...You Will Find Rest For Your Souls...

Confession – what is it really meant to be?

We’ve all been there at one time or another—going to Confession with a guilty conscience, sweaty palms, anxious about what Fr. So-and-so is going to think when I tell him about _____. We go in feeling burdened, hesitant, or embarrassed—but we should not leave this way.

It is never comfortable to look back on our own failings, to own up to them and to confess them, but Jesus sees so much more than our failures and sins. That is why He invites us to come to Him.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden, light. (Matthew 11: 28-30)

The Sacrament of Penance, also known as Confession, was instituted by Christ to heal us and to renew Christ in our hearts. We not only receive forgiveness for the offenses we committed against God after Baptism, but we are also reconciled with the Church, who is wounded by our sins.

God wants an intimate relationship with us. When we sin, we separate ourselves from God; we sever that relationship. On our own, we cannot repair this rift caused by our sins. The only way our relationship with God can be repaired is by standing at the foot of the Cross, asking for God’s forgiveness and mercy. God gives us Himself through grace to heal and sanctify us so we can be like Him and live with Him, intimately, in Heaven.

When Jesus needed Peter the most, Peter denied Him three times. This sin was a huge burden on Peter’s conscience. His guilt over his failure was eating away at the core of his being and Jesus knew this. Jesus had to show Peter that He forgave him. He removed Peter’s guilt and gave him a vision, a sense of purpose, a mission. Through this forgiveness, Peter was no longer bound by the guilt of his past failures, but now was filled with hope for the future.

Peter said to him, "Master, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." (John 13:37-38)

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. (John 18:15-16)

Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter, "You are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." (John 18:17)

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (filio) you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." (John 21:15)

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." (John 18:25)

He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love (filio) you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." (John 21:16)

One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. (John 18:26-27)

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (filio) me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (filio) you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)

This is what God wants from us every time we go to Confession. He wants to see us transformed, to overcome sin and the temptation of sin, to overcome the flesh of this world for the spiritual of the next. We need to trust in God’s forgiveness and mercy with the hope of having our lives transformed through His grace. Jesus understood that Peter was unable to love Him enough to die for Him. However, Jesus reassured Peter that He would lead Peter to an agape-kind of love.

When a Catholic comes from Confession, he does truly, by definition, step out into that dawn of his own beginning…in that brief ritual God has really remade him in His own image. He may be grey and gouty, but he is only five minutes old. ~ G.K. Chesterton

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that we must appreciate this gift that God has given us through the Sacrament of Confession, a Sacrament of Christian Initiation. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. It has been said that we sin so many times a day, but our sins are washed away through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. (1425). The conversion in Confession is within our hearts, not to be seen as an outward sign, but an inward one, one of Christ. This conversion is a repentance of ourselves, a turning away from sin, and repugnance toward evil. At the same time, God asks us to change our lives, to trust in Him, His grace, and His mercy. Sin causes our hearts to be heavy and burdened. God must give us a new heart, must give us strength to begin again and to trust that His love will always keep us turned away from sin. (1430-1432).

The Sacrament of Penance is meant to be a celebration where all of Heaven rejoices whenever a sinner repents. Confession gives us a greater hope of being united more deeply with Jesus, to be an adopted son/daughter within God’s family. This change in our hearts through this Sacrament helps us to change our lives, in harmony with God’s.

The Sacrament of Penance must be one of the most exhausting, demanding, and difficult ministries of a Priest, yet one of the most rewarding. It requires prudence, discretion, discernment, and firmness, tempered with gentleness and kindness. Pope John Paul II likened the Sacrament of Reconciliation to going to the doctor. If a patient is too fearful of what the doctor would say to show his wounds, the doctor cannot heal what is not known. Christ is the physician of our souls. We need to bring everything to Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation…everything. The Priest, acting in persona Christi, is the minister of Penance who makes Christ present for us through the Holy Spirit. Christ is still the High Priest, behind the Priest. When we go to Confession, we are not going to the Priest (the human), we are going straight to Christ, who is present to us through the Holy Spirit in the Priest. It is Jesus who is listening as we pour out our hearts; it is Jesus who is absolving us from our sins. Like the doctor, we need to bring everything to Jesus in the Confessional so He can heal our wounded hearts and souls.

We should not be discouraged if we do not see progress. Frequent Confession helps us to be free from the bondage of sin, as well as, consistent in our struggle against sin. Nor should we be disappointed if we do not feel/see immediate effects of a particular Confession. When our sins are forgiven, they are completely forgiven…and forgotten. You do not need to feel like you are walking on clouds when you leave the Confessional – trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness. Be assured that you now are a new creation in Christ…you now have a clean slate.



