Confessional advice - right between the eyes

[ZDHayden]

Today, when I walked to the parish for confession, a wedding was going on, so I stayed outside and made a lonely Way of the Cross while I waited outside (my parish has a garden which is encircled by the Way of the Cross, with a statue of our Lady (the one with a blue cloak, white dress, with a serpent beneath her feet and her arms outstretched) in the center. When I finished, I went inside. There were at least three priests in the church building (one in the confessional). They looked like they were from a religious order - not certain which one. Their habits looked to be Franciscan in style but black in color, and they were discalced.

One of their number was hearing confessions. I when I went into the confessional box, after I had finished my part, the priest began to speak in a manner that struck me square between the eyes.

It was truly a blessed occasion - the Way of the Cross gave me the contrition I needed, and the priest gave me the direction I both knew and needed to be told. He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know - I think he knew that - but by hearing it spoken out loud, it had an effect.

I don’t know what order they were from, but whoever they were - they have at least a few excellent confessors among them!

I just wanted to share this.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Praise God!

From their habits they sound like they may be Conventual Franciscans, though recently many Conventual Franciscans are switching from their traditional black habits to gray.

My best and my two worst confessions (from the perpective of advice, etc. from the priest) have been to priests of this order.

Or, on second thought perhaps they are TOR (Third Order Regular) Franciscans, with whom I haven’t had any experience but I’ve heard good things.

 

[grasscutter]

What I find amazingly wonderful is that you have an outdoor garden Way of the Cross. What a great blessing! Maybe that can be created in other parishes…

 

[ZDHayden]

Praise God!

From their habits they sound like they may be Conventual Franciscans, though recently many Conventual Franciscans are switching from their traditional black habits to gray.

My best and my two worst confessions (from the perpective of advice, etc. from the priest) have been to priests of this order.

Or, on second thought perhaps they are TOR (Third Order Regular) Franciscans, with whom I haven’t had any experience but I’ve heard good things.

hmm thank you. The rosary was not a part of their habit, so they seem to not be Conventual Franciscans, as the rosary seems to be part of the Conventual habit. I take an interest in the religious orders that visit my town.

What I find amazingly wonderful is that you have an outdoor garden Way of the Cross. What a great blessing! Maybe that can be created in other parishes…

The garden has started to grow on me, and, in nice weather, it is a beautiful place for prayer - especially around Mother’s Day, for some reason (someone lays a bouquet of roses at the feet of the central statue of our Lady, and the flowers seem very vibrant at that time of the year. The schoolchildren (my little brother might be among them this coming semester) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday pass by this garden on their way to Mass.

…
I think it amazing how God has provided me with innumerable opportunities for holiness, but only now do I recognize them and the fact that, though I have desired to grow in holiness, I have wanted - in its own way - to be made to be holy, and I have lost many chances to grow into holiness by participating in what God was offering. How foolish have I been! It’s something that I’ve seen since today’s Confession… I had wanted my conversion to God to be like St. Augustine, my Confirmation saint, but I see it will be like St. Francis or St. Ignatius - long and hard instead of quick and mostly painless.

Recently, I have been feeling a strong desire to escape from the life I lead - to go into retreat and contemplation and prayer and study. I feel sometimes like a bird trapped in a cage - and the Way of the Cross today was a tantalizing taste of freedom. Confession was like having a lamp shine on the path before me. I don’t know where the path will lead, but I know where the first steps are now - they are steps I’ve longed to take for a while now, but was, in a sense, afraid. I may still be - but, regardless, I have my alarm set for 5 AM Monday - Friday so I can get to the 630 Mass. I live just down the street from my parish and I hardly ever visit Jesus except on Saturdays and Sundays. That needs to change. I hardly ever honor our Lady with a rosary. That needs to change. I rarely read the Gospels or any Scripture, to be honest. That needs to change. I’ve wanted to implement these for a while. I don’t know what changed or why, but then was not the time. Now is the time.

 

[odile53]

A couple of thoughts:

“When the student is ready the teacher will appear.”
“Nothing great is lightly won.”

Actually, you might enjoy Ignatius–the Exercises teach discernment of the spirits that move us toward or away from God, and how to make and implement good decisions that have at their core the greater glory of God and our spiritual welfare. Check out some of the online resources for the exercises, you might be starting a whole new journey in faith here.