one shot deal, I committed to developing the habit of regular Confession. While getting to Confession every month or so wasn't quite as daunting as that first reversion, something felt "off" each time I went to Confession. When I finally came across Father Wilson's wise words in Pardon and Peace, I learned why. Simply put, I was focusing on "appeasing" God too much.
"Confession is not necessary to appease God’s anger and win His pardon. An act of perfect contrition gains us instantaneous pardon and immediate restoration to grace. The truly contrite receive pardon as readily and as quickly as the Good Thief. We must not allow our faith in the readiness of God to forgive to be dimmed or obscured by Confession..."
While we seek forgiveness for our sins when we go to Confession, it's important we do so in the right spirit. That right spirit begins with the recognition that God is merciful. Unless we're inveterate sinners who have no desire for forgiveness, He is ready, willing, and able (of course) to forgive us forthwith. With this understanding, Father Wilson provides a proper context for Confession:
“Confession expresses a human need, not a Divine need, and is necessary to satisfy man, not to satisfy God. When our Savior instituted Confession, He was thinking of us, not of Himself. Whenever there is sincere contrition, He pardons in a flash, and would pardon without more ado, if such an arrangement were good for us. He saw, however, that it would not be good for us to be let off without an apology for serious sin. Parents often insist on an apology from an erring child even when they have long since forgiven it in their hearts. They insist, not for their own sake, but for the sake of the child, whose ultimate good they unselfishly consider. In the same way, God insists on an apology from us, for our sake not for His."
Note the comparison between God's forgiveness and that of our parents. I hadn't really understood this as a child, but I can attest to it as a parent. Your insistence on an apology is for the good of your child, not to satisfy you. So too with our Heavenly Father: Isn't that wonderful!
As for the benefit of regular confession (e.g., once a month or so), Father explains:
"Confession is also necessary to intensify our realization of the malice of sin. If we ‘got away with’ sin too easily, we might make light of it. God insists on a formal, penal apology for serious sin to prevent us from confusing His mercy with unconcern. If He made no fuss about serious sin, we might easily conclude – to our own undoing – that it is not really so heinous and so odious to Him. He has, therefore, obliged us to confess our sins because He is wise and kind.”
So along with an understanding that God is merciful, we should know not only that God is just, but also why and how He applies His justice: not because He is a terrible, vengeful God; rather, because of His wisdom and kindness. As Father further explains,
“The Sacrament of Penance was instituted to make reparation for sin easier, not to make it more difficult. The inspiration of Confession is mercy not justice. It is remedial not revengeful...Let us not defeat our Savior’s merciful designs by approaching Confession as though it were the imposition of a prosecuting-attorney anxious to trap us into further mistakes."
I don't know about you, but for me Confession has indeed been a source of anxiety. There have been times when I've avoided the box for a week or two because of this. And it's not always been because I've had some particularly embarrassing sin that I dreaded having to tell my confessor. Most times, no matter the sins I had prepared to confess based on my examination of conscience, Confession, as a rule, became a strain. Father Wilson counters this:
"...we must not, make Confession a worrying nerve-straining effort. Straining is prohibited not commanded. Because Confession is not meant to be a bugbear...All our Lord demands is that we take enough trouble to make our confession sincere. When we have confessed sincerely, there is absolutely no need to worry because we did not confess with the greatest possible earnestness and intensity."
We're chided if we strain to make our Confession (notice he says straining is prohibited) simply because it indicates a lack of confidence in God's mercy:
"...Over-anxious penitents might profitably ask themselves what they do leave to the mercy of God...A single, simple, straightforward effort is enough. He who has done his best, with moderate diligence, has done all that Christ demands. If a penitent wants to do more than is demanded, he should examine his motive. If the motive is love, well and good; if the motive is fear, it is cowardly distrust and far from good...”
By now you can see why his book is called Pardon and Peace. While there's quite a bit to chew on in these few passages, there's quite a bit more worth tasting. And so we'll continue with Father Wilson's wise counsel next week. Until then, I hope you'll join us during the week for our regular posts that focus on our work lives. And if you've not been to Confession for a while, consider joining the "regular Confession club" this week too.
Meanwhile...
Happy Sunday!
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