I was so blessed the day when a lady shared her testimony with me regarding Confession:
It has been a long time since I went to Confession. I’ve always known that it was Jesus in the priest to whom I confessed. One day, I had the courage to go after many years. When I got in there, I forgot everything. I started crying. The priest said to me: ‘All that matters is that you are here today and you are sorry for your sins and are ready to begin again. As he pronounced the words of Absolution: ‘May the Lord grant you PARDON and PEACE’, I had a deep sense of the mercy of God washing over me. Standing up to leave, I felt a hand on my shoulder. The hand rested on my shoulder, but it wasn’t the priest’s hand; it was the Holy Spirit. I felt touched by the Holy Spirit. I knew I wasn’t hallucinating. I was at peace. My soul was flooded with joy as I left the Confessional that day.
Someone asked me if I could share with him something of the beauty of Confession. I’d like to share with you what I sent to him. Hope you find it helpful.
- Confession is an act of love for Jesus and neighbor.
- It is the moment when I reclaim who I am: I am a beloved child of God and I am not defined by my sins but by the love of the Father.
- It is time to leave my sins and failures at the foot of the Cross and take from the Cross a new life filled with hope.
- It is a time to begin again.
- It is a time to bring to the Father the parts of me that have been wounded because of sin or because of what others have done to me.
- It is a time to rekindle the fire of my baptism: to take once again the garment of beauty with which I was clothed on the day of baptism. It is an opportunity to reclaim my baptismal innocence. In a sense, it is a return to the fount of baptism. (Holy Water will be placed at all of the Confession stations and you’ll be blessed by the priest with the Holy Water).
- Confession can be a gift I can offer to my family this Christmas. I can bring home from Confession the gift of the presence of Jesus in my heart.
- It is a time to say no to Satan: no to his empty promises: his empty shows. A time to profess once again that I believe in the promises and love of the Father.
- It is a time to allow Jesus to heal me of those spiritual wounds and hurts that haven’t been healed.
- A time to bring joy to the heart of God: a God who rejoices when His children return home. Are we all not like the prodigal son who sometimes has left home in search of happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction only to realize one day that my happiness can only be found in God?
I have included in this bulletin an insert to help us in preparing for Confession. I hope you find it helpful.
We will have 6 priests to celebrate the Christmas Confessions with us on Monday, December 13 in St. John Vianney at 5pm.
On this Sunday of Joy, I wish everyone a Happy Sunday.
I promise: no more singing ‘I am dreaming of a white Christmas’. Seeing all the snow on Monday and after shovelling for about 2 hours, I said to God: I want snow but not this much. Doesn’t God have a great sense of humour? Be careful what you pray for 😊
Fr. Obi