Testimonials
on Going to Confession
Would you like to share your
testimony, to encourage others to go to Confession? All testimonies
will be anonymous. Please e-mail it to Gina: gdonnarummo@diobpt.org.
Thank you!
From an Adult:
Being an adult who was raised Catholic over the
years as the topic of Confession came up I would dismiss the
idea and not even pursue the topic to allow myself the opportunity
for the subject to gain any credibility. Instead what I immediately
thought was, “How could the activity of Confession have any value
or assist me with the current day issues or topics I face? How
could Confession be of any value or make a difference?”
What
I finally realized was my memories of Confession are memories
that were put there by a ten year old child. If I look at any
other issue I deal with today I do not go back to the solution
I applied as a ten year old child. Therefore, the memory of
going to Confession as a child, in an adult mind and thought
process, did not fit.
What I had to come to know is Confession
as an adult is not the same as confession as a child. As a child
if you do A then, the penance is B. As an adult taking part
in Confession, at least in my limited experience, includes more
discussion around what is being confessed, understanding it and
the penance to accompany it.
Now, having been involved in the Sacrament of Confession for
over a year what I have come to realize is Confession is a component
to spiritual health. Most people know it takes food, water,
air, rest and physical activity to be physically healthy. What
I have concluded is Confession is one component of spiritual
health. Each element of practicing spirituality overlays upon
the other and brings a deeper spirituality and greater understanding.
Similarly, if you eat right you feel good but, if you add exercise
you feel even better.
What I have found is understanding Confession
and asking and receiving forgiveness of sin brings a greater
understanding to daily readings, daily prayer and causes me to
listen to familiar gospel readings with a different ear. Just
like the absence of illness may cause a person to think they
are healthy, I thought in the absence of Confession I had spiritual
health. What I did not realize until I started to "exercise
my spirituality" in a new way via Confession was how much better
it could get.
What I would tell anyone, even if you do not yet
understand how, just by taking part and sticking with it, deeper
spiritual health will come. Believe me, I do not at all yet claim
to fully understand what I am doing but, I can feel it is having
a positive effect.
From a Teen:
Confession is great tool and gift to have, and I
am so glad that my school, Saint Joseph's High School in Trumbull,
offers it.
After I receive Confession I feel completely renewed
and free of sin. It is a great relief because I know that my
sins have been forgiven and it is a time where I am able to start
over fresh and brand new. It gives me the power and the ability
to follow God the best that I can, knowing that he believes in
me and my will to do his good deeds.
I am so thankful that Saint Joe’s has Confession because it
allows me to get forgiveness whenever I need it. It is so convenient
because there is always time available before and after school.
The school really cares about student’s connection with God and
the forgiveness of sins. They give everyone an equal opportunity
to go whenever they have free time and even announce it over
the loudspeakers so that everyone can be aware of when it is
offered.
Students are also always given the option of having
anonymous Confessions, so that they are not intimidated to come
forward. Saint Joe’s really cares about its' students and their
need for the sacrament.
