POWERFUL PREACHING on the need for the Sacrament Reconciliation

[Spiller]

I had the privilege to serve Mass for a retired priest last Sunday. He is our former pastor who moved on to his next assignment way back in 1974. The man has a formidable intellect, an agile mind, a very caring manner and a great deal of earned respect from many in the pews that he pastored more than 30 years ago.

He tactfully hammered away at the fact that we are all sinners (including himself) and the great need to make use of the Sacrament Reconciliation. He used the analogy of an oncologist treating a melanoma – that those in a state of mortal sin are sick, need help and confession is the place to find that help.

It seemed like more than a few were stunned – in a good way. They did stand when he started the general intercessions and sat when he did. Once the altar was dressed and the collection taken he began the Eucharistic Prayer and they didn’t know what to do!

Normally they would rise in unison. They continued to sit – all 250+ of them! When it came time to kneel, many tried to stand before realizing the error of their postures. They were clearly thinking about his homily!

There was a contingent of “traditionalist” pilgrims (we knew they were coming) in the front row that seemed especially stunned. They were clearly overwhelmed by the homily.

This retired priest is doing a great deal of heavy lifting for the pastor. May God richly bless them both.

 

[maryj]

And it was exactly that kind of homily that the Holy Spirit used to whack me in the head, I literally was pushed back into my seat. I went to confession two weeks later, for the first time in twenty five years. the rest is history… or salvation!!!

 

[Spiller]

And it was exactly that kind of homily that the Holy Spirit used to whack me in the head, I literally was pushed back into my seat. I went to confession two weeks later, for the first time in twenty five years. the rest is history… or salvation!!!

Glory!! :extrahappy:

 

[baltobetsy]

The same thing happened to me when I was in my early 20’s. Our parish had a visiting priest who preached a very clear homily on sin and the need for confession. I spent the rest of the Mass making a much-needed examination of conscience. I stopped him after Mass and asked him to hear my confession, which he did. It was a turning point in my life.

The really ironic thing was that the priest had the same name as a very well-known dissenter at the time. That always gives me a little chuckle.

Betsy

 

[puzzleannie]

we usually get these when we are travelling, it always seems a visiting priest somewhere has a whack-a-doo for us. God love retired priests, they don’t have to worry about offending anybody they can tell it like it is. Of course we are spoiled since here we do get the best preaching in the Valley.