(Confessional picture used with permission from www.vassaloftheking.blogspot.com)

Confession - Prologue

When I was in a Christian charismatic group, the household heads asked if I would do a talk on Confession. I was ecstatic! This is one of the Sacraments that I have come to love in our Church. The healing, the vulnerability before our Lord is such a great blessing!



Since that time, I left the group, reasons not important. Many friends have asked if I would still talk about what I learned - I decided to write about it. I have only read those articles approved by the Church, including Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exortation Reconciliation and Penance; Lord, Have Mercy, by Scott Hahn; Misericordia Dei, Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio by Pope John Paul II; Catechism of the Catholic Church; and many of the Apostolic Letters, homilies, and articles found on Zenit.com from Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and others leading our Church. I also conferred with several Priests in the Cleveland Diocese for further clarification and have asked the Parochial Vicar at my parish to read and comment on the writings before I post them.

This is my research and is in no way an exhaustive description of the Sacrament.

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Outline:
What is Confession (Principle aspects of the Sacrament)

What's in a name? Confession? Penance? Reconciliation?

Signs & Symbols

Sin
What is a sin?
Types of sin
Loss of the sense of sin
Scruples

Why confess sins?

Forgiveness of sins
Cain, Abel, and Original Sin
The Prodigal Son
Judas - was he forgiven?
Divine Mercy & the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Pastoral Ministry of Penance & Reconciliation
Forms of Celebration of Confession
What is Bound on Earth shall be Bound in Heaven
Why confess to a Priest?
Priestly Involvement

Fundamental Convictions of the Sacrament

Sacraments & Confession

How to Make a Good Confession
10 Commandments
Beatitudes
Steps of going to Confession
Act of Contrition

"What to do when..." (What to do in certain situations)

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I hope you learn to enjoy this Sacrament as much as I have...if not more!

Meme

I was tagged a Meme by a friend of mine ... my first one since I opened my blog.

Use the 3rd letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real places, names, things, nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same initial.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?.....................................Lillian Marie
4 LETTER Word:..................................................Love
VEHICLE:..............................................................Llama (did not say motorized vehicle)
TV SHOW:.............................................................Land of the Lost
CITY:.......................................................................Louisville, KY
SAINT'S NAME (BOY):........................................Luke
SAINT'S NAME (GIRL).........................................Lucy
OCCUPATION:.....................................................Landscape Architect
SOMETHING YOU WEAR:..................................Locket
SOMETHING FOUND IN A CHURCH................Liturgical Music
FOOD:....................................................................Limburger Cheese
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM...........Lipstick
REASON FOR BEING LATE:.............................Lost
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT:................................Let me at 'em!
SPORT:..................................................................Lacrosse
CURRENCY:.........................................................Lira
ANIMAL:................................................................Lady bug
WORD TO DESCRIBE YOU:..............................Laughing
SOMETHING AT THE LAST SUPPER:.............Lord
CHRISTMAS CAROL:..........................................Little Drummer Boy
PART OF A SNOWMAN:....................................Lincoln-style top hat
HYMN:....................................................................Litany of Saints

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

In India, a Sister of the Congregation of Jesus walked into the meditation room in the Universal Solidarity Movement (USM).

"I looked all around for the tabernacle in the dim light," the Congregation of Jesus nun admitted to UCA News, "but all I could see was a small ceiling fan, a tube light and a gigantic mirror on a wall." The sari-clad nun, 32, began wondering why the room did not even have a crucifix, but then her eye caught a black, wooden sign above the two-square-meter mirror. Written on it were the English words "God within" and a phrase in Sanskrit, "Aham brahmasmi (I am God)."

Here's the full article.


I hope I am not the only one seeing a problem with this! It's a slap in the face to what we believe - the Most Holy Eucharist, Jesus holy sacrifice for us. If 'I am God' why would I need Jesus? This reeks of New Age and Future Church!

In John 6:53 Jesus said: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you will not have life in you." The Most Holy Eucharist, this divine presence, deserves our worship. Someone who believes in it should be much inclined to come before the tabernacle often. Benediction, Perpetual Adoration, and 40-Hours Devotion should be promoted everywhere!

The Catholic Church has defined the dogma of the Real Presence by stating that Jesus Christ is present, whole and entire, under the appearances of bread and wine following the words of Consecration at the Eucharist. Exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is not only a very old devotion in the Church, but it also highlights the fundamental mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist that our Lord is truly present, body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Blessed Sacrament. It is the same in every Tabernacle of every Catholic Church within the world. We have a unique privelege to be able to visit and be with Jesus, his physical presence, at any time! How awesome is that?

From: The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of Christ
by Fr. William G. Most

Speaking of full membership in the Church, Pius XII, in his Encyclical on the Mystical Body, said it is the society of those who have been baptized, and who profess the faith of Christ, and who are governed by their bishops under the visible head, the Pope, the Bishop of Rome.

The Church came into being when Christ died on the Cross, but it was formally inaugurated on Pentecost, when He sent the Holy Spirit as He had promised. St. Paul speaks of all Christians as members of Christ, so that with Him, they form one Mystical Body (Cf. 1 Cor 12:12-31; Col 1:18; 2:18-20; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:19; 4:13). St. Paul did not use the word Mystical. It was developed more recently to bring out the fact that this union is unique, there is no parallel to it. It is not the same as the union of a physical body, nor that of a business corporation.

The Church, the Mystical Body, exists on this earth, and is called the Church militant, because its members struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil. The Church suffering means the souls in Purgatory. The Church triumphant is the Church in heaven. The unity and cooperation of the members of the Church on earth, in Purgatory, in Heaven is also called the Communion of Saints. When St. Paul uses the word "Saints" in opening an Epistle, he does not mean they are morally perfect. He has in mind Hebrew qadosh, which means set aside for God, or coming under the covenant. Being such means of course they are called to moral perfection. But of course, not all have reached it in this world.

The word "Saint" in the modern sense means someone who has been canonized by the Church in recent times, or was accepted as such by the Church in earlier times. If a person is shown to have practiced heroic virtue--beyond what people in general do - in all virtues, the title "Venerable" is given; with two miracles by that one's intercession, the title is "Blessed"; two more miracles can lead to canonization and the title of Saint.

Taken from The Basic Catholic CatechismPART FIVE: The Apostles' Creed IX-XIINinth Article: "The Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints"
By William G. Most. (c) Copyright 1990 by William G. Most



The Catholic Church is called the Mystical Body of Christ because we are all united by mystical bonds with one another and with Christ, our Head. This does not mean that we are God. We are all adopted sons and daughters of God...but we are NOT God. God lives in us because of our faith, through the Most Holy Eucharist. We invite Him into our hearts and souls. Jesus knocks at the door to our hearts, but we have to first open the door to let Him enter.

We are constantly striving to be holy because God asks us to be holy, like He is holy. This does not mean that we ARE holy - far from it!

"Never forget this truth: the Eternal Father is pleased with us only in so far as we imitate His Son and inasmuch as He sees in us the likeness of His Son, for it is in His image that He has predestined us from all eternity. For us there is no other form of sanctity than that which Christ has shown us. The degree of our perfection is measured by the degree of our imitation of Jesus and of our union with Him." ~Dom Columba Marmion, O.S.B.Abbot of Maredsous

This union is with Jesus on the Cross and in the Tabernacle - not in a mirror.

Speak, Lord...

Growing up in a very faith-filled home can be absolutely wonderful, but can also be intimidating. Not so much for the faith - that was the wonderful part. It was beyond the faith that was trepidacious.

My parents taught us how to live God-filled lives. They taught us to love the Lord, our God, to spread that love to others and how to listen to God's voice. The latter of which, I have the most difficulty. It's not so much having the desire to listen, it is more slowing myself down (and my mind down) in order to listen. My mind wanders continuously so trying to remove all thoughts during Adoration or Mass can be quite the challenge.

It was not uncommon to see my parents pray. In fact, they usually prayed about everything ... everything that mattered. They tried not to fret over the little things that attempted to block their view of God's path. It was wonderful to see them praying ... to observe their faith. It was when they instantaneously invited us to join them, and 'no' was not heard - we were included anyway, that became a bit embarrassing. It wasn't that we were praying, it was we were praying as a group. With my prayer, I am more introspective, more private. These are my personal prayers to God. My parents, however, firmly believe that when two or three or more are gathered in His name, the prayer will be answered. Maybe not in the way expected...but yet answered.

It was when we were living in the south that I was introduced to the gift of Tongues. For a girl who was already shy about praying aloud, it was disquieting to be around people who had this gift...especially when they used it! My parents usually used the gift when they needed to step back, out of themselves, during prayer, and ususally during their private prayer time. They needed to focus on God's view rather than the world's view.

When we moved to Ohio, maybe three years after we moved, they joined a charismatic prayer group. Every once in awhile the group would meet at our house and all of the kids would hide. But it was in those brief moments when we HAD to run downstairs that we heard the group speaking in Tongues. It was intriguing, yet intimidating. For a brief second I was straining to hear each of the different words ... then my fear got the better of me and I headed back upstairs to the safety of my own room - where I knew and understood the language spoken.

