Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.

My dear Parishioners,

Peace! There are twenty-three (23) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and five (5) canons in the Code of Canon Law which can help us to appreciate the Sacrament of Penance. The following is a reflection on CCC, 1496.

There are six “side effects” or benefits of making a good Confession. Here we consider each of them in turn. Two of them have aspects of reconciliation, which gives us another name for this sacrament.

First, in Confession the penitent is reconciled with God and recovers grace. Whenever we sin mortally we separate ourselves from God. By repenting and confessing our sins, receiving absolution God gives us another chance to begin again and to develop our friendship with Him which all the Saints enjoy.

Second, the penitent is reconciled with the Church. Our sins wound not only ourselves and our relationship with God but also our relationship with Christ’s mystical body, the Church.

Third, the penitent is freed from the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sin. Most people who go to Confession (and we should all be going to Confession) have this in mind when entering the confessional. God does not want us to die in our sins and suffer the eternal punishments of Hell. When we well confess our sins we are of one mind with God because of our desire for Heaven.

Fourth, the penitent receives the remission, at least in part, of the temporal punishments due to sin. While a good Confession can keep us from going to Hell, there is still the “time” in Purgatory to consider, in reparation for venial sins and the like. When we are assigned our various penances these are to alleviate, at least in part, the temporal punishments due to sin. The sacramental absolution also decreases these temporal punishments.
Fifth, the penitent receives peace and serenity of conscience together with spiritual consolations. Together with not going to Hell, these benefits of making a good Confession are normally very much present in the minds and hearts of penitents. Who of us does not want peace and serenity of conscience? When we are aware of the foulness and stain of sin on our souls we worry, have trouble sleeping, are irritable… but when we are well confessed, thanks to God’s grace powerfully present, all is right at least in our souls.

Sixth, the penitent receives an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian combat, fighting sin and Satan in our hearts and in the world. To keep the devil(s) at bay it is good to have as much grace at our disposal. Frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion serves to repulse demonic attacks and keeps us focused on the Lord, in whom we are victorious over sin, Satan, and the glamour of evil. Part of our task as followers of the Lord Jesus involves constant spiritual combat relying upon God’s grace at work in us.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr