
In this moving video, Fr. Mike Schmitz recounts his love for the Sacrament and the victory it is for those who receive the Mercy of God in Confession.
Fr. Mike Schmitz
Confession is not a place of sadness. It is one of the most joyful places in the world. First, you get to experience God's mercy and the love that God gave to us through the cross. Second, it is a place where people are striving to grow in holiness.
Fr. Mike iterates that the priest does not remember your sins. Sins are not fascinating, but PEOPLE are fascinating. Sins are boring. God is more interested in you than in the sins you have committed.
The heart of the priest is revealed in Confession. He recognizes his own failures and faults. The priest knows Christ has paid the price of the forgiveness of our sins and joins his sufferings to that of Christ for the love of the penitent. In the confessional , the priest gets to see God winning His children back.
Key Takeaways
- It is not sad for a priest to hear people's sins in Confession.
- Confession is a place to see God's Mercy in action.
In confession
- the discouraged are lifted up
- the wounded are healed
- the lost are found
- Sin is a failure. Going to Confession and saying, "I'm not giving up on a God who has not given up on me" is a victory!
- You are a part of God's masterpiece
- Priests are God's "garbage men".
- Confession is a place of Victory!
Questions for Reflection
- Do you think of yourself as someone who is trying to love God more or someone who has failed when you go to Confession?
- What do you think of Fr. Mike Schmitz's image of a priest being God's garbage man?
- What part of this video had the greatest impact on you? Why?
Other Resources

Why Confess Your Sins to a Priest (Part 2) | Made for Glory
In Fr. Nixon's first video on Confession, he explains where the authority of the sacrament originated. Jesus has the power to forgive sins and He passes this ability on to His priests. In this video he examines some particulars of the sacrament.
A priest may never break the seal of Confession. He is forbidden to discuss any particulars of what he has been told by the penitent. He assures us that priests do not remember the sins they have been told. After hearing many Confessions, a priest will not be scandalized by our sins.
In Confession we name what we have done. Declaring it out loud is in an important step in the healing process. The wound has been opened and can now be cured.
Key Takeaways
- Your sins are not that interesting.
- The priest rejoices with those who are coming to the sacrament.
- We are good at deceiving ourselves, that's why it's important to confess our sins.
- When we claim our sins, God can bring His grace, His mercy and His healing to our soul.
- When we hide our sins they fester.
Questions for Reflection
- Have you ever been healed of a sin you were afraid to confess and felt the relief afterwards?
- Did you realize how serious the seal of Confession is for a priest?
- Are there things in your life you blame others for, but you know they are a result of your own failings?

Why Confess My Sins to a Priest?
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
- Do you believe in the authority of priests to forgive your sins?
- Why is going to a priest to confess your sins different than just saying them to yourself?
- What do you think of the reality that our sins harm the Body of Christ?

Why Confess Your Sins to a Priest? | Made For Glory
Fr. Michael Nixon discusses the authority of priests to offer forgiveness of sins through the ministry of the Church.
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
- Do you believe in the authority of priests to forgive your sins?
- Why is going to a priest to confess your sins different than just saying them to yourself?
- What do you think of the reality that our sins harm the Body of Christ?
Confession Changed Me
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.

Confession is a Place of Victory
Confession is not a place of sadness. It is one of the most joyful places in the world. First, you get to experience God's mercy and the love that God gave to us through the cross. Second, it is a place where people are striving to grow in holiness.
Fr. Mike iterates that the priest does not remember your sins. Sins are not fascinating, but PEOPLE are fascinating. Sins are boring. God is more interested in you than in the sins you have committed.
The heart of the priest is revealed in Confession. He recognizes his own failures and faults. The priest knows Christ has paid the price of the forgiveness of our sins and joins his sufferings to that of Christ for the love of the penitent. In the confessional , the priest gets to see God winning His children back.
Key Takeaways
- It is not sad for a priest to hear people's sins in Confession.
- Confession is a place to see God's Mercy in action.
In confession
- the discouraged are lifted up
- the wounded are healed
- the lost are found
- Sin is a failure. Going to Confession and saying, "I'm not giving up on a God who has not given up on me" is a victory!
- You are a part of God's masterpiece
- Priests are God's "garbage men".
- Confession is a place of Victory!
Questions for Reflection
- Do you think of yourself as someone who is trying to love God more or someone who has failed when you go to Confession?
- What do you think of Fr. Mike Schmitz's image of a priest being God's garbage man?
- What part of this video had the greatest impact on you? Why?

Why Confess My Sins To A Priest?
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
- Were any of the reasons Chris mentioned for going to Confession new to you?
- 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?
- 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?