Skip Navigation

Back

Confession

July 09, 2021
By Jessica Lemoine

Hey y’all!

I went to Confession a couple days ago, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t go behind a screen. I sat face to face with a priest and told him my sins. My reason for doing so wasn’t that great. The line for the screened Confession was three times as long (not exaggerating) as the line for face to face Confession, and I really wanted to go, so I figured I’d swallow my pride and go face to face. 

I can’t really put into words how it felt, which makes writing about it in a blog difficult, but I’ll do my best. It was like resting after a long hike, talking to a close friend who I haven’t seen in a while. This kind of makes sense, because I had been carrying around my sins for a couple of weeks, so it was kind of like a long hike with a big backpack. Also, it’d been a while since I had gone to Confession face to face. I used to go face to face, so sitting across from a priest without a screen and telling him my sins was familiar. 

When I looked at the priest, his face didn’t show any anger or judgment. It just showed love. Through the priest’s eyes, I saw the gaze of the Father, who was lovingly welcoming me back into His arms after I had gone astray. I felt accepted and understood and cared for. The words of the priest meant more to me because I got to see his body language and facial expressions - it wasn’t just a mysterious, distant voice behind a screen. The whole experience was incredible. 

So, what am I trying to say to you? Am I telling you to never go to Confession behind a screen? Absolutely not. Go to Confession in whatever way makes you feel comfortable. What I’m trying to say is that we don’t have anything to be afraid of when it comes to Confession. We’re not encountering wrath or judgement or condemnation. We’re encountering love and mercy and patience. Jesus, who uses the priest as a representative, is there to heal and embrace us through the Sacrament. 

If you’ve ever experienced a bad confessor, I am so sorry. I know how that feels, and it’s not good. I want to assure you that most priests aren’t like that. There are plenty of priests that know how to balance mercy and justice - they don’t enable or encourage our sin, but they also don’t belittle or condemn us for it. If you encounter a bad confessor, pray for him, but don’t stop going to Confession because of him. 

Confession can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Remember that Jesus loves you so much. He created the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that we can come back to Him even after we choose to walk away through sin. He wants to be close to you. Let Him.    

That’s all for now. Know of my prayers for you and your families, and please keep me and this ministry in your prayers.

Peace of Christ,

Miss Jessica

A.M.D.G.

Holy Week