Print This List    Email to a Friend  

Be not Afraid: How to Get Yourself Back to Confession  
TIPS 

Tags: Confession, Reconciliation, Penance, Catholic, Catholicism, Sacraments, fear, anxiety, shame, advice, spirituality, spiritual life, prayer

The Sacrament of Confession (also known as Reconciliation or Penance) is probably the most under-used Sacrament. Many people feel shame and trepidation about approaching the Sacrament, especially if they've been away from it, or from the Church, for a long time. This is a serious concern, because Confession is a vital part of Catholic life, a vital source of grace, and a vital nourishment for the spiritual life. Confession puts us in a state of grace--a state that is necessary in order to receive the graces from the other Sacraments. This grace is nothing less than God's own divine life! So, it is very important for us to avail ourselves of Confession. Here are some suggestions for getting over any obstacles between you and the Sacrament of Confession. Follow these tips constantly and consistently, and before long, you'll find you can hardly wait to get into the confessional!

	If you feel ashamed of, or troubled by your sins, then THANK GOD! That means your conscience is operating properly. That's a good thing. It's part of your bond with God and a means of interaction between you and Him. Listen to your conscience. Don't shut it out just because it's making you uncomfortable. It's the Holy Spirit trying to prompt you to seek reconciliation. Seriously--thank Him.
	Open your heart and lay out your problems, worries, fears, anxieties, and all your difficulties before God. Say, "Lord, I know I need to be reconciled to You, but I'm having these problems. I don't know if I can handle them. Please give me strength, courage, and humility." You won't be burdening Him. He is incredibly strong and mighty! And He loves you so much that there is nothing He would like more than to relieve you of whatever is keeping you from Him. He desires your faith and trust.
	Spend time in front of a Crucifix, pondering all the things Christ did and gave for you. Not mankind in general, but for you. This will put things in perspective for you and make your own discomforts seem smaller and maybe even silly.
	Every single night, examine your conscience: think about anything you might have done during the day, or in the past, to offend God or hurt another person. It may help you to write down the sins you find, especially if it may be a while before you actually make it to Confession. A good examination of conscience, as well as other Confession resources, can be found here -- http://frpat.com/examen.htm
	After examining your conscience each night, pray the Act of Contrition. I like this version: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen." This version is good because it includes a resolution to go to Confession.
	Enlist the help of the holy angels, especially St. Michael and your own guardian angel. They are there to defend you and to accompany you. Remember: there is only one person in this entire universe who has anything to gain from your not going to Confession, and that's the devil. Ask St. Michael and your guardian angel to escort you and keep the devil and his evil angels at bay. The angels know better than anybody how to deal with demons. They are there for you.
	Set your eyes on the rewards your confession will bring about. Think about the great rejoicing that will break out in Heaven when you go to Confession. It will be like the return of the prodigal son, only infinitely greater! Think about the incredible relief and peace of mind you will experience afterward. Think about how much more of God's divine life will be within you. Think about how much farther you'll go on the road to Heaven.

Lister: HeatherB

Other lists of interest:

7 Holy Sacraments JUST THE FACTS  (0)

Peter, Paul, John and Pius: Papal Succession INFORMATIVE  (0)

Description and Symptoms of Agoraphobia INFORMATIVE  (0)

7 Deadly Sins INTERESTING  (0)

5 Pillars of Islam INFORMATIVE  (0)

Current list rating:  4.50

There are no comments for this list. Be the first to post!