Confession Resources

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?

In Fr. Nixon's first video on Confession, he explains where the authority of the sacrament originated. Jesus has the power to forgive sins and He passes this ability on to His priests. In this video he examines some particulars of the sacrament.

A priest may never break the seal of Confession. He is forbidden to discuss any particulars of what he has been told by the penitent. He assures us that priests do not remember the sins they have been told. After hearing many Confessions, a priest will not be scandalized by our sins.

In Confession we name what we have done. Declaring it out loud is in an important step in the healing process. The wound has been opened and can now be cured.

Key Takeaways

• Your sins are not that interesting.
• The priest rejoices with those who are coming to the sacrament.
• We are good at deceiving ourselves, that's why it's important to confess our sins.
• When we claim our sins, God can bring His grace, His mercy and His healing to our soul.
• When we hide our sins they fester.

Questions for Reflection

1. Have you ever been healed of a sin you were afraid to confess and felt the relief afterwards?
2. Did you realize how serious the seal of Confession is for a priest?
3. Are there things in your life you blame others for, but you know they are a result of your own failings?