Ed Peters on proposals requiring priests to violate seal of Confession in Australia and Ireland

Confessionals at Assumption Grotto

From blogging canonist, Prof. Ed Peters:

Concerning recent Irish and Australian proposals to require priests who, through their ministry in sacramental confession, learn the identity of child sexual abusers (or of any other malefactors, for that matter), to disclose such information to civil authorities, I have little to say because, well, because there is little to say, canonically, at any rate. Such proposals, even if they become law, will have absolutely no effect on a priest’s obligation to preserve the seal of confession. Absolutely none.

Continue reading: A note on proposals to require priests to violate the seal of confession

We know priests will not violate the seal of Confession.  But, I have to ask this question... I can't help it.... Do these foolish politicians honestly think a pedophile is going to step into a confessional if there is a law requiring priests to turn them in? 
I'm just askin'

Further reading:

• Irish priests say they will not reveal confession secrets (Irish Central)
• Call to end confessional confidentiality (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Australia: A bill to force priests to break the Seal of Confession (Fr. Z)
• The Irish government vs. the Vatican: opinion roundup (Catholic Culture)
• Why the Irish Government Attacks the Church (Phil Lawler)
• Irish proposal to legislate against the seal of confession will be rejected by the Church (Fr. John Boyle) 
• Archbishop Martin sees lingering resistance to action on sexual abuse

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Taylor Marshall: Seven Reasons to Go to Confession this Lent; and his new book: The Crucified Rabbi

Taylor Marshall, whom I heard on Kresta in the Afternoon on Ave Maria Radio today on my way home from work, has a great blogpost up for Lent. They were discussing his new book, The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity. 

You'll be able to listen to the interview in the Ave Maria Radio archives for the Kresta show - just go to February 24, 2010.

But, on another subject, this blogpost by Taylor is a good read:

Go read:

Seven Reasons to go to Confession during Lent



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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

It's Saturday, in Lent ....Go to Confession!

It's Saturday - the time when most parishes (if they are worth their salt) offer regular confessions.

At Assumption Grotto in Detroit, you can count on a good confessor who won't belittle you if you want to confess venial sins and imperfections, if you don't have any serious sin. They will help walk you through a general confession if you haven't been in a long time, or forgot how to go to confession.

While there is confession on Sunday's at Assumption Grotto, the lines prompt priests and pentitents to be brief. Saturdays can sometimes be slow, presenting opportunities when slightly longer confession time is needed. I've seen some confessionals open for long periods of time on Saturday afternoons bewteen 2:30 and 3:30. Whenever there are lines, it is wise to keep it very short and brief.

With that, read up on what St. Francis DeSales has to say about Confession.


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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

St. Francis de Sales on the Sacrament of Penance

Today is the memorial of St. Francis De Sales. His writings are profound and his book, the Introduction to the Devout Life (abridged) is probably the most well known. St. John Bosco founded the Salesians based on the spirituality of St. Francis De Sales.

I began reading one small chapter daily some time ago. I knew when I ran across his chapter, "The Sacrament of Penance", I would have to do a post on it as it is such a neglected sacrament these days.

Please do read this and if you can't now, come back to it, bookmark it and read his words several times yearly. It is one of the best pieces of spiritual advice on how to make a good confession that I've run across. And, anyone who thinks confession is only for confessing grave sins is sadly mistaken. These days, it is sometimes the priest who discourages confessing of venial sins and imperfections. Lets pray that priests will get back to basics on this as it is so fundamental to the spiritual life.

Below this chapter on the Sacrament of Penance will also be some links, and more information. In my sidebar I have a couple of Salesian priests under my section for blogging priests, religious and deacons. Let's see what they have posted today, along with some others!

If you struggle with this form of English, bear with it as you will find it worthy of the struggle. If someone has the more current text, please feel free to link to it in my combox. I am taking this from the online CCEL

CHAPTER XIX. On Confession.

OUR Saviour has bequeathed the Sacrament of Penitence and Confession to His Church, [49] in order that therein we may be cleansed from all our sins, however and whenever we may have been soiled thereby. Therefore, my child, never allow your heart to abide heavy with sin, seeing that there is so sure and safe a remedy at hand. If the lioness has been in the neighbourhood of other beasts she hastens to wash away their scent, lest it should be displeasing to her lord; and so the soul which has ever so little consented to sin, ought to abhor itself and make haste to seek purification, out of respect to His Divine Gaze Who beholds it always. Why should we die a spiritual death when there is a sovereignremedy available?

Make your confession humbly and devoutly every week, and always, if you can, before communicating, even although your conscience is not burdened with mortal sin; for in confession you do not only receive absolution for your venial sins, but you also receive great strength to help you in avoiding them henceforth, clearer light to discover your failings, and abundant grace to make up whatever loss you have incurred through those faults. You exercise the graces of humility, obedience, simplicity and love, and by this one act of confession you practise more virtue than in any other.

