Do I Need to Go to Confession?

It’s an age old question; “Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest?”

Today Fr. Mike encourages and challenges us to see the Sacrament of Reconciliation not as a burden but as a gift from God. Your Heavenly Father wants to reconcile with you and offer you the grace of forgiveness and he does this through the humanity of the ordained priesthood.

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[mapinoita]

I went to confession for the first time in many years. I was so nervous, but the priest was so kind, telling me that I was God’s precious, loved child, and that He was so happy to see me back at church. I practically floated out of there!

[sharleanebailey]

Father Mike, you inspired me. I started to watch your videos, then your masses. After 32 years I have returned to the church. The first time I went to confession it was very difficult. I admitted the worst sins I was aware of. The priest gave me a pamphlet: guide to confession. I pondered over it the next week. The second week I confessed the rest of my sins. Then I prayed Jesus, I know you forgive me, help me to forgive myself. On the way home I felt a great happiness and then a phrase came to me. You are a child of Christ. Thank you for what you do! Truly God’s work. You’ve returned a led astray catholic back to the flock. God’s blessings to you!

[Bigchilezlife]

Confession is my favorite sacrament along with receiving Jesus! ❤

Padre Pio inspired me to go to confession

[Catholicity-uwyb]

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: “A penitent’s sins are forgiven, not when the priest says the sacramental words of absolution over him or her, nor when the penitent completes the assigned penance, but the instant the penitent is truly sorry for his or her sins.”

[darlameeks]

I am an adult convert, scheduled to be confirmed this Pentecost Sunday (one week from tomorrow). I was baptized in another tradition when I was 11, and the Church has graciously accepted my baptism. I have always confessed my sins directly to Jesus, and I have felt and known His forgiveness when I have done so. Yesterday, however, I made my first confession to a priest. I confessed all the sins I could remember since my baptism, even though I had already confessed them to Jesus. I needed to. After reflecting on my sins over the years, even those that I had already confessed to our High Priest, I was ready to literally run to the priest. He was so gentle and kind. He gave me an easy penance to do, and a lot of good counsel. It was a wonderful, healing experience. Thanks be to God! He is merciful!

[amandahoong]

I was baptised in my mid twienties and left the church . I was living in darkness and my life was spiraling down hill, I know I needed God. One day at work, feeling so lost I said quietly in my heart: dear God, I am sorry and I want to come back to you. Then, everything changed in my life. The Holy Spirit guided me every step. First, I went to see my godma and she advised me to go to confession. Feeling apprehensive but knowing this is what I must do, I head to the confessional for the first time after seven years. When I told the priest all my sins, which are scarlet and red as crimson, he said Jesus is smiling from ear to ear and wanting to welcome me back to Him with a wide open arms. He said there is no sin so big that God cannot forgive. I looked up and saw a kind face that I have never seen, I thought he looked like Jesus, my Lord and my God. Almost thirty years on, every time I step into the church for my daily Mass I would smile from ear to ear because I know Jesus is waiting for me with wide open arms and smiling from ear to ear every time he sees me ❤

[priscilamae]

8:30 The gift of God’s love = love that we deserve the least but need the most = Mercy

[Chris-kmln]

It is a gift from God! After many years of turning my back to Christ I came back. I was confirmed in the Catholic faith along with my son on an Easter Sunday. As I went to confession, I recalled all of the most grievous sins that I could remember, but knowing there were many that were long forgotten. I was forthcoming with the Priest and told him that I know I had many sins, along with sins that were considered mortal sins, that I know I could not remember. I told him how deeply sorry I was for all of my sins and how my sins not only were hurtful to others but most importantly how much they hurt Jesus. The Priest absolved me of my sins and a great burden had been lifted off of me, I could physically feel this burden being lifted. For anyone on the fence, come back to our Lord and receive this most merciful & wonderful Sacrament. Take care and may God Bless each and everyone of you!

[michaelcross]

My first confession in almost 50yrs was beautiful, I had forgotten how beautiful The Catholic Church is…🙏🏻

[Tammy-kcng]

Recently I was waiting for the bus, and I was feeling so weak that I thought I was dying. I opened up my heart to Jesus and begged for absolution if I could not make it through this weakness before He took me home! Well, with the assurance that Jesus was with me and He could forgive my sins in this moment of crisis, just like He did with the thief on the Cross, I did manage to drag myself home from the bus stop. I was so grateful for His mercy at that moment!

[ruthmallery]

The best thing that happened to me when i returned to the church was that my priest was diabetic, i had an appointment right after lunch and in his humanity he fell asleep. I said absolutely everything because never look a gift horse in the mouth. I recieved his absolution and later, some great conversations that increased my faith. This dear human gave me an out to get honest with God after some very serious church trauma. I am forever grateful

[susans]

If I didn’t have to go to a priest to confess I’d probably keep committing some sins over and over. If you have a good priest they give you guidance along with penance. It makes it much easier for me to think before I act. There is nothing more uplifting than coming out of the confessional. I feel sorry for those who don’t know the feeling of being unburdened.

[antoinettecassar]

I come from a Catholic Island (Malta) and I grew up in a highly devoted family . Thanks God most of the Maltese are still practicing Christian's but we have a decline like many western countries of vocations and lack of priest. It is hard to find priests available for confession so personally I haven't been to confession for a very long time. Would say 20 years but I go to mass regularly and I ask God to forgive my sins before communion. I believe God forgives me .

[united]

Having that burden of sin lifted from yourself is so precious, Thank You Jesus

[khoanguyendang]

Thank you so much for your beautiful message, Fr. Mike. This is not made to be a burden. This is a gift. It's a gift of God's love. The love what we deserve the least but need the most. It's mercy.

[AmaraJordanMusic]

Watching this with my husband; he’s Catholic, and I’m doing RCIA in the fall. ☺️

[shariable]

Add to this that we're human, and we need to hear, 'I forgive you, My beloved child.' I thank God for the priesthood!

[limepiper]

Please pray for me so that I have the courage to go to confession.

[shannonbaker]

I actually never thought of it that way, Christianity introduced mercy and forgiveness, I love that, thanks Father Mike

[fernycarrasco]

I have always felt like confessing is like asking for forgiveness. When you hurt someone, you can feel sorry, but if you don't go to that person and say you're sorry, then it doesn't count as apologizing. Confession helps us stay accountable, and priests are not there to judge us or anything, but to hear us and hold our hand as we are admitting the things we did to God. Confession shouldn't feel as an obligation but as an opportunity to open our hearts to God.