Comments on: A Gift That is Always in Season http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/ Catholic News, Catholic Articles, Catholic Apologetics, Catholic Content, Catholic Information Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 By: Mark http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/comment-page-1/#comment-37028 Mark Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:52:55 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/#comment-37028 Great article! The problem for most of us is the sin of pride. We don't want to go to the confessional because all sin boils down to pride and rebellion. Americans and the Western mind in general doesn't want to prostrate themselves to the notion of asking for forgiveness, assuming it will be freely given anyway by a merciful God. That is really the notion of forgiveness that our Protestant Christian brother adhere to. And while we pray for them now, and we will pray for them when they pass onto eternity (something they don't do, because they assume their dead relatives and friends have made it to heaven), Catholics have this wonderful opportunity to receive the sacramental grace of forgiveness and reconciliation with God in this world. Confession is in indeed good for the soul. Let's pray during the waning light of Advent that more souls are drawn to its light of forgiveness. Great article! The problem for most of us is the sin of pride. We don’t want to go to the confessional because all sin boils down to pride and rebellion. Americans and the Western mind in general doesn’t want to prostrate themselves to the notion of asking for forgiveness, assuming it will be freely given anyway by a merciful God. That is really the notion of forgiveness that our Protestant Christian brother adhere to. And while we pray for them now, and we will pray for them when they pass onto eternity (something they don’t do, because they assume their dead relatives and friends have made it to heaven), Catholics have this wonderful opportunity to receive the sacramental grace of forgiveness and reconciliation with God in this world.

Confession is in indeed good for the soul. Let’s pray during the waning light of Advent that more souls are drawn to its light of forgiveness.

]]> By: fatherjo http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/comment-page-1/#comment-37027 fatherjo Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:13:44 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/#comment-37027 Well done. Thank you from a priest! Well done. Thank you from a priest!

]]> By: Warren Jewell http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/comment-page-1/#comment-37017 Warren Jewell Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:42:26 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/#comment-37017 I have longed and sought for the graces of the Forgiveness and Penance from God all along - when I was flush with all His other graces, anyway. But, I didn't realize the full power of the confessional until no screen separated me from God's priest and minister of Penance. Then the beginning was a smile of welcome and recognition that warmed me to coolly relating my sins. Seeing a look of compassionate undrstanding, or a frown that read 'Haven't you told me all this before? Are you trying for the better?' makes confession more the interaction with Christ in His mercy and forgiveness than ever. But, the final gestures of His priest in his formal declaration of his office and his (and His) absolution can leave me in tears of grateful release, for in 'I absolve you' I evermore witness that Christ means that 'I love you'. And, yes, 'storm the confessional' is solid image; for of each sin confessed Christ storm's hell's gates, can hurl each sin back over hell's gates and deride 'You can have THIS one back, Fool of fools, that I forget it.' In confession, I can relax in His bath of His graces, relaxing in Christ, telling me that 'You see the power of My very Name, right here, right now - and, see how I make all things new!' Praise You, Lord Jesus, waiting in that merciful tabernacle of Your confessional in Your Church. I have longed and sought for the graces of the Forgiveness and Penance from God all along – when I was flush with all His other graces, anyway.

But, I didn’t realize the full power of the confessional until no screen separated me from God’s priest and minister of Penance. Then the beginning was a smile of welcome and recognition that warmed me to coolly relating my sins. Seeing a look of compassionate undrstanding, or a frown that read ‘Haven’t you told me all this before? Are you trying for the better?’ makes confession more the interaction with Christ in His mercy and forgiveness than ever.

But, the final gestures of His priest in his formal declaration of his office and his (and His) absolution can leave me in tears of grateful release, for in ‘I absolve you’ I evermore witness that Christ means that ‘I love you’.

And, yes, ‘storm the confessional’ is solid image; for of each sin confessed Christ storm’s hell’s gates, can hurl each sin back over hell’s gates and deride ‘You can have THIS one back, Fool of fools, that I forget it.’

In confession, I can relax in His bath of His graces, relaxing in Christ, telling me that ‘You see the power of My very Name, right here, right now – and, see how I make all things new!’

Praise You, Lord Jesus, waiting in that merciful tabernacle of Your confessional in Your Church.

]]> By: elkabrikir http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/comment-page-1/#comment-37008 elkabrikir Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:50:19 +0000 http://catholicexchange.com/2008/12/20/114803/#comment-37008 Excellent article, Patty. It was well written, succinct, informational, and contained just enough of your personal testimony to inspire empathy and action. Thank you. All my kids "of age" will read it before we storm the confessional today. Excellent article, Patty.

It was well written, succinct, informational, and contained just enough of your personal testimony to inspire empathy and action.

Thank you. All my kids “of age” will read it before we storm the confessional today.

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