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Guest
I just thought I’d share something with regards to confession and those of you who worry that they didn’t explain something 100% accurately in confession:
I have been worrying all day today about something I said in confession this morning and that I was not 100% accurate. The inaccuracy was definetly minor, but I stewed on it because I was afraid that this one little point that I did not mention was somehow going to invalidate my confession. I did in fact tell the priest about this doubtful sin that I had neglected to confess over the weekend, but just did not explain the entire circumstance behind it (ie. I had waffled during my examination about it and then subsequently forgotton completely about it in the confessional).
I then realized that I truly did the best I could and that my obstacle that was causing me grief was PRIDE. Instead of putting my faith in Jesus who is Love and Mercy Itself, I was putting my faith in myself. I wanted to share this with anyone who might scruple over being 100% accurate. Don’t let this sin of PRIDE get in the way of your peace! If you truly and sincerely tried to confess your sins, then TRUST Jesus and accept that you cannot and will not ever be able to explain yourself verbally with 100% accuracy when it comes to the depths of your soul. Even the saints had trouble explaining what they felt in their souls (good or bad!). Jesus will make up for what you lack verbally. Just do your best! Below is a prayer that I just came up with that expresses what I need help from God with. Feel free to comment and tweak it. I would welcome your feedback!
P.S. I don’t mean for this to be misconstrued as not making an honest effort to be forthright with your priest. This is meant in the context of when a person makes a good faith effort and still doubts and worries about whether or not their confession was “good enough” to merit forgiveness.
Prayer for an Increase in Trust in Reconciliation
Lord,
By Your grace, help me to realize that when I am in doubt and worry about having not made a perfectly accurate confession, that I am actually hurting You by my pride in thinking that it all depended on how accurate I was in what I confessed. Send me Your grace to increase my humility so that when I feel my explanation is lacking that I will trust in Your unfathomable mercy and not myself, for you are Love and Mercy Itself, and that You will make up for what I lack.
Amen.
I have been worrying all day today about something I said in confession this morning and that I was not 100% accurate. The inaccuracy was definetly minor, but I stewed on it because I was afraid that this one little point that I did not mention was somehow going to invalidate my confession. I did in fact tell the priest about this doubtful sin that I had neglected to confess over the weekend, but just did not explain the entire circumstance behind it (ie. I had waffled during my examination about it and then subsequently forgotton completely about it in the confessional).
I then realized that I truly did the best I could and that my obstacle that was causing me grief was PRIDE. Instead of putting my faith in Jesus who is Love and Mercy Itself, I was putting my faith in myself. I wanted to share this with anyone who might scruple over being 100% accurate. Don’t let this sin of PRIDE get in the way of your peace! If you truly and sincerely tried to confess your sins, then TRUST Jesus and accept that you cannot and will not ever be able to explain yourself verbally with 100% accuracy when it comes to the depths of your soul. Even the saints had trouble explaining what they felt in their souls (good or bad!). Jesus will make up for what you lack verbally. Just do your best! Below is a prayer that I just came up with that expresses what I need help from God with. Feel free to comment and tweak it. I would welcome your feedback!
P.S. I don’t mean for this to be misconstrued as not making an honest effort to be forthright with your priest. This is meant in the context of when a person makes a good faith effort and still doubts and worries about whether or not their confession was “good enough” to merit forgiveness.
Prayer for an Increase in Trust in Reconciliation
Lord,
By Your grace, help me to realize that when I am in doubt and worry about having not made a perfectly accurate confession, that I am actually hurting You by my pride in thinking that it all depended on how accurate I was in what I confessed. Send me Your grace to increase my humility so that when I feel my explanation is lacking that I will trust in Your unfathomable mercy and not myself, for you are Love and Mercy Itself, and that You will make up for what I lack.
Amen.