Be sure always to entertain a hearty sorrow for the sins you confess, however small they are; as also a stedfast resolution to correct them in future. Some people go on confessing venial sins out of mere habit, and conventionally, without making any effort to correct them, thereby losing a great deal of spiritual good. Supposing that you confess having said something untrue, although without evil consequences, or some careless words, or excessive amusement;--repent, and make a firm resolution of amendment: it is a mere abuse to confess any sin whatever, be it mortal or venial, without intending to put it altogether away, that being the express object of confession.

Beware of unmeaning self-accusations, made out of a mere routine, such as, "I have not loved God as much as I ought; I have not prayed with as much devotion as I ought; I have not loved my neighbour as I ought; I have not received the Sacraments with sufficient reverence;" and the like. Such things as these are altogether useless in setting the state of your conscience before your Confessor, inasmuch as all the Saints in Paradise and all men living would say the same. But examine closely what special reason you have for accusing yourself thus, and when you have discovered it, accuse yourself simply and plainly of your fault. For instance, when confessing that you have not loved your neighbour as you ought, it may be that what you mean is, that having seen some one in great want whom you could have succoured, you have failed to do so. Well then, accuse yourself of that special omission: say, "Having come across a person in need, I did not help him as I might have done," either through negligence, or hardness, or indifference, according as the case may be. So again, do not accuse yourself of not having prayed to God with sufficient devotion; but if you have given way to voluntary distractions, or if you have neglected the proper circumstances of devout prayer--whether place, time, or attitude--say so plainly, just as it is, and do not deal in generalities, which, so to say, blow neither hot nor cold.

Again, do not be satisfied with mentioning the bare fact of your venial sins, but accuse yourself of the motive cause which led to them. For instance, do not be content with saying that you told an untruth which injured no one; but say whether it was out of vanity, in order to win praise or avoid blame, out of heedlessness, or from obstinacy. If you have exceeded in society, say whether it was from the love of talking, or gambling for the sake of money, and so on. Say whether you continued long to commit the fault in question, as the importance of a fault depends greatly upon its continuance: e.g., there is a wide difference between a passing act of vanity which is over in a quarter of an hour, and one which fills the heart for one or more days. So you must mention the fact, the motive and the duration of your faults. It is true that we are not bound to be so precise in confessing venial sins, or even, technically speaking, to confess them at all; but all who aim at purifying their souls in order to attain a really devout life, will be careful to show all their spiritual maladies, however slight, to their spiritual physician, in order to be healed.

Do not spare yourself in telling whatever is necessary to explain the nature of your fault, as, for instance, the reason why you lost your temper, or why you encouraged another in wrong-doing. Thus, some one whom I dislike says a chance word in joke, I take it ill, and put myself in a passion. If one I like had said a stronger thing I should not have taken it amiss; so in confession, I ought to say that I lost my temper with a person, not because of the words spoken so much as because I disliked the speaker; and if in order to explain yourself clearly it is necessary to particularize the words, it is well to do so; because accusing one's self thus simply one discovers not merely one's actual sins, but one's bad habits, inclinations and ways, and the other roots of sin, by which means one's spiritual Father acquires a fuller knowledge of the heart he is dealing with, and knows better what remedies to apply. But you must always avoid exposing any one who has borne any part in your sin as far as possible. Keep watch over a variety of sins, which are apt to spring up and flourish, often insensibly, in the conscience, so that you may confess them and put them away; and with this view read Chapters VI., XXVII., XXVIII., XXIX., XXXV. and XXXVI. of Part III., and Chapter VII. of Part IV.,attentively.

Do not lightly change your Confessor, but having chosen him, be regular in giving account of your conscience to him at the appointed seasons, telling him your faults simply and frankly, and from time to time--say every month or every two months, show him the general state of your inclinations, although there be nothing wrong in them; as, for instance, whether you are depressed and anxious, or cheerful, desirous of advancement, or money, and the like.

[49] S. Matt. xvi. 19, xviii. 18; S. John xx. 23.

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More on St. Francis De Sales, and on Confession

This may be updated with more links as they become available...

Words from Salesians on this saint:

• 
  Saint of the day: Francis de Sales by Fr. Stephen Leake, SDB

Confession

• Scriptural Basis for Confession (EWTN)
• The Physician of the Soul (This Rock)
• Confessing to a Priest (This Rock)
• Early Church Fathers on Confession (This Rock)
• Examination of Conscience by Fr. John A. Hardon
• Examination of Conscience by Fr. Robert Altier
• Examination of Conscience (Children) by Fr. E. Filardi

Confession Times at Assumption Grotto

Assumption Grotto is probably the confession capital of metro Detroit. The priests give of themselves generously. Regular confession is from 2:30 - 3:30 on Saturdays, and it is often little waiting at this time. That is because Grotto is a commuter parish and many parishioners take advantage of the Sunday confession times before the 9:30am and Noon Masses.

