Examination of Conscience Using the Beatitudes

The Sacrament of Confession is scriptural. When we confess our sins to a priest, we are obeying Christ and how He envisioned us relieving the burden of our transgressions. If we are a follower of Christ we do what He asks us to do!

Chris gives us four main reasons to go to Confession. Some of the reasons he suggests are ones that are not typically mentioned : psychological health, going straight to God instead of relying on ourselves , making sure our serious, mortal sins are forgiven and healing our community through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

There is so much packed into this short video you may have to watch it several times to catch it all.

Make sure you're taking notes!

Key Takeaways

• The devil is a liar. His desire is that our sins would fester in our heart, harming us mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. When you confess your sins, you are removing their power over you.
• When you go to Confession you are going straight to Christ himself. The priest is "In personaChristi", in English, " In the person of Christ". Professing your sins to Christ is preferable to saying them to yourself in your room.
• Mortal sin breaks the friendship we have with God. If we desire to restore this relationship we must seek absolution from a priest. We can be sure of this healing when we hear the words the priest speaks during the sacrament.
• The only way to heal the damage we have done to the community when we sin is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• My relationship with God does not depend on my perfect love for Him but on His perfect love for me.

Questions for Reflection

1. Were any of the reasons Chris mentioned for going to Confession new to you?
2. What do you think about the words the priest speaks to you in the sacrament? Did this video give you a greater appreciation of what is said in Confession?
3. What do you think of the concept that Christ died to give us grace and mercy? Do you think of that reality in relationship to the Sacrament of Confession?

Fr. Mike Schmitz always presents an uplifting, approachable explanation about particulars of the Faith. In this video he gives great advice to those who, for one reason or other, have not gone to Confession for a while.

How do you remember the sins you've committed ten years ago? By using an examination of conscience, you can see where you have failed to love God. Where and how did you say "no" to Him over the course of the time you've been away?

Sin breaks our relationship with God. Confession is the opportunity to restore that bond. Just as you would say you're sorry to someone you've injured, telling God you are sorry for offending Him repairs the damage you have incurred.

Key Takeaways

• The Holy Spirit convicts us of what we have done wrong if we give Him the time and space to listen to His voice.
• A good Examination of Conscience is a necessary tool to determine how we have missed the mark of loving God as we should.
• If you unintentionally forget to mention a mortal sin in Confession, that sin is forgiven, but you should mention it the next time you go to Confession.
• Confession is always about restoring our relationship with God. We should try to remove every impediment which stands in the way of loving Him.
• Fr. Schmitz has co-authored a book "Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation"

Questions for Reflection

1. Is there something that is keeping you from Confession?
2. Are you willing to prepare yourself properly to receive the sacrament ?
3. Does examining your conscience seem overwhelming, scary, intimidating, or painful?

Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Confession: paragraphs 1420-1498

Confession is not a place of sadness. It is one of the most joyful places in the world. First, you get to experience God's mercy and the love that God gave to us through the cross. Second, it is a place where people are striving to grow in holiness.

Fr. Mike iterates that the priest does not remember your sins. Sins are not fascinating, but PEOPLE are fascinating. Sins are boring. God is more interested in you than in the sins you have committed.

The heart of the priest is revealed in Confession. He recognizes his own failures and faults. The priest knows Christ has paid the price of the forgiveness of our sins and joins his sufferings to that of Christ for the love of the penitent. In the confessional , the priest gets to see God winning His children back.

Key Takeaways

• It is not sad for a priest to hear people's sins in Confession.
• Confession is a place to see God's Mercy in action.

In confession

• the discouraged are lifted up
• the wounded are healed
• the lost are found
• Sin is a failure. Going to Confession and saying, "I'm not giving up on a God who has not given up on me" is a victory!
• You are a part of God's masterpiece
• Priests are God's "garbage men".
• Confession is a place of Victory!

Questions for Reflection

1. Do you think of yourself as someone who is trying to love God more or someone who has failed when you go to Confession?
2. What do you think of Fr. Mike Schmitz's image of a priest being God's garbage man?
3. What part of this video had the greatest impact on you? Why?

Fr. Mike opens with the scripture passage from 1 John 5: 16-17. "There is such a thing as deadly sin", writes John.

There are 3 stipulations for a sin to be mortal:

1. The offense must be serious
2. You must know it's serious
3. You must give full consent to committing the offense

All sin is wrongdoing and an offense against God. Venial sins harm our relationship with God, but mortal sin breaks our communion with Him. This is true in all relationships. Some offenses will weaken our friendship, but some will cause irreparable damage. We should strive to not offend anyone we're in a relationship with, particularly our Lord.

The wonderful gift is that grace is always available to us. God desires to restore our relationship with Him. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It's time to be forgiven.

Key Takeaways

There is a difference between mortal and venial sin.

• There is a difference between venial and mortal sin.
• Mortal sin is a grave action, committed in full knowledge of its gravity and with full consent.
• Venial sin weakens us to the point where it makes committing a mortal sin easier.
• Confession is the Sacrament of Mercy.
• Sin is a wound in our relationship with God and others.
• Grace is always available to us

Questions for Reflection

1. Are you sensitive to the difference between a mortal and venial sin and realize when you have committed one or the other?
2. Do you try to avoid venial sins and confess them regularly to avoid falling into more serious sin?
3. Do you think it's important to examine yourself daily to see a pattern of behaviors which may be sinful or ways where you have failed to love God and others?