Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Well, dearest friends, bearing in mind the admonition of the author of the book: ‘My Imitation of Christ’ — Thomas à Kempis thus: ‘Always resist the very BEGINNING’, it is wonderful and spiritually beneficial to go for Sacramental Confession as FREQUENTLY as possible in order to always resist the BEGINNING of the reign of SIN in us.
My interest for FREQUENT Confession increased after I heard a priest say that: ‘nobody should ever be afraid or ashamed of going for FREQUENT Confession.’ He went further to say that: ‘it would be better for everybody (including the confessor) to see a penitent as a SINNER and then for God to see the person (the penitent) as a SAINT‘.
The truth is that the devil tries to discourage us whenever we want to make a Sacramental Confession because he knows how the Sacrament equips a penitent spiritually and otherwise. Living in sin makes us VULNERABLE before the Devil and DIRTY before God. Many saints, for example, St. Pio of Pietrelcina (a.k.a Padre Pio), Pope St. JohnPaul II, etc, practised and recommended FREQUENT Sacramental Confession.
👉🏼Now, If a person is struggling with a particular sin or some sins, it would be very wise for such persons to go for Sacramental Confession, even if it means DAILY or WEEKLY; bearing in mind that God will never be tired of forgiving him/her, especially when he/she goes for confession with humble and repentant heart. Remember that God does not reject a HUMBLE and REPENTANT heart (cf. Ps 51:17). Indeed, FREQUENT Confession will surely help the person overcome the sin(s) he/she is struggling with. But if the person fails to recourse to this Sacrament FREQUENTLY, then, he/she would suffer more. Just take a look at this excerpt from St. Ambrose: “… the grace of the Spirit is turned away by CARNAL impurity and the pollution of serious SIN…” (cf. The Office, Monday, Week 15). Also, do not intentionally HIDE any sin during Confession. It is a SACRILEGE that leaves a Penitent WORSE than he/she came (cf. CCC n. 1456).
Know it also that you are not restricted to make your confession to a particular priest. As a Catholic, you are free to meet any priest of your choice. However, you are encouraged to have a particular priest who guides your Spiritual Life (Spiritual Director).
Finally, for those who have been wondering whether the Pope, the Bishops and the Priests do go for confession, know it today that they equally do; because, as human beings, they also sin. Moreover, they would not like to miss Heaven after they have led others to Heaven through this Great Sacrament of Confession.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Refuge of Sinners, always support us with her powerful intercessions. Amen🙏🏽
Remain blessed🙏🏼
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