If you are in need of confession during the week, the priest who has the 7:00pm weeknight Mass will often hear confessions around 10-20 minutes prior to Mass. This too is usually low-volume with easy access. Just be in Church by 6:30 or so and watch for a priest to come. They come sometimes as late as 6:50, so just be there.

My advice is that if you have a long confession, or if it has been a while, or there is a complex issue, go on Saturdays when the priests have more time to give you. Sundays have long lines and the priests need to get through many people. The weeknight confession is also compressed for time. You can also call the rectory for an appointment any time.

And, priests at Grotto - that is the diocesan priests and the priests of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross who funtion there, always preach about the need to use confession frequently, even if only for venial sins and imperfections.


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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Vatican modernizing the list of sins.....

Just in from Reuters:

Vatican lists "new sins," including pollution
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight.

The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican's number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils.

Asked what he believed were today's "new sins," he told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that the greatest danger zone for the modern soul was the largely uncharted world of bioethics.

"(Within bioethics) there are areas where we absolutely must denounce some violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments and genetic manipulation whose outcome is difficult to predict and control," he said.

Continue reading at Reuters...


Amy Welborn takes a closer look at this and says....Not Quite!




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Fr. Harrison's confession about confession....

With a veil-tip to Fr. Z on a post about a blogging priest in the UK who is about to celebrate Mass for the very first time in the extraordinary form, I found this cute gem from his recent postings.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

My first weekend in Walney

I have enjoyed my first weekend in the parish of Saint Columba and Saint Patrick. It did get off to a strange start. I sat in the confessional at St Columba - it was very quiet, no-one availed themselves of the sacrament. After about 30 mins I realised I had not opened the church!

LOL! I'll add Fr. Harrison to my section for Blogging Priests so we can check in on his blog.

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Sacrament of Confession - A New Trend Among the Young

Deo Gratias! Fresh in from Sandro Magister at his blog:

Emerging Trends: The Return to the Confessional

The indications are modest, but consistent. The latest one comes from Loreto, where twelve thousand young people received the sacrament of forgiveness, with the pope's encouragement. And in the seminaries, there's a return of books for studying "cases of conscience"

by Sandro Magister

ROMA, September 6, 2007 – During the two-day meeting between Benedict XVI and the young people who flocked to Loreto by the hundreds of thousands from Italy and from many other countries, something happened that was unexpected in terms of its intensity and breadth: mass participation in the sacrament of confession.

Between Saturday, September 1, and Sunday, September 2, in the large open plain beneath the town and the shrine of the Virgin Mary, 350 priests heard confessions nonstop from two o'clock in the afternoon until seven in the morning, besieged by twelve thousand young people seeking forgiveness.

But even before the pope's arrival, the rite of penance had been part of the preparations for many of the young people attending the event. Almost all of the pilgrimage venues on the way to Loreto included opportunities for sacramental confession. Such was the case with the abbey in Fiastra, which at times became one giant confessional. Such was the case with the shrine of Canoscio, in the Apennine mountains. Each time, there were dozens and dozens of priests all administering the sacrament at the same time.

This was not an absolute novelty. Great numbers of young people also confessed at the World Youth Day events held in Rome in 2000: 120,000 in three days, in the immense stadium of pagan Rome, the Circus Maximus, which had been transformed into an open-air confessional.

But what seemed at first like a flash in the pan turned out to be a lasting trend. And it is a growing one, especially at shrines and at large gatherings. Of course, the percentage of young Catholics who go to confession is still small. In Loreto, they were less than five percent of those present. But a trend reversal is underway, considering that reception of the sacrament had almost died out some years ago.

Continue reading Confession at www.chiesa


Dear Father....



"...I have heard for 40 years how much God loves me. Please, teach me how to love Him back...."


Those were among the very first words I said to Fr. Perrone when I first met him in 2005 and emptied my "closet" on his desk with a general confession. Teach me he did and so did the other fine priests at Assumption Grotto, which is the key reason for my staying and joining the parish. Our human fallen nature truly needs for us to hear frequently how to show our love for God. The first thing I learned was to take the Ten Commandments seriously, and to understand them better.

My first few months at Grotto were crushing, but in a most pleasing way. It was painful to see all the ways I had offended God throughout my life, and to actually come to grips with the fact that these were choices I myself made. The "spirit of Vatican 2" outlook was to avoid pain on the premise that God wants us to be happy. We sometimes make the mistake of avoiding the very thing that is necessary in spiritual growth - to purge ourselves of that which is not God-pleasing.

The first bad choice was to remain ignorant of Church teaching, and the more serious was to blow-off those few teachings that didn't quite mesh with my outlook on life. Relativism's ugly head was revealed only by the grace of God. I had been "jarred" abruptly by then Cardinal Ratzinger's pre-conclave sermon.

All of this was painful, yet it was pleasing to experience a new beginning and a new outlook on life which would have me putting God at the center in my daily life, and not the ways of the world.

Confession is Catchy

The news reported by Sandro Magister is very promising. And, I can tell you that it get's "catchy". I discovered this when I first came to Grotto two years ago. There is something about seeing long lines of confession that draws the soul to contemplate it's own sinfulness, prompting thoughts of using the Sacrament. That makes it a grace to be in the presence of people confessing sins and one that we should act upon should we feel that draw, even where there is no serious sin.

Confession becomes even more "catchy" when you learn to use it for the purpose of building virtue. This is where priests can really help a soul on a personal level to build holiness. There can be no pursuit of holiness while we are in a state of mortal sin because it weighs a soul down like boat anchor. In reality, it is in working on the small things - the venial matters, that we learn to tame our apetites on the heavy hitters - grave or mortal sin. This was one of the key things that Fr. Perrone taught me that day. His advice as we parted following that general confession was to read one small section of My Daily Bread each day. This little book was instrumental in further purgings as the weeks and months went by. I highly recommend it as a great little read for re-tooling your soul. It breaks you down, then teaches you how to get back up with a whole new attitude.

I also discovered then, that people respond to a priest in the confessional, especially when he is persistant. So, Fathers - if you are reading this, talk about it in your sermons - just be there consistently and pray that the people come, even when it seems no one will. I witnessed Confessions on Sunday mornings because priests make it available in the 45 minutes prior to Mass. When they celebrate Mass they put a sign up indicating confessions will need to stop 10 minutes prior so they may finish vesting. Priests at my parish also have a habit of going to the confessional outside of regularly posted times when there are large numbers of people present - and people respond.

Confession: Didn't Vatican 2 do away with that?

Confession waned in the years following Vatican 2 when, in that name of that council, it was de-emphasized. I recall vividly when a Catholic friend said to me, "Confesion? Oh, Vatican 2 did away with that!". Not!

This de-emphasis from my perspective, came right along with the growing banality of sermons in which talk of things like sin, sacrifice, self-denial, justice, and mortification were labeled as "passe".

Banal Sermons Contributed to the Decline of Confession

Sermons of the last 40 years have done much to teach us about how much God loves us, but have fallen terribly short on teaching us how to love God back. Many of our youth, and even many not-so-youthful people, have been literally tricked into believing that God wants us to be happy, even to the point of "enjoying" sinfulness. This was my key error for justifying those Church teachings I blew off: God wants me to be happy. Yeah, right! As if there can be happiness in Hell.

A few years ago, I would probably have recommended seeking out an older priest who seriously values the Sacrament of Confession and knows the graces it brings to soul. The good news is that in growing numbers, it is not only that senior priest (you know - the one who is looked upon as an outcast by the "spirit of V2" crowd), but the younger and newer priests who are emphasizing the merits of Confession.

These priests are not annoyed with the Sacrament, but are interiorly joyful at the opportunity to bring a soul back to a state of grace, which is required for worthy reception of Holy Communion. The fruits of a poorly catechized Catholic community are seen in long Communion lines, but Confession lines that are low or non-existent.

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Can Spouses use Sacramental Confession Jointly?

This in from Ed Peters:

The practice of spouses jointly celebrating the sacrament of confession recently garnered support from Catholic News Service veteran columnist Fr. John Deitzen. Provided that couples "approve and consider it helpful for their marriage", Deitzen holds that spouses may confess their sins in each other's presence and receive absolution. He notes only that each spouse would be bound by the seal of confession in regard to what he or she learned about the other.

I believe, however, that there are formidable canonical and practical objections to joint sacramental confession, and I set them out for consideration.

.....continue reading at, In Light of the Law

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Confession Schedule at Assumption Grotto

Confessions at Assumption Grotto

Thursday, April 5: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m; 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday, April 6: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m; 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 7: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m; 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(Note: There will not be confessions Saturday evening or on Easter Sunday morning)

It's time to think about Confession, something that should be happening daily regardless when we do our examination of conscience. Hopefully, all are doing this each evening. To help with this, ebreviary.com, which requires a paid subscription to the full breviary online, does have the 7-day Night Prayer (Compline) available for free. This prayer within the Liturgy of the Hours is done before going to bed and is preceded by an examination of conscience.

Due to weak catechesis and just plain neglect of my faith, laziness, and self-deception, I went through all of my life thinking that anything I truly forgot to mention in confession was a free-pass, as long as I did not "forget it" intentionally. What I did not realize is that I needed to confess any forgotten mortal sins as soon as they came to light. Assumption Grotto and time spent at Catholic Answers cured my ignorance. Needless to say, I found myself back in confession every other week for the first few months, ridding myself of things as they came to light. God was merciful in revealing no more than I could handle at one time and the sense of freedom is indescribable.

Why do I tell you this? Because it was simple for me to "forget" most mortal sins because I hadn't bothered to go to confession for months at a time, then eventually for years. Ohhhhh, the presumption involved with that!

Don't wait. Don't be afraid. Seek God's forgiveness, and his mercy. What a great time to get into a habit of frequent confession as we approach Divine Mercy Sunday, as well. Go at least monthly. And, if you do that nightly examination of conscience you may find reasons to go more frequently. The real free pass is the one we get when the priest says, "I absolve you..."


CONFESSION OF VENIAL SINS
Don't let the lack of any visible mortal sin prevent you from going. At Assumption Grotto the priests highly recommend going very frequently to help build virtue and holiness. This means, confessing venial sins and imperfections if there is nothing serious. I have had many people tell me they just don't know how to go so frequently if there are no mortal sins. I always tell them a good place to start is examining prayer life. If we are not giving the Lord at least 15 minutes daily, confess this and talk to the priest about it. Come up with a plan and if you fail to meet that plan then go back again until you have successfully managed it. Truly, you want more than 15 minutes, but that is where you start. The priest will give you ideas if you need help.

When would you want to confess not getting your 15 minutes of daily prayer in? Certainly not when you couldn't do it because you would have forsaken an act of charity, or duty. However, if you examine your conscience and realize that you spent an hour on the Internet that day, or two hours watching television, or 2 hours on a hobby, but couldn't find 15 minutes to give the Lord.......you just found something worth confessing. If you know that the most reliable time of day to pray is in the morning and are willing to get up 15 minutes earlier, but you hit the snooze too many times.....you just found something worth confessing.


CONTROLLING ALL APPETITES BIG AND SMALL
From confession of venial sins, come opportunities to practice mortification of appetites. While we are all aware of appetites which can lead us right into mortal sin, we don't often consider other appetites which have control over us and hinder our getting even closer to God. We should always have control over all of our appetites - big and small, rather than allow them to control us. Control of lesser appetites teaches us how to control the big hitters.

Other appetites can include an appetite for sleep or rest - more so than we need. An appetite for a certain food or drink that is inordinate. Today, we have appetites for computer, for TV, for sports, for the mall and so on. None of these are bad in themselves, but lead to intemperance. This leads to yet another great thing to examine and confess are those things which we go overboard on - especially if we do not give God hardly any time but weekly Mass.

If we ever get to a point that we have learned to control every appetite - big and small - we will have realized perfection. Holiness is a lifelong pursuit, one that even if we work at and fail repeatedly is far more pleasing to the Lord than not trying at all.

"I AM", said the Lord.

In the end, we must detach ourselves from all, until all that is left is God. Possession of God can only be realized when we have cleansed ourselves of all that is not Him.


GOD PLEASING USE OF TIME
Contrary to popular opinion - time spent online reading Catholic material or blogs, or time spent in Catholic forums can actually become an appetite out of control. If it affects ability to get prayer time in or to do some wholesome spiritual and scipture reading, the good thing becomes bad. This is especially true if we find ourselves gravitating to Catholic content that is predominately negative or involves reading scandals. Some blogs and "news" out there reads like a gossip rag - and may even involve detraction - airing every piece of dirty laundry that happens in the most remote sections of the Catholic Church. Only Original Sin or the Angel of Darkness could lead us to spend time reading about such things, rather than reading Scripture, the Fathers or Doctors of the Church, studying the Catechism, and so much more.

Do we spend our time on line learning and growing spiritually, and helping others to do the same? Or, are we looking for the next big scandal to let fester within us? Trust me - confess such a thing to a priest at Assumption Grotto and you will soon learn there are better ways to spend your time - such as in Adoration where we can make general reparation for offenses to God.

I know - I've been there and done that, which is why I have taken this blog in a different direction, thanks to some wonderful confessors who had no problem telling me how to spend my time in ways that are most pleasing to God.


CONFESSION: AN ACT OF HUMILITY
I'm absolutely convinced that among other reasons the Lord instituted this wonderful Sacrament, is to give us an opportunity to practice humility. Pride is the root of all sin. Humility (not humiliation), conquers pride. In order to get the grace of humility, we must practice it. Stepping into a confessional takes courage and humility. There are graces which come with absolution to help us fight sin and build holiness in our life. But the lesser known grace is that of the humility. Anyone who goes frequently can tell you that with time it gets easier. The building of humility and the reduction of pride is what makes it easier. The Angel of Darkness may fool you into thinking that you just can't confess something out of shame. Put him in his rightful place by making an act of humility and stepping into the confessional.

The only sin not forgiven, is the one not confessed. No matter how horrendous, no matter how humiliating, seek God's forgiveness and mercy in Confession.

Confession: Just do it!!!

OTHER RESOURCES ON CONFESSION

Cathechism of the Catholic Church on Confession

What does Scripture say about confessing sins? (EWTN)

Fathers of the Church on Confession (Catholic Answers)

Conquering the Ruling Passion (Opus Angelorum)

The Quality of Mercy (Catholic Answers)

Multiple resources at Catholic-Pages

Catch it now on EWTN - Pope Benedict in Penitential Service with Youth

If you are visting this blog around the time of this post, you can catch Pope Benedict in the Pentitential Service with youth (replay) on EWTN TV. If you don't have it on your television, just go to EWTN.com and choose Television - Live TV and pick your connection. You can watch it right on your computer or laptop, if you have a decent connection.

