This Catholic Journey
Thanks for the great post. You write like one who has been in the Church for a long time.
Confession for us reverts has been one of the greatest blessings in our life. Not just an emotional experience or "psychological fix" it is accompanied by the grace to get us closer to God with each confession!
I must admit, I don't run up the parking lot to get to Reconciliation, out of fear and quite honest embarrassment of my stupid sins, but by regular confession God has given me victory over many areas that I had struggled with for 30 years!
I once heard a friar explain confession as "speaking into the ear of God" and that really helped me.
Also, since the Church commands us to confess our sins to eachother, who would you rather confess to? A priest vowed to secrecy or your christian friend you see in Church all the time?
Thank God for private auricular confession we have had since the 8th century. In the early days of the Church, confession was public before the whole congregation! Whoa!
God bless, you are going to love the Sacraments, it's all His grace poured out on us!
You are SO on my blogroll! :-)
God bless you. Will you come and speak to the RCIA candidates at my parish next year? I'm a revert myself and experiencing my first year of teaching, but I think your insights will really bear wonderful fruits for years to come for all those seeking entrance into the Church.
God bless you!
This was also one of my hang ups with the Catholic church and I remember when I finally saw it clearly and with greater understanding I was a little blown away.
That is not to say that I was running in to church to be the first in line...in fact I think I was one of the very last on that night set aside for all the candidates last year. But I can honestly tell you that when I have been to confession - that first time and since then - it has been an amazing and powerful experience!!
I am SO excited for you - this is going to be such an incredible time in your life during the next few months!!! :)
Wow... some great comments here! It's hard for me to find time to answer them all but please know that I am reading them!
tiber jumper - thanks for the great compliment! It's easy to soak it all in since I'm starving for truth!
Julie - I'd love to come speak at your RCIA class next year! ;) I appreciate your kind words!
Deanna - I believe this is a hang-up for many of our Protestant friends. But doesn't it just make so much sense in light of scripture and really getting a grasp on what the Church teaches about it, instead of what we THOUGHT it was all about before we took our blinders off?
Amber - great post. I always say to people that we meet Jesus in the sacrament of reconciliation as surely as we do in Communion. I can see that you understand that!
My friend always takes a holy card of Jesus to confession with her. She looks at it while she confesses to remind her it is Jesus she is indeed confessing to.
The image I prefer is that I am kneeling at the Cross and His blood is washing over me, making me spotless.
Confession has to be the most under-rated sacrament. It is often said that Catholics who use the sacrament properly have a lower depression rate. I believe it.
The sacrament of reconciliation (I still call it confession) is absolutely fabulous. It has played a huge role in my life, especially over the past year. It is such a transforming work of God's love.
Great blog, Amber!
Can't wait for you to become Catholic!
(If you need someone to teach you the secret handshake, just call me.)
:)
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