My son attended his first reconciliation service and performed his first confession on Saturday. What a joy! Both my kids came away saying they felt so much better. We got into a short but very long line before a priest who loves to talk to the kids. We joked that we must have been in the "really sinful line" but at the same time we were so greatful to have such a kind priest who took his time and took all of our worries away. It was wonderful. I'll treasure this memory.
Kathleen, Sounds like it was a blessing. So, I take it you have two boys! I grew up in a family of three boys and since I was the youngest, my other two bros always say I was spoiled! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
I try to get to confession every week if I can, Kathleen. I am blessed in that God has led me to very holy priests, one a great child of Mary and another a very holy old priest, very kind and patient. I was just counting up last night before I went to sleep ,with some sadness the great troubles I see in my family and those I know and am friends with. A friend who is grossly obese and unemployed for a long time and has been sent for special fitness training, two friends who are schzoid, another who is arthritic and suicidal, my father who may have cancer, a number who are alchoholics, so many who are well very lonely...I think here of two children who come up to me in the street and talk to me from time to time and just want someone to talk to them and be their friends, kids I think ,I suspect have a very bad home life...and so many at work who just seem to me so very ,very sad. People with really, very,very heavy burdens. I believe if people prayed and went to the sacraments they would find such healing and joy. The Sacrament of Penance is like this for me a great well spring of joy and peace and healing, whenever I go I end up smiling to myself for maybe two days after. I love this so much about following Jesus, there are always new beginnings, every day we can start again. Whats more we can bring this joy, this healing to others. John 4 Jesus and the Woman of Samaria 1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and(A) baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed(B) again for Galilee. 4(C) And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field(D) that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus,(E) wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.[a] 7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, (F) "Give me a drink." 8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" ((G) For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you(H) living water." 11The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12(I) Are you greater than our father Jacob?(J) He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." 13Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but(K) whoever drinks of the water that I will give him(L) will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become(M) in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15The woman said to him, "Sir,(N) give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." 16Jesus said to her, "Go,(O) call your husband, and come here." 17The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." 19The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that(P) you are(Q) a prophet. 20(R) Our fathers worshiped on(S) this mountain, but you say that(T) in Jerusalem is(U) the place where people ought to worship." 21Jesus said to her, (V) "Woman, believe me,(W) the hour is coming when(X) neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22(Y) You worship what you do not know;(Z) we worship what we know, for(AA) salvation is from the Jews. 23But(AB) the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father(AC) in spirit and(AD) truth, for the Father(AE) is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25The woman said to him, "I know that(AF) Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes,(AG) he will tell us all things." 26Jesus said to her, (AH) "I who speak to you am he."
Padraig said: I believe if people prayed and went to the sacraments they would find such healing and joy. The Sacrament of Penance is like this for me a great well spring of joy and peace and healing, whenever I go I end up smiling to myself for maybe two days after. I have often pondered how alienated this poor Samartian woman felt. A woman at the time of Jesus, generally speaking, could not support herself; she was dependent on a father or husband. What were the sad circumstances which forced this woman to be married five times and to finally reject marriage outright? Why did she choose the heat of midday as the time to draw water? The Samaritian woman was obviously broken and hurting. Jesus' example in speaking to the woman is how each of us should expect him to respond to us as we approach each confession. Notice how Jesus allows the woman's questions to guide the discussion. He listens attentively and lovingly. In the end, he exposes the truth of the woman's state in life. But she is not crushed by guilt; she is enflamed with joyful hope. And so, when I approach the sarament sincerely, Jesus will draw out knowledge of hidden sins and areas I might need to confront. He will do this gently in order to heal and restore. Then, as did the Samaritan woman, I will able to go forth in joy to share the Good News of Jesus, my Savior and Friend! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Mario, I was the 3 child, two older brothers so I know what torment you must have endured at their hands. Mine also said I was spoiled...sure didn't feel like it but it might have looked that way from the outside. I'm blessed to have a wonderful priest for a confessor who takes great time with all of us in the parish. He has the ability to pick out certain phrases or words that tell the state of struggle. The penances he assigns are always beautiful though sometimes hard. Once when I was really finding great pride in my life he had me say the Litany Of Humility. It was the perfect thing because I was so ready for it. Just to make sure I got the message, the Holy Spirit had his father send me an email the next day...subject... The Litany of Humility. He was the priest who once gave me the glorious penance of sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, truly it changed my life. I look forward to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Kathleen, I hope your boys always do too.
I am tickled by what you said Lee- torment at the hands of older brothers is too true. I have three older brothers, myself being the only girl. We had fun though and they tought me to be tough (in a good way). I have to admit I was spoiled and still am as I am close to my parents and they live down the street from me. I love it. I'm so blessed. My brothers are spread across the country though, so I miss them. I actually have a daughter and a son (rather than two boys) who are good buddies but do argue on occasion as they learn to get along. My daughter actually asked to go to penance this week after a bit of naughtiness. My son, who is a few years younger than her, is waiting impatiently for his first communion, but he is proud that he can go to confession now. I marvel how different my children are from my brothers and I as children. While we went to Catholic School and church and practiced our faith, my parents did not pull out the bible to read, talk about their faith or share how it impacted their lives. Thus we fell away very quickly as young adults not understanding the true value. We are all coming back to the church one by one. I have one brother left who does not yet attend mass regularly but I'm happy to say that he has baptised both his children; its a start. So my thought here is- talk about your faith with your little ones. They are like sponges and will soak it up if you don't preach but just share the impact of daily prayer and regular sacrements. I'm secretly praying for a nun and a priest to replenish the ranks- but I only share this with you all. I'll be just as happy with a couple of adults devoted to serving the lord in what every they choose. As you speak of pride- I have to smile. It is my biggest barrier I think. I fight this daily. Some days I win, many I don't, so I'm praying. Humility is a hard thing but such a blessing when you get it right. I yearn for it.
