September 23, 2004

Why do Catholics go to confession to a priest? Only God forgives sin! Many have offered convincing scripture-laden answers to this question. Here is another angle from experience...

By God's design, life is mediated to us. God has willed that we receive our very life through the mediation of our parents, especially during the nine months in the womb via the umbilical cord. All our lives, the strength to continue living is mediated through the sacrificial death of every animal or plant product we eat. Interesting.

By God's design, supernatural life - grace is mediated to us. First, let us call to mind the foundational truth that "...There is also one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus, himself a man, who gave himself as ransom for all." (1 Tim 2); yet, Jesus offers all members of his body, the Church, a share in his mediation through ministries and gifts. When we receive grace from reading the Bible, it can be said that grace is mediated through the human authors of those books. How often have you been blessed by God because of a homily you heard? The preacher was an instrument for those graces! Another experience of mediated grace comes when we pray for each other (a command in the New Testament).

Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation, the power and authority to dispense forgiveness in his name, to his priests. This began on Easter evening when he breathed on his chosen Apostles and said, "...As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Having often gone to confession myself, and also ministering it as a priest, I can only say there is no doubt that Jesus works real miracles of grace in this sacrament!

I enthusiastically recommend the chapter on "The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation" in The Catechism of the Catholic Church. I find it very helpful for gaining a deeper understanding of the sacrament and a deeper openness to the graces available there. Jesus once told Saint Faustina, "Come with faith to the feet of my representative. I myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest... open your soul in confession as you would to me, and I will fill it with my light. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy." Do not be afraid! Jesus is waiting for you. Trust. Freedom. Mercy. Peace.

Let us pray for each other,

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
Vocations director, residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem
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