Why in the world would I tell my deepest, darkest sins to someone else? What is confession and why does the Catholic Church have it as sacrament? Confession, also known as reconciliation, is one of seven sacraments in the church. And what is a sacrament? 

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions.” (CCC #1131) What this means is that they are actions or rites that have come down from Jesus.

There are two main reasons for confession: forgiveness and healing. In the Gospel of John, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the twelve, and says: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:21) And in James 5:16, the author writes: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.”

But is the Bible the only place where this practice is encouraged? In the Didache, an early Church writing from the first century, it states: “Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure” (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [A.D. 70]). There are also other accounts throughout Church writings concerning confession.

Many of us struggle with the same issue over and over; these are called habitual sins. When we struggle with something we can start to get frustrated, even to the point of giving up. There are fewer feelings better than getting these off my chest. When I go to a priest and confess my failures it gives me a “spiritual boost.” Most psychologists will agree that the first step for an addict to overcome his/her addiction is to admit that there is a problem and then find someone to talk to about it. This is a human reality, not a condemnation. This is exactly what confession is for me. Now I’m not saying I’m addicted to sin, but I do fall down, and when I do I’m so happy that the Catholic Church has the beautiful sacrament of confession.

In these last few days before Easter, it’s a great time for us to take some time and reflect the areas in our lives that need forgiveness and healing. Perhaps a trip to the confessional would be great way to prepare for the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord.