How to perceive confession?

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AnneTeresa

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How can one perceive confession as an experience of Jesus’ mercy instead of a trial? I do not want to see it as “I have to go or I will go to hell” but instead as a place of experiencing God’s mercy. Focusing on sin (which you have to do for confession) makes me think about punishment and not mercy.

Any ideas on this… or is anyone willing to share how to view it as a blessing instead of a dreaded requirement?
 
Maybe try putting yourself in the Almighty’s place for a change. You have a son or daughter who has said and done some really nasty, disrespectful things to you, and you want to forgive them. However, all that you are asking is they say they are sorry, but they are reluctant to do so.

From the Almighty’s perspective, perhaps, it’s mind boggling…all they have to do is say they are sorry (and be sorry), and the trangressions will be said, done and washed away…but they don’t.

You also know that they will feel much better when they know you forgive them for those specific and all the other things, but they don’t do so…

Perhaps also think of it as a free gift, that all you have to do is show up, confess and try not to do again…and you get the gift. Kinda like having a birthday party; you don’t get the presents unless you show up. 😉
 
I have never had any problem accepting Confession as anything other than experiencing Christ’s Grace for confessing my sins. When I go into the Confessional, I know that I have sinned and I need forgiveness. So by confessing and receiving Absolution, I know that I must pay a small price for my transgressions. I have always been more than grateful and sincere in doing my penance.

Its like the weight of the world being lifted off my shoulders.
 
Also, this articles talks about a “new rite” of reconciliation which is different from a rite where the focus is listing your sins first. What are your thoughts on this? It does seem it might be more meaningful this way and not so punishment oriented.

americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0386.asp
 
AnneTeresa said:
How can one perceive confession as an experience of Jesus’ mercy instead of a trial? I do not want to see it as “I have to go or I will go to hell” but instead as a place of experiencing God’s mercy. Focusing on sin (which you have to do for confession) makes me think about punishment and not mercy.

Any ideas on this… or is anyone willing to share how to view it as a blessing instead of a dreaded requirement?
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Well, I think you are trying to sweeten things. You erred, you sinned, you are a sinner, you are nothing before God, you have done wrong whom has done good to you to, so get down to your knees and ask for forgiveness (not mercy) through not your own merits but through the merits of Jesus Christ.

Mercy is not compulsory. God has no obligation to show mercy. He pardons those He sees fit. Some of them He doesn’t like like the Pharisee that in the Temple was counting his deeds not his sins.

That is the way I see things, that I see my presence before God. I said “you” for I was answering to you but that is the way I feel for me.
 
AnneTeresa said:
How can one perceive confession as an experience of Jesus’ mercy instead of a trial? I do not want to see it as “I have to go or I will go to hell” but instead as a place of experiencing God’s mercy. Focusing on sin (which you have to do for confession) makes me think about punishment and not mercy.

Any ideas on this… or is anyone willing to share how to view it as a blessing instead of a dreaded requirement?
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Try focusing on the parable of the Prodigal Son. Notice that Luke tells us that “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

To me, the key to this story, and perhaps to your issue, is found in the words “while he was still a long way off.” The father did not wait until the son had reached him and asked for forgiveness - he ran out to meet him and embraced him before the son could say a word. He did not wait for his son’s explanations, for his promises to try to do better, for anything - the love and compassion began to flow as soon as the father saw that the son was trying to come home.

Our Father is the same, He will recognize you from far off, rush to meet you and embrace you. All that happens before you even get the chance to list your sins. You will do that, of course, just as the Prodigal Son did. But like the Prodigal Son, your Father’s love for you will embrace you before you even get the chance. His forgiveness begins as soon as you make the move toward Him, while you are still “a long way off.” The confessional is about accepting that love and forgiveness–there is no trial, no chance of rejection, God decided to take you back while you were still a long way off.
 
AnneTeresa said:
How can one perceive confession as an experience of Jesus’ mercy instead of a trial? I do not want to see it as “I have to go or I will go to hell” but instead as a place of experiencing God’s mercy. Focusing on sin (which you have to do for confession) makes me think about punishment and not mercy.

Any ideas on this… or is anyone willing to share how to view it as a blessing instead of a dreaded requirement?
Click to expand...
I hope that this would help you 🙂 catholic-forum.com/churches/cathteach/divinemercy_confession.htm

and
catholic-forum.com/churches/cathteach/divinemercy_Mercy.htm

God bless 🙂
 
Imagine yourself as the prodigal child, coming to your senses, performing a sincere examination, and turning home to be received with utter joy and simplicity by the Father. No complications…warmth and tenderness and joy.

