Confession is a sacrament in the Catholic Church that has profound effects on a person’s soul and pours out a number of graces upon us. However, it can be a hard sacrament to get behind (I’ve had my doubts!). It can be hard talking to someone about your failings, it can be hard having to own up to things, it can be hard to hear advice (especially if you get lackluster or abusive advice). But here are 7 reasons to continue going to Confession anyway.
Reconciliation with self
This is really important. You have to learn to forgive yourself as God forgives you. That’s a grace that this sacrament pours out. You have to let go of pride in thinking that you’re so bad you’re past saving. God doesn’t think like that! So neither should you. Reconcile with yourself and you’ll open up to a world of graces. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1469 affirms this: The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his innermost truth.”
Reconciliation with God
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1468 says:
“The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship.” Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation “is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation.” Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.
Reconciliation with the Church
The CCC, paragraph 1469 says of this:
This sacrament reconciles us with the Church . Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion, but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members. 76 Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ, whether still on pilgrimage or already in the heavenly homeland
Reconciliation with others
CCC paragraph 1469 continues: It must be recalled that . . . this reconciliation with God leads, as it were, to other reconciliations, which repair the other breaches caused by sin..He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way offended and wounded.” Â Your penance might even include apologizing to those you’ve hurt!
Conversion
CCC paragraph 1440 says:
Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
You experience a turning from sin in going to Confession and receive the grace to sin no more.Think about how powerful that is. The grace to sin NO MORE! I want a little of that power in my life! Don’t you?
Recommit to Jesus
Confession is also an opportunity to recommit your life to Jesus through that grace to sin no more. If we live fully in relationship with Him and fully for Him, we just won’t sin. And the whole point of not sinning and living the Christian life is to know and love God so much that we want to be completely united to Him for all eternity.
Chance to set things right
Confession offers us the opportunity to make things right with those we’ve wronged, thus bringing us all back into full communion with each other through Christ Jesus. The CCC paragraph 1459 says:
Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. 62 Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must “make satisfaction for” or “expiate” his sins. This satisfaction is also called “penance.”
So make a point to go to Confession at least once a year. Some of the greatest saints went every week! Do what you feel is best for you, but don’t forget about all the love, mercy, and graces waiting for you there.