A little over a year ago, I joined a charismatic prayer group. They had a beginning series to introduce us newcomers to the Holy Spirit and the Most Holy Trinity, although the Holy Spirit and Jesus were the usual topics of discussion. I remember being prayed over to receive any gifts of the Holy Spirit that God wanted to bestow upon me. I also remember telling God, 'anything but the Gift of Tongues!' What a way to halt any endowment of God.

It was after I left the group earlier this year that I actually started opening more to God's word and trying to listen to what He was trying, ever so patiently, to tell me. It was then that I was opening more to God.

Little by little, phrases would come into my thoughts. Actually, they were more like utterances since I did not understand what they were, the language, or if it, in fact, was a language. I continued to pray about it, discern, and accept what I was slowly being revealed. About a month ago, my mom and I went to Adoration. The utterances became stronger. I knew I heard a few of the words before, so I asked my mom to speak in Tongues. The Lord was revealing to me His special gift ... a gift only given to me ... the gift of His Tongue!

I'm not a person who seeks a religious ecstatic experience, you know the kind, the 'allelujia, praise God! Be healed and be saved!' type person. Actually, even the enthusiastic ministers seen on TV send a chill up my spine. I am more reserved, more conservative with prayer. I use this gift during my personal prayer time when I am praying about a specific person or specific situation...not unsimilar to my parents. I ask for God's will to be done, not mine, and use the gift to praise God and His holy Name.

I have also found that I use this gift during Mass - during the epiclesis and consecration. Since the Gift of Tongues is actually a language used to praise God, I want to praise Him during the most sacred time during Holy Mass, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What I found is that this gift has truly been a blessing. I have used it when I pray with friends, usually those who also have the Gift of Tongues. In my Church, we do not use the sanctus bells, so I pray with the Gift of Tongues, quietly, during the epiclesis and consecration...creating a joyful noise to the Lord.

Little did I understand what a blessing this Gift of God would become. Little did I understand the power of God and that He wants what is best for me. Little did I understand I do not know what is best for me in God's eyes. I need to remember Samuel's words..."Speak, Lord, your servant is listening," and then truly listen...

Thank goodness for family!

There are few things that I splurge on myself. One is good tennis shoes. They must have a high arch, leather, and be made by a reputable company. Levi Jeans - 550 - the others just are not as compfortable nor last as long. Another is Caribou Coffee's double mocha turtle latte. And lastly, although somewhat embarrassing, is VS underwear. It's the comfort - it's all about the comfort! Of course, I don't buy the plain colors - I have to get the funky designs and neon/bright colors.

When I made my decision to join a Convent, and then God led me to Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity, I started laughing because their habits are all white. Somehow, the leopard print or 'Love' showing through the habit does not seem most holy nor the impression I really want to make.

However, my sister, being the wonderful instigator that I taught her to be (being the oldest, I had to teach my wisdom to my younger brothers and sister. I taught her well.) She said all I needed was to add "I [heart] God" to the backside. We laughed, then I dismissed the thought.

Little did I realize, she was serious! For my birthday, not only did she buy me some of my favorite undies, she also ADDED the spiritual saying, with puffy paint, no less!

Family! What to do with them?? LOL At least I know I'll have about 2 years to proudly wear them!

LOL

Movin' On Up, to the East Side...

The news is finally out!

Wednesday, my department had a surprise breakfast for my birthday. On Thursday, my actual birthday, I had an important meeting scheduled in the afternoon so I blocked out the entire day, which they thought I was not going to be in the office.

The table was decked out with a birthday tablecloth, balloons, and lots of food (muffins, donut holes, bagels, juice, cupcakes). What a great surprise! And yes, cubicle volleyball was played during the day. Unfortunately, I forgot to buy gold coins (chocolates) so we could have an 'olympic cubcile volleyball game.'

So as we were all sitting there, all 10 of us, I had the nudge from the Holy Spirit to tell my story. I had talked with my director on Monday that after my come-and-see week in September, I would tell the rest of the department. The Holy Spirit said now.

An amazing thing happened! They were ALL very supportive! I could not have asked for a better reaction from my colleagues...what a blessing! Although one of the staff nudged another and said, 'I think this means we have to be NICE to her.' lol

So now, I'm waiting to see how fast the news gets through the rest of the company. I'm sure the rumor mill will be in full swing...but so far I have heard nothing. Somewhat thankful, yet somewhat fearful....fearful for what MAY be coming. Then again, it's in God's hands.

