Top Tips for Being a More Perfect Penitent

Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve been to confession. There are lots of reasons that people can fall away from the practice of regular confession. In today’s homily, I focus on some practical tips to make the whole experience less scary. Some are very basic, like what to say and do. Some should be obvious, but often prove difficult. For instance, when you go to confessions, make sure you confess your sins and not those of your spouse! Also, confessions should normally be brief. The priest doesn’t need to know the “story” behind your sin (which often amounts to making excuses to justify ourselves).

Confessions doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. Just come and concisely tell the whole sin…and nothing but the sin. In exchange, God takes them all away and you start over with all the grace you need to be holy. That’s a pretty good deal. Listen to this week’s homily for other tips to make sure you are prepared for this sacrament and for Easter.