The Sacrament of Reconciliation, what we as Catholics commonly refer to as Confession, is a great and powerful occasion for grace and yet sometimes we hesitate to go out of fear, shame, and embarrassment. Margaret discusses the sacrament with Fr. David in his role as a priest of over 55 years.
Confession is a beautiful gift of healing that brings about an immediate change. Because we have an ongoing relationship with the Lord, we have immediate access to healing and forgiveness right away by turning to the Lord in repentance, even before we go to the sacrament of confession. This sacrament has a bigger dimension to it because we are in relationship with ourselves, the Lord, and others. Confession is an occasion of personal healing, forgiveness, transformation, and mercy. It makes amends and restores us to right relationship with ourselves and the community because we don’t just sin against ourselves, but others, as well. We receive from the Lord through the power of His death and resurrection, healing, mercy, and compassion.
Question: Does the priest think poorly of us when we confess our sins to him?
Answer: Priests go to confession themselves and have to deal with the same human experience of sinfulness, guilt, and shame. They understand that sense of apprehension.
Question: How is it for you, Fr. David, as a priest? Do you think those confessing their sins are horrible?
Answer: No. As priests we are to put people at ease and create a context of mercy. The priest is not the judge, he is the pastor. God is the judge, forgiver, and healer. As priests, we are always to help people get over their fears, and hesitation. The priest should be able to help you set that aside and open to the healing mercy of God. If priests don’t do so they are violating who they are as ministers.
Question: What is the seal of confession?
Answer: The priest, under no condition, can reveal what is shared in confession and that is absolute. He can’t even say anything to that person themselves about what he confessed without getting his permission.
Question: When you see the penitent again do you think about their sins?
Answer: There is often a divine grace of forgetfulness so that priests many times don’t even remember what was told to them.
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