What's in a Name?

Lillian Marie. My two middle names. My given middle name is Marie, a form of Mary. It is the name of my Grandmother, who was born on the Feast of the Assumption, and Mary, our Heavenly Mother, both of whom I am named after. (I was born on the Eve of the Feast of the Assumption).

Lillian. Well, there's a story behind that name.
(For those of you who know me...of course there's a story! LOL)

I went to public school through most of my elementary/middle school years. I attended CCD (now known as PSR) and Confirmation in our Diocese was celebrated in 8th grade, so we were not studying the Sacrament yet. I made it through a little over half of 7th grade when my family moved to another state. There, I attended a Catholic School. However, Confirmation was celebrated in 11th grade. Great!...I expected to stay in this state & school system through my 12th grade.

Uhm...big problem. We moved again after I finished 9th grade. We finally landed in Ohio, where I finished my high school years. However, here, Confirmation was received in 6th grade...and I was in 10th! Yikes!

Since we attended Catholic Schools, the actual Confirmation instruction was given in the 6th grade religion class. So, little instruction, with the exception of one brief overview session, was given to my brother and I, both of whom were above 6th grade. All I remember was people asking me if I picked a name and who my sponsor was. It seemed every week, 'Did you pick a name yet?' 'Which name did you pick?' 'Who is your sponsor?' 'Have you decided on a name?'

Okay, I should have asked some questions, but I didn't.
(I was a teenager...I thought I knew it all - hah! was I wrong!)
Dad, I think mom just fainted....I admitted I was wrong.

Name, name...which name? I went through old school pictures, looking at kids that I liked back then (maybe not the best choice). I tried to remember friends that I had when I was younger and their names...nothing seemed right. Then I went through names of relatives... somehow I just couldn't see picking the name Gertrude, my grandmother's name. We always used to call her Dirty Gerty and it just didn't have the same effect, especially for a Sacrament. Ethyl May?...nope! Dolly?...I think not. It never occurred to me to look up a Saint's name! (Doh!)

I could not come up with any names that I liked. So I went to the best source I could think of (remember, I was a teenager)...Harlequin Romances!

Yep! Found the name...Fleur! Loved it! (I also like the character, which helped solidify my decision) - okay, again, maybe not the best way to pick a name for Confirmation...but hey, I had a name (waiting for the jolt of lightning to come down from the sky - any minute now).

Now for my sponsor. My grandmother, Mary!
Our birthdays were just one day apart...and, after all, I was named after her.

Well, there you have it....Name: Fleur. Sponsor: my grandmother.

Although, I must confess, I did receive some strange looks when I told people my chosen name. But hey, it was French, what did they know? And...I thought I was cool picking a French name...and only I knew where I got the name (well, until now, that is).


Confirmation: God certainly has a way of revealing HIS plan!


I had proudly handed in my name, on an index card no less, a week before we were to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The day of the Ceremony, the Mass began and I was proud as a peacock...until I looked around at the rest of the class and they were all 2 feet shorter than I was (uhm...feeling just a bit out of place). This sea of 6th graders, then there was me and my brother ... we stuck out like sore thumbs! But then I saw my boyfriend, D., and everything was okay. He came! I was elated!

We slowly filed down the aisle toward The Bishop. Yes, THE Bishop of our Diocese...he actually made it down to our little hick-town, cow-country...lots of corn...and the 'fresh country air'. I remember being impressed that OUR Bishop was there.

As the boy in front of me walked up to the Bishop to receive the Sacrament, the lady beside me was trying desperately to pronounce the name I had written on the card. Fleer? No Fleur. Flur? No, Fleur! Flir? Exasperated, I blurted out 'Lillian!' and probably a bit too loud. (I thought I heard a thud in the back of the Church ... it was the jaws of my family dropping on the floor!)

She announced to the Bishop, 'I present to you Lillian'.

I have NO CLUE where that name came from...it just popped into my head. I did not know of ANY Lillian's...nor do I remember having any friends or reading of any Lillians. But there it was...my Confirmation name...Lillian.

Okay, NOW I have a clue. The Holy Spirit and Mary definitely took care of the heinous mistake I was about to make by having my Confirmation name from a Harlequin Romance book. (My family is still scratching their heads on that one!)

And there you have it... Lillian Marie. (maybe this is why God has not granted me any children!) lol

How Great Thou Art!

How great Thou art!

Day of Reparation

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy is proposing today (Friday, August 1) as a national day of prayer and fasting in the wake of the desecration of the Eucharist by a Minnesota professor.




Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet