Show notes
Decluttering is my favorite non-Jesus-y thing to talk about, the Eucharist is my #1 favorite of all time but man, confession is a very, very close second! We're going to talk about all the things some people don't ask. The ideas we don't want to face and then the practical ways to open your beautiful gift God has given us!
Here we go!
Why do you confess sins to a priest? Why not go right to God?
Let's talk about the fall of sin.
Genesis says God tells Adam and eve if they eat of the fruit they would surely die. But, they didn't die. They ran and hid. So, was he talking about physical death?
The first breath of life breathed into man made him a SOUL exulted above all animals. We weren't just given natural life - we were given a natural and a spiritual divine life. So just as cancer can take of our natural life our mortal sin KILLS our supernatural life. The day they ate of it they committed mortal sin and they died in their divine life. When was the next time that Humans had the great rush of God's spirit given to all?? Pentecost... baptism!
Please, first thing - go right to God. Holy Spirit gives us direct access to God - repent of them immediately.
But were also called to go to the priest. The role of the priest all the way from the old testament to the new was as an intercessor between man and God.
Jesus is ULTIMATELY the one who make it possible for us to have access to God, therefore He is the ultimate and only mediator between humans and God BUT... we intercession on each others behalf constantly. God uses people as the MEDIATOR between him and them when they need it. Sin is a time of need.
In the old testament priests were given the roll as symbolic mediator between God and Man
They would offer up sacrifices for the behalf of sins but it wasn't enough, an animals death wasn't enough for reparation of SINS... until Jesus' sacrifice that our sins were forgiven because the sacrifice was ACTUALLY worthy of the awful that is/was our sins.
Then... in the new testament priests serve a more similar role but with even more power.
John Ch 20 - Breathes on them, power of the holy spirit and gives them the POWER to forgive sins. It's powerful because not only is Jesus giving a whole new dimension to the priesthood that has been since the OT but he give the apostles the ABILITY to forgive sins. This reveals that Jesus' desire that priesthood to extend his true and complete full forgiveness to those who come in repentance.
James Ch 5 - Prayer of forgiveness is a role given to the priest.
"Confess your sins to each other" as in any other humans. James Ch 5, the priests were able to give a prayer and the forgiveness was given.
Priests don't have the POWER to forgive sins, jesus has given them the authority. Jesus uses THEM to shower is forgiveness. Jeuss is using the priest as his service.
Just like God will give you any gifts, you minister those by God's grace through you.
In sending his Son with our flesh, he shows he wants to encounter us through a direct contact that passes through the signs and language of our human condition.
So, ARE you actually going to God?
Jesus gives us a gift of reconciliation.
So, if you go straight to God... your sins are for given but have you been received back into the community? Maybe no, it's just between you and God? You've still created worldly damage as well as spiritual.
In baptism, I don't have to do anything and my sins are forgiven. It's beautiful!
But, let's be honest, it's harder to go to confession because we don't like having to admit our faults out loud.
The more we need confession the less we want to do it.
Confession is not a place for shame, defeat, ... it is a place of VICTORY!
--------------------
Now let's walk through how you actually get yourself into the confessional!
First tip, sit face to face with the priest. It may be hard to do first time but give it a few tries and you'll feel a human contact aspect that the screen doesn't allow us.
Forgive me father for I have sinned
- Have him walk through the confession with you
Act of contrition
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
Penance
The priest normally assigns us a penance (for example, prayer, fasting or other types of self-denial, sacrifices, almsgiving, spiritual or corporal works of mercy, or service of neighbor) as medicine to begin to repair the damage caused by sin, but this penance is light in comparison to the infinite harm our sins have done in bringing about Christ’s death. So we should voluntarily do penance to seek, with God’s help, to expiate our sins and repair that damage (CCC 1460)
Sins are forgiven but our souls still need to be healed.
What Is Required for it to be a *good* confession?
Three things are required of a penitent in order to receive the sacrament worthily:
1) A person must be really, actually sorry for their sins.
2) One must confess those sins fully, in kind and in number.
3) One must be willing to do penance and make amends for his sins
Now, why does the church want to butt into your business with all this confessing stuff anyways? I mean, its 100% confidential. You COULD say it to God but we need that physical help to break down that spiritual and physical barrier.
We need this because the Church doesn't want us screwing ourselves over, spiritually.
I spoke about it in episode 14 on the Eucharist but if you try to make communion with God when you're not in the right state of accepting his Graces then you could be bringing judgement upon yourself. And the way the church makes sure you're in a state of grace is by confession.
Now, no one would ever know if you're in a state of Grace with God but GOD knows. And he's the only one who matters in this whole matter, right?
So, the church makes some tiny, measly (in the scheme of life) requirements for being a *practicing* member of the Church.
1. Go to mass on all holy day's and Sundays. This is only like 56 days a year. 52 Sundays + Christmas, Easter, Assumption, All Saints Day. UNLESS you are dispensed from having to go because of illness, caring for someone else who is ill, etc. Basically the sin is when you could have gone but choose not to. Or forgot to because you're a hot mess.
2. Receive communion once a year, preferably during Lent. (again, listen to episode 014 for why you want/need the Eucharist so... much... more frequently than just once a year!)
3. Go to confession once a year, preferably during Lent.
Now, 2 and 3 go hand in hand. You'll probably need to go to confession before you receive communion the 1x a year because we're ALL bound to sin within 365, am I right? No matter how hard you try, it's gonna happen.
That's it... but it's the going above and beyond. The making of the effort in your relationship with God that really will deepen the relationship...
So, there are special gifts God gives everyone but some surefire way to open yourself up to the reception of the gifts is by partaking in communion and confession regularly. They're great for your soul, all the earthly ways that therapy and friendly and physical communion are BUT they give you the special graces by God to help you combat those sinful things you confessed.
Go sign up for this free, beautiful booklet I created to help you in your confession journey!
www.holyhotmessmom.com/iconfess
Don't forget to hook up with me and some other mamas! My Instagram and Facebook pages @HolyHotMessMom our exclusive mama Facebook group - HolyHotMessMamas
Holy Hot Mess Mamas
Closed group · 5 members
Join Group
This is a place for encouragement, advice, sharing stories and continuing convos all things Holy Hot Mess Mom & the Holy Hot Mess Mom Podcast. Got a ...
If you're looking forward to more episodes then hit that subscribe button so you get notified every time we release a new episode!
As always, if you've got ideas of topics you'd like to hear on the podcast please email me at podcast@holyhotmessmom.com
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
