A few weeks ago my youngest had her First Confession. It's a tough thing to do. . .go to an adult and admit your wrongs to receive absolution. And yet she was so excited about it. She couldn't wait for that "fresh clean soul" feeling. In talking with adults, lapsed Catholics and no-longer-believers, I have heard learned that many adults either never had that feeling after confession. How sad.
My daughter's teachers did a great job preparing her for her first confession. They talked it up. I talked it up. Hey, how else can you convince someone that it's a good thing to sit down face to face with a priest and tell him what you have done wrong?
But it is a good thing. It's hard. It's humbling. Sometimes there are tears involved.
And when you hear those words "You are absolved of your sins" it is like magic.
That was evident in the wide smiles and light steps of those little second graders as they each returned to their seats that day.
Those little ones understand how important it is to talk to God. God does not hold grudges. God wants them to recognize when they hurt themselves or others and make amends. God loves them.
Bless those little angels. May they remember confession as a good experience and choose to go frequently.
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