I realize this thread is several years old but I am really grateful to have found it. I am a lifelong Catholic but for several years have not been a practicing Catholic. I recently suffered a traumatic event at my workplace that involved being falsely accused of a crime. I was suspended while an investigation took place and was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, but have had real issues with forgiving my accuser. It has taken a heavy toll on my health, my well being, and my psyche.
Yesterday I decided that the best place I could look for guidance was the Catholic Church. I hadn’t been to confession in several years and knew that would have to be my first step of my coming home. I had two choices; I could take the easy route and go the the Franciscan Monastery where they hear confessions every hour and you’re in and out in a couple of minutes, or I could go the tough route and go see a priest face-to-face at my local parish. I chose the latter.
I started crying the second I walked into the church, and I couldn’t compose myself. I waited several minutes for my turn in the confessional and when I walked in I sat down face-to-face with the priest. I began by explaining that I had lost my way, that I wanted to come back to the church but I knew I had to seek absolution first. The second I began confessing my sins I fell completely apart.
There is nothing uglier than a grown man crying, and I tried very hard to maintain my composer but I just couldn’t. The priest couldn’t have been kinder to me. He could see how broken I am and he closed his eyes as he consoled me with his words. After about ten minutes I was done.
I walked out of there feeling completely different than when I walked in, but still an emotional mess. It was embarrassing to walk through the church in such an obvious state but I considered it part of my penance.
I attended church today for the first time in years. The readings, the gospel, and the homily were all about forgiveness and it couldn’t have come at a better time, or been more appropriate to my situation. God forgave me yesterday, and today it is up to me to forgive my accuser.
So I think it’s completely appropriate to cry in confession. It’s a normal human emotion and confession, at least to me, is a deeply moving surrender to Jesus. Thank you for listening to me, and God bless all of you.
