Q&A: When I was a novice (many years ago), I made Saint Louis de Montfort’s Act of Consecration and it has been a beautiful support in my religious life. I’m not conscious of truly sinning against God, so I find confession outdated and have not gone to confession in many years. At times that bothers me since I wonder if going to confession is part of living the consecration.
Father J. Patrick Gaffney, SMM
Sr. B.W., St. Louis, MO.
Do I Need Confession?
Yes it is part of living the consecration. More importantly, it is part of your life as a Catholic and especially so as a religious. Confession outdated? Not as long as there is sin in the world. You are not conscious of committing sin? The closer we are to God, the more we experience distance. The more intensely we enter the ALL-HOLY, the more conscious we are of our sinfulness.
Sanctity makes us sensitive not only to God’s unconditional love but also to whatever is not in perfect harmony with God. That is why the great saints, like Teresa of Avila, Louis of Montfort, insist upon their sinfulness while at the same time stressing the beauty and love of God. That is why the sacrament of reconciliation was an often celebrated event of their lives. If we do not experience our sinfulness, how close are we to God? Even though our “daily faults” are burned away by the love of God in the celebration of the Eucharist, the experience of our sinfulness calls us to the special sacrament instituted by Christ for reconciliation.
Moreover, in the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation, we acknowledge God as the God of Love, the God who reconciles and forgives. In the sacrament we let God be who God is; forgiveness, reconciliation. So even if you mistakenly believe that you do not have any need of the sacrament, give God the opportunity of being Himself; let God embrace you in His unique expression of love in the sacrament of confession.
Return to The Queen: Q&A
Want to understand more about this Sacrament? Read more and listen to this Conference Audio (link).