Individal confessions were heard by some 200 priests.

This is simply beautiful and we need such big services in every city to bring back awareness of this magnficent sacrament. I pray our bishops will follow the lead of our Holy Father in this regard.

Here is coverage from Zenit.

As a sidenote, "communal penance" is not something that is permitted as was very popular some years ago (and may still be in some communities). Any grave or mortal sin must be confessed to a priest following any such service.

Pope Benedict on Detachment from Sin

Date: 2007-03-26

Pope Says Sin Is True Enemy

Visits Parish of Diocese of Rome

ROME, MARCH 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Hell consists in closing oneself off from the love of God, and sin is the true enemy of the human person, Benedict XVI says.

The Pope made that comment on Sunday when celebrating Mass at the Parish of St. Felicity and Martyred Sons in the northern sector of the Diocese of Rome.

"If it is true that God is justice, then we should not forget that he is above all love; if he hates sin it is because he has an infinite love for all human beings," the Holy Father explained.

The Pontiff reflected on the Gospel account of the day's liturgy. It dealt with the adulterous woman who was to be stoned to death, but who was saved and forgiven by Jesus.

Benedict XVI stated: "Jesus does not start a theological debate about the law of Moses; he is not interested in winning an academic dispute on an interpretation of the Mosaic laws. His objective is to save a soul and reveal that salvation can be found only in the love of God.

"Jesus came to tell us that he wants us all in heaven and that hell, of which so little is said in our time, exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to his love.

"Therefore even in this episode, we understand that our true enemy is our attachment to sin, which can lead us to failing our existence."

Recalling that Jesus sent the adulterous woman away with the words, "go and sin no more," the Pope explained, "Only God's forgiveness and his love, received with an open and sincere heart, give us the strength to resist evil and to sin no more, to let us be touched by God's love which becomes our strength."

Benedict XVI concluded, "Jesus' attitude thus becomes a model to be followed by all communities, called to make love and forgiveness the pulsating heart of their lives."

Confession: A School of Mercy

Zenit is carrying an excellent article on confession. It's actually an interview with the Archbishop of San Antonio about his pastoral letter issued at the beginning of Lent 2007. You can get a link to the PDF file of the original letter over at Zenit.

The Tender Mercy of Our God
A Pastoral Letter to the People of God of San Antonio
On Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Christian Life
The Most Rev. José H. Gomez, S.T.D.
Archbishop of San Antonio
February 21, 2007 – Ash Wednesday

I want to pull out a few things from the interview:

As I point out in my pastoral letter, I believe the problem is rooted in our culture's loss of the sense of sin. Our culture is relentless in telling our people that there are no absolute truths or moral norms, and that what's true or good or evil is all relative -- that it depends on the subjective opinion of the individual. So, a lot of people are morally confused -- deceived, really. And we have to reach out to help these people to come back to the sacrament.

I have not had a chance to read the document yet, but I have often wondered how long it will take for a bishop to produce a pastoral letter on the art of watching television. I know many Catholics who can't wait for Desperate Housewives and other programs where promiscuity and open violation of the Ten Commandments is the norm. This distorts our sense of sin and Hollywood can make the worst of sins seem ok, especially to the poorly catechized generations.

The beautiful truth is that the more we go to confession, the more we grow in holiness. We experience real conversion every day. We are less absorbed in material things. We find we have the grace to see the world differently and to think and act differently. We have real friendship with Jesus.

To be honest, I think anyone who goes to confession frequently - that is at least one or more times monthly can attest to the fact that Sacramental Confession is addicting in a positive way. Once you get the hang of acknowledging your sins and a weaknesses, the freedom gained is desired more frequently. Even for those who do not fall into mortal sin, the Sacrament is worth frequent use. It is through working on venial sins - or those weaknesses and shortcomings that aren't serious, that we learn to tame the serious sins, and grow in holiness.

The first step is to find a confessor who values confession enough to encourage bringing even venial sins into the confessional. Then, you know you have a confessor who understands the pursuit of holiness in daily life. The inteview continues further down....

Q: Regarding the reception of Communion while being in a state of mortal sin, what types of pastoral steps have you taken to help the faithful understand that they must confess their sins and restore their communion with the Church before approaching the sacrament of the Eucharist?

Archbishop Gómez: Confession and Communion belong together. Before Communion we always pray the prayer of the Roman soldier: "Lord, I'm not worthy to receive you, but only say the word." Confession is that word of pardon that heals us, that cleanses us of our faults and makes our souls worthy to receive our Lord in the Eucharist.

