CONFESSION 101

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Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

June 9, 2009   

(John 20:22-23) When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

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CATHOLIC SPIRIT: Good confession requires contrition, intention to change by Father Michael Van Sloun

• Contrition is sincere and heartfelt sorrow for one's sins.

That is different from a child who gets caught with a hand in the cookie jar who is sorry, not for offending Mom or Dad, but for getting caught; or from a motorist who gets pulled over for speeding who is sorry, not for endangering others and self, but for receiving a ticket and a fine.

In both cases, given the chance, the child would reach for a cookie again and the motorist would speed again, and in both cases the contrition is insincere.

Sincere contrition is a key element in the conversion process and re­quir­ed for a good confession. It is a true and honest admission of personal responsibility for wrongdoing. It blames no one but one's self. It is abhorrence of the sin. It sees the sin as truly bad, and considers it revolting. It is genuine disgust with the evil deed and personal mortification and embarrassment over what has been done.

Furthermore, it is the realization that the sin is offensive to God, who is all-good, and deep dismay over having let God down. It humbly admits that the sin is a profound act of ingratitude toward God who is so generous, and an act of disloyalty and betrayal to God, who is ever faithful.

Finally, it acknowledges that re­gard­less of whether the sin is known or concealed, in addition to the bad impact the sin may have had directly on others, it diminishes personal holiness and integrity, thereby harming one's neighbor and the community.

Contrition is sincere when the person has genuine regret and remorse for the sin that has been committed, and a deep inner desire to do the right thing, please God, and be in a good and decent relationship with others.

• A firm purpose of amendment is the solid intention to "amend" or change one's ways, the resolve to bring an end to sin, and to live an upright and holy life according to God's ways.

The quality of a confession is jeopardized if the person admits a sin but has no real desire or plan to quit the sin.

The faulty reasoning goes like this: "I've done it before. I'll probably do it again. It's not worth trying too hard. It's no big deal if I slip again. Con­fes­sion is always available. I can always be forgiven."

That mindset ignores the deeper call to conversion and does not res­pect God's gift of mercy.

A firm purpose of amendment is a good faith intention and attempt to do everything in one's power to avoid the commission of the sin again. Nevertheless, it is not a promise to be perfect. Our human nature has deeply ingrained evil inclinations and tendencies. A person may struggle with habitual failings.

A firm purpose of amendment is simply the desire, despite previous failings and old patterns, to do better.

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4. The really obedient man often suddenly becomes radiant and exultant during prayer; for this wrestler was prepared and fired beforehand by his sincere service.   

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