Confession is the sacrament of Joy.
 
AnneTeresa said:
Also, this articles talks about a “new rite” of reconciliation which is different from a rite where the focus is listing your sins first. What are your thoughts on this? It does seem it might be more meaningful this way and not so punishment oriented.

americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0386.asp
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The new rite of the Sacrament of Reconcilliation was issued by the Pope John VI through the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship in December 1973.

Since the preternatural gifts and also the supernatural gift of sanctifying grace that Adam and Eve lost for everyone were gifts to begin with, we are born only with our natural abilities. To chose to be forever in this natural state is a self inflicted punishment, existing because God respects our free will to turn away from him. Note that one third of the angels spurned God.
 
In one respect, it IS a trial. You are the accused, the accuser, and the witness.

But to perceive it as a sacrament of mercy, I think of the Shepherd that leaves the 99 and goes off in search of the 1 lost. How tenderly he carries that lost sheep back!

I also know that God’s mercy is something we can not earn, do not deserve, and have no right to. Seeing it in that way helps me to see it as pure Gift.

And what a great exchange it is. We go in with sins and a shred of humility and contrition…it DOES “cost” us somewhat, and God pours forth forgiveness and grace and mercy.

My 2 cents. I had a love- hate relationship with the sacrament for a long time, but now I mostly love it. A wonderful, undeserved gift.
 
Fr. Hugh Thwaites, S.J., has made many comparisons over the years. Please go to this website proecclesia.com/page_free%20talks.htm, and go straight for the headline: “Confession: This will make you eager to receive “the sacrament which is dearest to the Heart of Our Lord”.” This is an excellent set of talks, though Talk 6 is a live version of the pre-recorded Talks 1-5.

Fr. Thwaites loves to compare our sins to the dust particles in the air. We look about us as we live, and think about oxygen and the air. Actually observing the clear atmosphere yields no particular aid, because it just seems to be empty. When a ray of light from the window comes in, however, and pierces the air, all the floating armies of dust are illuminated. Confession does exactly the same for us and our sins; they cannot be seen, but when God’s loving hand opens the window of divine grace, we see them all for what they are. Sometimes the judgmental, oppressive-sounding aspect is actually the most loving one, in reality!

The priest also compared frequent confession to a child just running up to his mother and sitting on her lap. There’s no particular reason why he did it, except that he really loves his mum and wants to be with her. Is this not the very analogy for frequent confession? We wish to become perfect by spending time in God’s dwelling-place, just taking in all the life of His Grace. 😃
 
Thanks to everyone who replied. Bu I am not sure I believe in confession. It’s partly bc you can go to one priest and not be absolved, go to another and be absolved for the same thing.

And they can tell you completely different things–it’s happened to me. So what is right? Only God truly knows our hearts and souls, why can’t we go right to him? Priests are human and make errors.

There’s only one verse in Matthew that I know of that gives the priest the power of absolution, no other verse. I believe in admitting sin, don’t get me wrong, and in confession to God. But I just have trouble when priests get it so wrong. I’ve been told such contradictory things, it’s just too confusing.
 
AnneTeresa said:
Thanks to everyone who replied. Bu I am not sure I believe in confession. It’s partly bc you can go to one priest and not be absolved, go to another and be absolved for the same thing.

And they can tell you completely different things–it’s happened to me. So what is right? Only God truly knows our hearts and souls, why can’t we go right to him? Priests are human and make errors.

There’s only one verse in Matthew that I know of that gives the priest the power of absolution, no other verse. I believe in admitting sin, don’t get me wrong, and in confession to God. But I just have trouble when priests get it so wrong. I’ve been told such contradictory things, it’s just too confusing.
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Sin is a lack of charity toward God and also damages communion with the Church. So sin is not only personal but communal. Therefore, it requires both God’s forgiveness and our reconciliation with the Church. Yet God gives this power to His Apostolic successors to exercise in His name, the power to loosen and bind sins:

“Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain they are retained.” – Jn. 20

Speaking to Peter, Jesus says: “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" --Matt. 16
 
AnneTeresa said:
How can one perceive confession as an experience of Jesus’ mercy instead of a trial? I do not want to see it as “I have to go or I will go to hell” but instead as a place of experiencing God’s mercy. Focusing on sin (which you have to do for confession) makes me think about punishment and not mercy.

Any ideas on this… or is anyone willing to share how to view it as a blessing instead of a dreaded requirement?
Click to expand...
Think of it this way “I have to go or I will continue to sin.”
 
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