As a child, I remember going to the ‘old chapel; in our town, and queueing for what seemed like ages in the quiet and semi-darkness of the Church; the silence peppered by the shuffling of parishioners along the pew, the opening and closing of the doors to the confession box and the ‘snap’ of the hatch, as the priest heard penitent after penitent for Christmas Confessions. It was always Christmas Eve we went (putting it off as long as possible!), and inevitably there was the frantic race to ‘think of something to say’ before my turn came. I always took the Sacrament seriously, it really was a solemn moment, and I never found our priests to be anything but patient, attentive, listening and kind. I always felt good after getting Confession.
It’s hard to believe how things have changed in forty years. I rarely hear confessions in a box now, indeed for most parishes, individual confession has been replaced by a penitential service, where several priests are available and you are often encouraged not to go into detail for your confession, and some parishes don’t have confessions at all except ‘on request’ – and I think thats a bit of a fallacy.
Confession is ‘good for the soul’ the saying goes – and I say again, I usually felt better after confession. Yes, I often repeated the same sins again, but knowing that I could return time and time again to receive God’s forgiveness, and be free to start again, strengthened by grace to do better this time. I may fall, but hopefully not as far or not as often.
Despite the way we experience (or in reality don’t experience) Confession these days – the core of the Sacrament hasn’t changed. It is still a place where we can be honest about ourselves; that we are flawed and imperfect and that sometimes we fail to love or forgive or be generous, and that despite all our ‘sins’ we are loved and forgiven. It is not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of courage and strength to admit we were wrong, and it is a great sign of self respect and dignity to say I can (will try to) do better.
Grace/Forgiveness is a given thing – we can’t earn it. It is something that comes to us from God – and if Christmas is about anything, surely it is about receiving God’s beautiful gift of grace in Jesus Christ – our God made visible, ‘love came down’, Emmanuel – ‘God with us’.
Could I invite you to be kind to yourself, and consider coming to Confession – especially if you’ve been away from the Sacrament for some time. I think you really will feel the benefit.
Monasterboice Parish 