We can't be in communion with God if there are things in our lives that aren't worthy of our baptismal calling as children of God. People know this in their hearts. I think that's why some people stop going to church -- they sense that their sins have made them unworthy of the sacrament. They're like the prodigal son who says to his father, "I've sinned against heaven and earth. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son."

Of course, our Father never stops loving us as his children. But it's still true that our sins can make us unworthy to be called to Our Lord's supper. I think people understand that -- that receiving the Eucharist under those conditions would be somehow false and wrong.

What I hope to help those in that situation see is how much our Father wants them to come back. Sometimes people stay away from confession because they're ashamed or they're afraid to tell the priest about their failings and weakness.

They've forgotten that confession isn't a conversation with a priest; it's a dialogue with God. The priest has been chosen, ordained to serve "in persona Christi," in the person of Christ -- to forgive sins in Christ's name. No one else but the priest has been given this power on earth.

With a 58 page Sacramentum Caritatis out there, I don't know when I'll get onto this fine pastoral letter by Archbishop Gonzalez, but Confession definitely comes in as a Sacrament well worth discussing here on this blog.

Fr. Zuhlsdorf on the Ad Orientem Posture....and Confession too.

Fr. Perrone celebrates the liturgy ad orientem at the 7:00pm outdoor evening Mass on August 15, 2005

Fr. Zuhlsdorf has a commentary up on one of our favorite topics here: Ad Orientem!

Fr. Z also reminds us that Lent is a good time to be considering confession and puts his Examination of Conscience up on his blog.

Abp. Wuerl and his pastoral letter on Sacramental Confession

A photo of a well-used confessional at Assumption Grotto on a Sunday morning as Mass gets underway. Assumption Grotto Confession Schedule: Saturday, Eve of Holy Day, Thursday before First Friday: 2:30-3:30 & 7:30-8:00 p.m.Sunday: 45 min. before the 9:30 a.m. and Noon Mass until the Gospel starts and any time in between if you just ask!

The Archbishop of Washington DC., Donald Wuerl, has written a most powerful pastoral letter on Sacramental Confession.

This is long overdo and I am very greatful to see it, even though I've not yet read it. Hat-tip to CWNews where I picked it up. Unfortunately, today it is by subscription only that you can read their article on it.

However, here is the actual document:

God's Mercy and the Sacrament of Penance - A pastoral letter to clergy, religious and the laity.

I hope to be reading it over the next few days.

I will post thoughts on the content then.

Deo Gratias!

January 22 - Day of Penance

Today marks the anniversary of Roe V. Wade. It was the beginning of the slaughter of innocence.

As many of you already know, there is a march in Washington. Last night, EWTN featured the vigil Mass out of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. I watched this last year and was very moved by the jam-packed church - mostly youth.

Justin Cardinal Rigali gave an excellent sermon. The procession of priests, deacons, bishops and cardinals was very moving in itself. The opening procession took 30 minutes in which traditional Catholic choral hymns were sung. I don't know how many there were, but processing two by two for 30 minutes, it seemed like there was in the hundreds.

If you were at either the vigil Mass or the morning Mass on the 22nd and took photos, send me a couple and I will post them here. Let me know how you want photo credit to be given - either a real name or a pseudoname.

Please pray for the safety of all those in attendance there in Washington. Offer your prayers and intentions this day for the unborn, for their families, for those suffering from past abortions, for reparation, and for people to come to their senses and end this butchery.

See the miracle of life in the recent National Geographic special - In the womb: Multiples. You will find images from the program there.

Visit the Priests for Life website for more pro-life resources and post-abortion assistance.

A young priest, a good sermon, and a long confession line...

 A young priest in his Angelic Chasuble this spring

I had wanted it myself but felt funny asking for it. After being flanked by several people asking me if I could get it for the blog, I mustered the courage to ask, and I managed to get it. "It" was a sermon delivered by one of the Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross (ORC) (pictured above) at the 9:30am Latin Novus Ordo on the feast of Christ the King. He offered the homily if I would allow him to remain anonymous. He did not want to draw attention to himself.

Reading it is one thing. But, sitting in the pew listening to it was very.....humbling. Banality is something that simply is not found in sermons at Assumption Grotto. Rather, they are always moving and always getting us to dig deep within our souls in fruitful ways. For a person serious about pleasing God, this is not negative, but very positive. A pearl is created by friction and abrasion within a clam, and in a like manner, the soul must be polished.

When I first came to Assumption Grotto and was going to the 7:30am Mass each day, I would notice this priest going to his confessional right after Lauds ended (about 7:20/7:25), along with the co-pastor who also goes to his confessional outside of posted hours.  He would also just show up spontaenously at times when people were in Church, like during 40 hours devotion or First Friday Adoration.  You could almost count on him being there, if there was an event in Church.  I often thought of St. John Vianney who spent many hours in the confessional.  People respond to a priest in his confessional, especially at Grotto.

