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susiedear
Member
| Joined: | Thu Oct 12th, 2006 |
| Location: | Twin Cities, Minnesota USA |
| Posts: | 186 |
| First Name: | Elizabeth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Pentecostal / Evangelical / Catholic! |
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Posted: Fri Apr 6th, 2007 10:46 pm |
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This morning, when I was preparing for my First Confession, I was thinking about the Old Testament sacramental system of killing sheep and goats to provide a blood atonement -- definitely a physical act. That thought naturally brought me to the Suffering Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ, who decidedly suffered a horrendous physical act. It wasn't until He conquered sin that He gave His disciples the authority to forgive sins, and that gift is still alive with us today! In its own way, going to Confession, stating our sins, and hearing those blessed words of absolution are all, again, physical acts.
Like other have experienced, I was nervous and awkward. My priest did not want me to bring notes so it was a struggle to remember 47 years of sin. But he guided me through and asked helpful questions to spark my memory. At the end, he said that I made a good confession, and then he spoke those blessed words of absolution. I felt a yoke of burden lifted off of my shoulders. I am so thankful that Christ gave this gift to His Church! He knew we needed it.
Now I have an added impetus to pray for all the people in my life who believe that confession to a priest is invalid. May God give them eyes to see and ears to hear how He reaches out to mankind through this marvelous Sacrament.
Elizabeth
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But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. St. Augustine
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Apr 6th, 2007 11:02 pm |
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susiedear wrote: I felt a yoke of burden lifted off of my shoulders. I am so thankful that Christ gave this gift to His Church! He knew we needed it.
Amen! I'm glad you had such a positive experience.
And how was everyone else's first experience with the Sacrament of Penance?
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 720 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Fri Apr 6th, 2007 11:47 pm |
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cajunrick wrote: And how was everyone else's first experience with the Sacrament of Penance?
As a member of the RCIA team, I helped get people organized and tried to keep their nervous spirits up while they were waiting in line. Some of the people came out a little damp and red-eyed but they said they were happy and greatly relieved. Firstly for getting through the experience and secondly for the feelings of a great burden being lifted from their shoulders. There were hugs all 'round and then lots of smiles. My interpretation of these experiencse is that our pastor is so people oriented and does such a great job that everyone, newbies and old timers alike, come out of the experience of reconciliation feeling renewed and refreshed.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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