I have been thinking about confession lately. I know for many people this is one of those topics they would rather avoid and I think that's because there has always been such a great lack of understanding of the sacrament. For one thing, it's been viewed as a way to keep from going to hell or purgatory. This very fact is itself enough to make us want to avoid the subject. It's also seen as a sort of divine being "called on the carpet." It's like getting in trouble. It stirs up all kinds of memories and feelings, mostly unpleasant, of being punished or getting yelled at. But it's worse. Confession involves God. And if we want to do it right we have to admit we aren't perfect, and none of us want to do that. Not really.
One of the sad things about confession is that the people who are supposed to help us with it, priests, nuns, teachers, and parents, were the ones that made us fear it and want to avoid it at all costs. It was always connected with hell. "Go to confession or you'll go to hell." "If you don't wipe those sins away in confession you'll go straight to hell when you die." In all fairness, they meant well. They were only passing on what they were taught. But time has proven that there are better ways to go about it. I don't say this because nobody goes to confession any more. That's more about an erroneous understanding of sin and our relationship with God, self and others. I say it because with a better understanding of confession we would see that it's not about hell and fear and death, but about healing, forgiveness, and life.
I place most of the responsibility on priests, especially in the last forty years. There has been a loss of a true sense of priesthood, that the priest is alter Christus (another Christ), that he is more than a nice guy who wants to help people. We usually think of the priest as alter Christus or acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) regarding the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist. But it is no less true with the Sacrament of Penance.
Part of celebrating the Sacrament of Penance requires that we confess our sins to the priest. But the priest must remember that he is acting in Christ's place. Therefore, he must act as Christ. He must be kind, gentle, compassionate, understanding and imbued with charity. He must be careful to treat the person who comes to him with the utmost respect and dignity, regardless of what they confess. It is not for him to judge the person, only the actions. He must never be abusive or unkind. He must be always aware of the great honor and privilege it is to hear confessions, to act in and for Christ in the healing of souls. If he ever acts contrary to this he is unworthy to hear even the least confession.
As Christ, the priest hears the confession. With great delicacy he asks only those questions which are absolutely necessary to understanding the integrity of the confession. While he must never shame or berate the penitent, neither should he downplay or minimize any part of the confession. If necessary, he may instruct where there is a question or doubt from the penitent about the matter confessed. He should never lecture or debate. It's neither the time nor place. He may briefly offer a few helps to counter the more serious or troublesome sins, such as guidance in practicing the opposing virtue. He gives a penance that is practical and doable. It is best that this be prayers or something similar that can be completed in church lest the penitent forget or put off doing the penance. If the penitent hasn't already said the act of contrition, he or she does so, then the priest, with great joy, absolves the penitent and dismisses them with words of hope and encouragement as Christ did the woman who had committed adultery.
Hearing confessions, while it can be difficult, is a source of great joy to the priest who truly understands his role. He is raising up the fallen, healing the sick of soul, restoring life to the dead. It is one of the priest's greatest privileges, but one that can be easily abused. He must be always vigilant that he never abuses this gift, but uses it to the honor and glory of God. Pray for priests that they may be true ministers of grace.
One of the sad things about confession is that the people who are supposed to help us with it, priests, nuns, teachers, and parents, were the ones that made us fear it and want to avoid it at all costs. It was always connected with hell. "Go to confession or you'll go to hell." "If you don't wipe those sins away in confession you'll go straight to hell when you die." In all fairness, they meant well. They were only passing on what they were taught. But time has proven that there are better ways to go about it. I don't say this because nobody goes to confession any more. That's more about an erroneous understanding of sin and our relationship with God, self and others. I say it because with a better understanding of confession we would see that it's not about hell and fear and death, but about healing, forgiveness, and life.
I place most of the responsibility on priests, especially in the last forty years. There has been a loss of a true sense of priesthood, that the priest is alter Christus (another Christ), that he is more than a nice guy who wants to help people. We usually think of the priest as alter Christus or acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ) regarding the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist. But it is no less true with the Sacrament of Penance.
Part of celebrating the Sacrament of Penance requires that we confess our sins to the priest. But the priest must remember that he is acting in Christ's place. Therefore, he must act as Christ. He must be kind, gentle, compassionate, understanding and imbued with charity. He must be careful to treat the person who comes to him with the utmost respect and dignity, regardless of what they confess. It is not for him to judge the person, only the actions. He must never be abusive or unkind. He must be always aware of the great honor and privilege it is to hear confessions, to act in and for Christ in the healing of souls. If he ever acts contrary to this he is unworthy to hear even the least confession.
As Christ, the priest hears the confession. With great delicacy he asks only those questions which are absolutely necessary to understanding the integrity of the confession. While he must never shame or berate the penitent, neither should he downplay or minimize any part of the confession. If necessary, he may instruct where there is a question or doubt from the penitent about the matter confessed. He should never lecture or debate. It's neither the time nor place. He may briefly offer a few helps to counter the more serious or troublesome sins, such as guidance in practicing the opposing virtue. He gives a penance that is practical and doable. It is best that this be prayers or something similar that can be completed in church lest the penitent forget or put off doing the penance. If the penitent hasn't already said the act of contrition, he or she does so, then the priest, with great joy, absolves the penitent and dismisses them with words of hope and encouragement as Christ did the woman who had committed adultery.
Hearing confessions, while it can be difficult, is a source of great joy to the priest who truly understands his role. He is raising up the fallen, healing the sick of soul, restoring life to the dead. It is one of the priest's greatest privileges, but one that can be easily abused. He must be always vigilant that he never abuses this gift, but uses it to the honor and glory of God. Pray for priests that they may be true ministers of grace.
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