After the Mass, about 1/2 hour before the noon Mass on Christ the King, I walked through the parking lot with the young priest, in my quest to get a copy of his homily. As he walked in the vestibule we could see  the long line at his confessional through a window in the door. Our jaws dropped simlultaneously and we looked at one another. It wrapped around the wall, longer than I was use to seeing. He turned to me, beamed with an enthusiastic smile, and said, "Oh I must get in there, I already have a long line". As he rushed off - I tugged at his jacket and whispered tersely, "What did you expect after a sermon like that?!!!"  He smiled, put his head down, and hurried past the line of people to his confessional.

This is key. I believe a priest can see the fruits of his sermons in the confessional where souls work to respond to God's grace. I know all too well with myself when I first began to take my faith seriously in May of 2005, that the wholesome, soul-searching sermons and homilies at Assumption Grotto made me desire frequent confession even if only for working through venial matters and imperfections. The priests at Grotto encourage this and are so very patient in this regard. They never rush or hurry someone and the people wait just as patiently knowing that time the priest takes with others, will also be taken with them. I suppose along with the good sermons, the lines had a luring effect to this awesome sacrament, as well.

Anyone in metro-Detroit in need of a great confessor will find their fill at Assumption Grotto. Just come on a Sunday and you'll blend right in with the rest of us poor sinners.

Without further delay, here is that simple, fine homily.

When we give up our stubbornness, CHRIST can reign in us!

Assumption Grotto, CHRIST the King, November 26, 2006, 9:30am

I don’t know if there is anyone here who enjoys to be corrected. We don’t like it when somebody points out our mistakes and faults, or tells us what we do or how we think is wrong and has to be corrected.

We don’t like to be corrected because it humiliates us: we have to admit a mistake.

We don’t like to be corrected because we think: ‘Who is that person who tells me what I’m supposed to do!’ We prefer to follow our own opinion and will.

We don’t like to be corrected because we might have to change something when a person tries to correct us.

In our pride we can even build a wall around us – a wall that makes it impossible for others to approach us and tell us the truth about us, because they fear hurting us or they fear that we are going to hurt them. We react even harshly when we get corrected, and in this way we make sure that the other person won’t try this again!

How proud can we be? How self-righteous? How blind? How insincere!? We put a blindfold over our eyes which make us unable to be sincere with ourselves!

So powerful is our human will! Through our will we can decide over our eternal life or death. How stubborn and fixed on one’s own will a person can be!

Certainly you have already experienced wanting to convince another person of something, but that person – even listening to your best arguments and reasons – didn’t want to change his mind. Stubbornness, we call it. The person even understands your reasons, but when he doesn’t want it, you won’t change his mind.

We celebrate the Solemnity ‘CHRIST the King’ today. CHRIST wants to reign in our souls, and He starts to reign in us when we lovingly submit our will to His Divine Will. St. Maximilian Kolbe said that holiness is when the small w (my will) equals the big W (GOD’S Will). The more our will becomes similar to His, the more He reigns in us and loves in us! CHRIST establishes His kingdom in our souls step by step: it’s a process in which we have to cooperate!

But what hard work to try to submit our will to CHRIST: To give up our plans, when the Lord wants it differently! To give up the pride to think that I’m always right and I know it better.
How often do we live in that illusion that we are already advanced in holiness?

We don’t like to be corrected. But, how good it would be for us if we were to sometimes ask our spouse, a good friend, parents, children, what they think we should make better or what we should change? We would see ourselves in a different light and could be more attentive! We could discover things which we never thought before and submit it also to CHRIST!

How beneficial would it be if we would accept correction?!

Every now and then it happens to me that a dear brother would come to me and – in true brotherly love – tell me something about my behavior. Though he said it in a gentle way, I didn’t like it very much. But then, afterwards, I started to think about it and I began to see myself in a more self-critical way – and I had to admit that he was right. With his help, I found another aspect which I didn’t want to see before, that I didn’t submit to CHRIST’S power over myself, and from that moment on I could give my will more perfectly to CHRIST.

The Lord has many ways to show us the truth about ourselves. The HOLY SPIRIT makes us discover our faults.

He sends our Guardian Angel to hold a mirror before our eyes, so we see who we really are, and to take the blindfold from our eyes which makes us unable to see ourselves in the true light.

He tries to help us to get on the right track to eternal life. He made us social beings who depend on one another… But very often we don’t want to accept the help of others.

But HE also sends us people, or a good book, or a situation in our life, that make us examine our conscience again in humility and recognize that there is something which has to be submitted to CHRIST’S Kingship.

In this way – with our cooperation – the Lord can conquer our heart slowly for Himself, when we don’t mess His plans up with our stubbornness of will.

The Collect prayer today mentions the ‘slavery’ in which we live. This slavery is the slavery of our own will. His Will is the best for us. His Will leads us to freedom. Our will just enslaves us.
We want to put our will into His hands, so that CHRIST the King may be able to use us as channels of love. In this way, we will reign with Him.

Fr. E.S., ORC

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