Pope Benedict XVI stated: “There is a close link between holiness and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The actual conversion of heart, which is open to the transforming and renewing action of God, is the “engine” of all reform and translates into a truly evangelizing force. In the confessional, the repentant sinner, by the free action of the divine mercy, is justified, pardoned and sanctified; he leaves the old man to put on the new man. He who has been profoundly renewed by divine grace can’t but carry in himself, and therefore announce, the newness of the Gospel.”
Our Blessed Lord is concerned with the wellbeing of one’s soul. He fed the multitude not only because they were bodily hungry, but for the benefit of their soul. Therefore He desires that sins be forgiven. Each of the seven sacraments of the Church have been established by Christ our Lord and one of the sacraments in which He has left for us is that of confession. He breathed upon His apostles and said, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”
As Benedict stated: “There is a close link between holiness and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.” It in mind boggling to think that there are those who want nothing to do with this sacrament when it pertains to holiness and the mercy fo God. It should be no secret that Protestants and sadly some Catholics make objections against this sacrament. Therefore we have probably heard a few if not all of these statements before: (1) Only God can forgive sin, (2) a man cannot forgive sin, (3) I do not need a priest because I go directly to God, (4) one only needs to be saved, and (5) sacraments do not work, but instead enable one to continue to sin.
Each of these statements are total rubbish and are far from the truth. It is God who has the authority to forgive sins; this is not being objected to by the Church. Christ has given that authority to His priests who in the sacrament of confession do not act under their own authority, but act in persona Christi (in the Person of Christ). When one is absolved of their sins in the sacrament of confession it is Christ who absolves them through the use of His priest. If the priest were not ordained nor acting in the sacrament of confession then they would be unable to forgive sin.
Confession as well as the other sacraments impart grace upon the receiver. Grace is a gift which comes to us from God which we cannot give to ourself under our own merit. The confessional is not frequented in order that we can sin, but is frequented in order that we may be forgiven for we have fallen into sin. In the Sacrament we draw close to the priest and through the authority given to him by Christ imparts the prayer of absolution which cleanses us of its grasp.
We should desire to grow in holiness in our everyday life. The only way that we will excel in this task is through the outpouring of God’s grace. Therefore, make use of the sacrament of confession and receive the infinite mercy of God. Never allow excuses to get in the way of participating in this sacrament. This sacrament goes hand and hand with the Eucharist for confession prepares our soul to receive the most wondrous gift which is Christ made present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Most Holy Eucharist.
