Catechism Of The Catholic Church

Fr. Mike Schmitz always presents an uplifting, approachable explanation about particulars of the Faith. In this video he gives great advice to those who, for one reason or other, have not gone to Confession for a while.

How do you remember the sins you've committed ten years ago? By using an examination of conscience, you can see where you have failed to love God. Where and how did you say "no" to Him over the course of the time you've been away?

Sin breaks our relationship with God. Confession is the opportunity to restore that bond. Just as you would say you're sorry to someone you've injured, telling God you are sorry for offending Him repairs the damage you have incurred.

Key Takeaways

• The Holy Spirit convicts us of what we have done wrong if we give Him the time and space to listen to His voice.
• A good Examination of Conscience is a necessary tool to determine how we have missed the mark of loving God as we should.
• If you unintentionally forget to mention a mortal sin in Confession, that sin is forgiven, but you should mention it the next time you go to Confession.
• Confession is always about restoring our relationship with God. We should try to remove every impediment which stands in the way of loving Him.
• Fr. Schmitz has co-authored a book "Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation"

Questions for Reflection

1. Is there something that is keeping you from Confession?
2. Are you willing to prepare yourself properly to receive the sacrament ?
3. Does examining your conscience seem overwhelming, scary, intimidating, or painful?

The Sacrament of Confession is scriptural. When we confess our sins to a priest, we are obeying Christ and how He envisioned us relieving the burden of our transgressions. If we are a follower of Christ we do what He asks us to do!

Chris gives us four main reasons to go to Confession. Some of the reasons he suggests are ones that are not typically mentioned : psychological health, going straight to God instead of relying on ourselves , making sure our serious, mortal sins are forgiven and healing our community through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

There is so much packed into this short video you may have to watch it several times to catch it all.

Make sure you're taking notes!

Key Takeaways

• The devil is a liar. His desire is that our sins would fester in our heart, harming us mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. When you confess your sins, you are removing their power over you.
• When you go to Confession you are going straight to Christ himself. The priest is "In personaChristi", in English, " In the person of Christ". Professing your sins to Christ is preferable to saying them to yourself in your room.
• Mortal sin breaks the friendship we have with God. If we desire to restore this relationship we must seek absolution from a priest. We can be sure of this healing when we hear the words the priest speaks during the sacrament.
• The only way to heal the damage we have done to the community when we sin is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• My relationship with God does not depend on my perfect love for Him but on His perfect love for me.

Questions for Reflection

1. Were any of the reasons Chris mentioned for going to Confession new to you?
2. What do you think about the words the priest speaks to you in the sacrament? Did this video give you a greater appreciation of what is said in Confession?
3. What do you think of the concept that Christ died to give us grace and mercy? Do you think of that reality in relationship to the Sacrament of Confession?

Joseph Pronechen collects stories about several people who returned to the Sacrament of Reconciliation after being away for many years. Beautiful testimonies! There is so much joy in their return to God.

It is evident in this video that Fr. Casey Cole has a great love for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. One of his disappointments is that some who come to to Confession have not been given proper formation in how to make a good Confession.

Because the confessional is not always conducive for instruction on "How to make a proper Confession", Fr. Casey has created Tik Tok videos featuring seven different common ways people can misuse the sacrament.

The videos are exaggerated scenarios where Fr. Casey plays the priest hearing Confession and the penitent individual. What is most clearly expressed in this video is Fr. Casey's deep love and respect for those coming to Confession and his hope that all who come to the sacrament can experience God's amazing love for them.

Key Takeaways

• Fr. Casey desires to "teach" and "form" individuals in the proper use of the Sacrament of Confession

Some ways people do not use the sacrament properly:

• List - Individuals can come to Confession with a long list of sins without much evidence of contrition for any of them.
• Burying the Lede - There are some who hurriedly squeeze a serious sin between two venial sins without giving an indication that there's a difference between the two.
• Confessing everything as mortal - Not all sins are serious. It is important to know the difference between the two.
• Scrupulosity - The frequent, habitual use of Confession is usually an indication of a mental health issue. The CCC #1393 and 1394 show how our sins are expiated through our reception of the Eucharist at mass. This may not be enough for those who suffer from obsessive, compulsive disorder, but it may give some comfort to them.
• Vagueness - Confessing that you have broken commandments 1, 5 and 8 is not enough information for the priest to understand what you are struggling with.
• Naming other's sins - Confession is about your relationship with God. It is not meant to be a time to discuss the faults of others.
• The Rambler - Confession is not the time to discuss theological questions or sorting out how you feel about things. It is always about confessing the ways in which you've failed to love God.
• Welcome Home - It it clearly shown how much having someone return to the Sacrament of Confession means to Fr. Casey in this last short Tik Tok video. True contrition is a joy to see.

Questions for Reflection

1. Did any of the videos make you think of the way you go to Confession?
2. Were you convicted by any of the videos?
3. Will viewing these videos help you think about how you approach the sacrament the next time you go?
4. Can you sense how Fr. Casey feels about the Sacrament of Confession?

Jesus gave His disciples the power to forgive sins when He breathed His Spirit on them after the Resurrection. Through apostolic succession, each priest has the same power entrusted to him. This gift was given to the Church so that the forgiveness of Christ can go out to the whole world.

Through this power and authority of Jesus, we are absolved of our sins. Reconciliation between us and God and the community is obtained.

Key Takeaways

• Christ established the Sacrament of Reconciliation to bring forgiveness to the world.
• Priests represent Christ.
• Authority to forgive sins is lived in and through the priest.
• One person's sins affect the whole body of Christ.

Questions for Reflection

1. Do you believe in the authority of priests to forgive your sins?
2. Why is going to a priest to confess your sins different than just saying them to yourself?
3. What do you think of the reality that our sins harm the Body of Christ?

Fr. Mike opens with the scripture passage from 1 John 5: 16-17. "There is such a thing as deadly sin", writes John.

There are 3 stipulations for a sin to be mortal:

1. The offense must be serious
2. You must know it's serious
3. You must give full consent to committing the offense

All sin is wrongdoing and an offense against God. Venial sins harm our relationship with God, but mortal sin breaks our communion with Him. This is true in all relationships. Some offenses will weaken our friendship, but some will cause irreparable damage. We should strive to not offend anyone we're in a relationship with, particularly our Lord.

The wonderful gift is that grace is always available to us. God desires to restore our relationship with Him. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It's time to be forgiven.

Key Takeaways

There is a difference between mortal and venial sin.

• There is a difference between venial and mortal sin.
• Mortal sin is a grave action, committed in full knowledge of its gravity and with full consent.
• Venial sin weakens us to the point where it makes committing a mortal sin easier.
• Confession is the Sacrament of Mercy.
• Sin is a wound in our relationship with God and others.
• Grace is always available to us

Questions for Reflection

1. Are you sensitive to the difference between a mortal and venial sin and realize when you have committed one or the other?
2. Do you try to avoid venial sins and confess them regularly to avoid falling into more serious sin?
3. Do you think it's important to examine yourself daily to see a pattern of behaviors which may be sinful or ways where you have failed to love God and others?