Writing is brutal business. You think and you worry and you’re scared to death, but you still feel compelled to bare your soul to the world, wondering if you’re going to get back in one piece. Then you want to write but you’re frozen because you’re scared to death over what everyone is going to [...]
After the Eucharist, Confession (or Penance) is my most loved and important sacrament. It keeps my conscience alive and accountable. It exhorts me to be watchful, careful and conscious of what I say, do, or think, and even of things that I should have done.
Preparation for confession helps me to examine my sins, both grave and small, and to be truly sorry for having displeased and disobeyed God and for having hurt my neighbour by omission or commission.
During confession I get counselling from the priest, who, in taking God's place, is like a psychologist, an intercessor and a shepherd.
When I finish confession, I feel that a heavy load has been taken of my heart and my mind. I feel a sense of peace, tranquility and joy for having made a good confession, accompanied by sincere sorrow for my sins and a firm purpose of ammendment. I know God has forgiven all my sins completely.
I now live in God's sanctifying grace and start my spiritual progress with a clean slate. God lives in me and with him by my side, I can successfully fight the good fight everday of my life until I complete the journey to Heaven.
