Confession Is Gift for Faithful and Priests

 This Lent, most parishes in the Diocese of Sioux City will increase the availability for confession by participating in The Light is On for You campaign Feb. 20.

            As the penitential season of Lent approaches – beginning with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14 - Father Peter Pham offered his thoughts on the importance of Catholics going to confession, what the church teaches about the sacrament and the fulfillment he receives in this part of his ministry.

            “We are all God’s children. God desires us to celebrate our life in joy and peace with him and in harmony with each other. But because of our inclination to sin, we are all sinners,” stressed the parochial vicar at St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll, who mentioned the consequence of Original Sin and concupiscence leading to sinful nature. “And our sins prevent us from living as children of God and as brothers and sisters of each other.”

            Through the sacrament of reconciliation, noted Father Pham, God works to restore the faithful’s relationship with him and others.

Newly-ordained Father Pham offers reflection on reconciliation

            Through the sacrament of reconciliation, noted Father Pham, God works to restore the faithful’s relationship with him and others.

            “Only when we live as God’s children will we find the value of and meaning of life,” he said, noting that above all God also wants to save his people for eternal life. “Without repentance, he cannot save us. The sacrament of reconciliation is the perfect way Jesus instituted to save us.”

            The priest cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC1457), “After having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.”

            While it is a precept of the Catholic Church to go to confession at least once a year, Father Pham said anyone who commits a mortal sin must go to confession before receiving Communion.

            Without being strictly necessary, he said confession of venial sins is strongly recommended by the church. The priest suggested regular confession of venial sins such as once a month and then referenced the Catechism (CCC1458) that can help “form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.”

            During the season of Lent, the priest noted the church often talks about 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

            “More importantly, Lent is a time for all believers to renew our baptismal commitment. We are called to grow deeper in our relationship with God and repentance is the first step,” said Father Pham. “Lent is a special season for us to prepare ourselves to faithfully walk with Christ to Jerusalem. To be worthy to walk with Christ into his death and resurrection, we must accept to die to sin and evil through the sacrament of confession, then we can begin a new life with him.”

            Because Lent is a time of reconciliation, he said it is crucial to preach and talk about the necessity of a sacramental confession. Having an event like The Light is On for You not only helps to make more time available for confessions but puts more attention on the benefit of receiving the sacrament.

            Father Pham acknowledged there are many reasons why people choose not to go to confession – shame, lack of trust in priests or even not believing sins are real.

            “Some may lose their sense of forgiveness,” he said. “But to me, many people don’t go to confession because they do not practice the faith faithfully or they do not have the habit of going to confession regularly. Also, the reason could come from priests, catechists and teachers when we do not preach and teach strongly enough about the importance and obligation of confession. Consequently, believers gradually don’t find themselves needing to go to confession.”

            If someone has not gone to confession in a while, Father Pham urged them to be confident in God’s mercy and know it is pleasing to the Lord as he unceasingly invites the faithful to reconcile with himself and others.

            Preparing for the confession, the priest suggested to go to a quiet place such as in church and ask the Holy Spirit for help in making an examination of conscience and asking God for a true conversion of heart. For those that do not remember how to make a confession or recite an Act of Contrition, he said the priest will help them through it. Following absolution and completing of the penance given by a priest, “then rejoice.”

            It is fairly common that during Lent or Advent, parishes will offer communal penance services where several priests from the area will come to one church to hear individual confessions. The services sometimes include a prayer service with Scripture readings and a homily. These services could help those who have been away from confession for a while to prepare or they could make an appointment with a priest and ask for instruction.

            Having been a priest for about eight months, Father Pham said he feels honored and blessed to do ministry. He is happy his parish offers a regular confession schedule three days a week and is always pleased to hear confessions on those days or when someone schedules an appointment.

            “Along with the eucharistic celebration, confessions always make my day. Especially when someone has returned to the sacrament of confession, I jumped for joy in my heart,” he said, noting how blessed he is to act in the person of Christ to forgive. “I was celebrating with Jesus and all the angels and saints because one of our brothers and sisters has returned to God after years. I have had this joyful experience several times even in my limited time as a priest.”