October 2018

       I attended St. Anthony grammar school and made my first confession when I was eight years old.  It was the custom then to have the student body receive Holy Communion once a month as a group and go to confession on the Thursday before the first Friday of the month.  On Thursday the nuns would take us to church for confession.   We were told to examine our conscience among other things, as we were taught.

       Most of the class were very nervous anticipating the procedure and contemplating our encounter with the priest.  When my turn came, I approached the confessional with great trepidation, and when the priest moved the wooden slide back to hear what I had to say, my knees became weak and my heart beat like the University of Texas big bass drum. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful and serene. The priest spoke and simply said “let’s talk” son. His voice was low and clear and very welcoming. 

       I began talking with the priest telling him what was on my mind, stuttering a little, and with his help, I finished. My penance consisted of one Our Father and one Hail Mary and he said to not ever forget that God loves you and is always with you. 

       I left the confessional feeling relief that everything was over and I could go to confession whenever I felt the need to, because it gave me a unique feeling that I was not going to Hell. I really didn’t understand the sacrament and what it did for me and my life until I had grown. 

       Life went on and as I ventured into adulthood, I felt the need to stay close to Christ. This was very beneficial to me in living through life with all of its problems.  However as time passed, I did not continue to go to confession on a frequent basis. I felt a void in myself and lost the things that I cherished in the past, such as compassion, forgiveness, love for others and the important things that really matter. 

       I thought of a time when I did not have confidence and could not figure it out. I turned to my religion and the mercy of God to help me. I went to confession and received the sacrament of penance and I started a change that went on for the rest of my life. 

       Confession, per se, each time you go, gives you a new beginning to help you start living again without being constantly penitent or feeling guilty. When a person commits a sin he often feels helpless with nowhere to turn, even if he is sorry. If he is truly sorry and wants to do better, all he has to do is confess his sins to another, and in the Catholic religion that is a priest. Our Lord stated clearly that priests would be his representative on earth to forgive sins and invited us to come to Him. The answer to complete sorrow is not to dwell on the things that you did wrong in the past, but to relieve yourself with confession, talking to God’s representatives on earth, our priests, who are ordained to forgive you and never look back. Never give up, because God is there and is all merciful and forgiving.