OPINION: The Light Is Always On

As renowned Catholic converts like Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, and Steve Ray often note, individuals who enter the Church later in life are often blindsided by how many cradle Catholics know little about, or seldom fully embrace, the faith of their upbringing. As a convert, I can likewise attest to this phenomenon.

When encountering Catholics, primarily younger Catholics who have fallen away from the faith, I find that above all else the notion of confession seems to frequently pop up as a Sacrament that is either misunderstood, or worse, loathed.

With Lent upon us, and the Archdiocese of Omaha again implementing its “The Light is On” campaign (an effort to provide more frequent confession times), it seems appropriate to offer some reflections on the Sacrament of Reconciliation – whatever such musings may be worth coming from a layman.

In the weeks leading up to the Easter vigil, and my entrance into full communion with the Church, I very anxiously awaited my first confession. I chose to confess my sins to a priest at Sts. Peter and Paul Church located in West Bend, Iowa – home of the Grotto of the Redemption – as I was there on a personal pilgrimage of reflection the week before my confirmation.

The confession experience was certainly noteworthy. I had not anticipated the sense of relief I would feel in letting go of the burden of years and years of mortal sin. The priest was very welcoming, and understanding that I could not recall each and every sin that I had committed since the age of 17 when I was legitimately baptized in an Evangelical community – even though I tried to list them all.

Going forward from my confirmation and entrance into full communion with the Church, I have continued to maintain my enthusiasm for the Sacrament of Confession. Perhaps many cradle Catholics who have fallen away from the Church do not perceive the Sacrament as enlivening as I do, but there is no doubt something uniquely supernatural and uplifting about the absolution of sins by God through the office of the priesthood.

I have heard it expressed anecdotally by priests that the line for communion is always exponentially longer than for confession. Although I am clearly not omnipresent and capable of seeing all confession lines throughout the Archdiocese, I have been to confession in at least 10 different parishes. Likewise, I have been to Mass at roughly the same number – and I totally believe what the priests are saying.

Which brings us to the heart of the issue. “The Light is On” campaign is amazing – and certainly the Church does affirm the need for confession only once a year – but the practice of more frequent confession should be front and center at the line of “things to start doing.” Not simply because of the spiritual graces one receives (although invaluable), but because in all honesty many Catholics are likely receiving the Eucharist without having confessed mortal sin – which is itself a mortal sin.

This only compounds the problem, and according to the Church’s teaching on the efficacy of the Sacraments, receiving the Eucharist unworthily literally may prevent the individual from receiving the graces available through partaking in the body and blood of our Lord. This is something to seriously consider.

Only a handful of local parishes offer the exceptional option of hearing confessions directly before each Mass. Namely, St. Peter, Immaculate Conception, and Mary Magdalene (if I missed any, I do apologize). This is extremely beneficial, and I can personally attest to the fact that, more often than not, there are so many people in the confession line before Mass that the priest simply cannot hear them all. This can be frustrating, I’m sure, but it is evidence of that fact that if it’s offered – they will come. There is no downside to offering the Sacrament more frequently, and at a time when more people are already present at the church.

I would therefore implore anyone who has a negative view of confession – if such a view is hindering your frequent reception – to reconsider the awesome healing power which God bestows on us through this most amazing of Sacraments. The Church is always waiting with open arms to receive us back into the fold, no matter how many times we fall. And, oh, how we fall.

#opinion