The Vatican congregation in charge of overseeing the Sacrament of Reconciliation as well as the granting of indulgences has just finished a conference in Rome. The aim of the meeting was help people recover “the joy of the personal experience of the mercy of God” and to encourage priests to make this a priority.The one little glitch that is gumming this up is an underlying unwillingness to preach instructions to the faithful on what is sinful so that people practicing their faith in earnest will make their way to the confessional.According to the L’Osservatore Romano, the event which took place January 13 and 14 was, in the words of the head of the Apostolic Penitentary, Cardinal Francis Stafford, an occasion “to offer to the men and women of today, immersed in a post-modern culture, the opportunity to reflect profoundly on their interior life and ask God for forgiveness for the ‘abuse of power’ that is in their hands.”
“Our objective,” he said, “is to reflect deeply on the pastoral meaning of our Tribunal and why the Church, in her wisdom, created this tribunal of mercy. My hope is that the answer has been clear in these two days of meeting and conversation.”
The Vatican newspaper also quoted Manlio Sodi of the Salesian Pontifical University, who led a round-table discussing during the Symposium and said the issue of penitential services and general confessions, which are more common in North America, are “rites that fundamentally alter the very foundations of the personal act of Confession.”
People sitting in the pews believe they can be and they are saved by simply being kind and nice and not littering.
They believe they can be unfaithful to God, skip Mass, be promiscuous outside of the Sacrament of Marriage, encourage abortion, support and legislate abortion, use contraception, etc., without ever having a repentant heart for betraying and hurting Christ and seeking his forgiveness. Their conscience is never groomed to seek repentance and so they don't. The consequences and turmoil in their happiness and their lives, their friendships, their holiness, their discretion - all gains momentum until they are miserable. Meanwhile the priests are telling them all of the things they are doing are gaining favor with God. This puts a mountain of confusion between the sinner and God. But, so long as the priests can make nice chatter, they are satisfied with their vocation.
L’Osservatore Romano also pointed out that the “traditional rite of Confession underscores the aspect of liberation which divine mercy freely offers to the penitent who wishes to be reconciled with God.”
Priests can't have it both ways. In order for their flock to reconcile with God, they have to go through the process of getting upset and angry at the person giving them the guidance that takes away their fun, things they enjoy, things they are doing which they believe are in their best interests. This always results in affecting the priest's relationship with people they would prefer to just have pleasant conversations with and be popular amongst.
Like a parent, who has to teach their teenagers virtues from sin, right from wrong, truth from lies, and sometimes, it doesn't blow over very well. Their children will sometimes resent it, get mad at them, maybe even affect the pleasantness of their exchanges. Those things are always temporary - though they make take years for the children to have an epiphany, they always do. It's the sacrifice and hard work that stinks about relationships. All relationships.
I remember getting a card on my 40th birthday that said on the front cover "The worst thing about turning 40" and on the inside "was realizing my mother was right"!
I'm not implying we are compelled to respond to every situation by quoting the Catechism. There are people and situations that are inappropriate to respond in this way. even with our children and our friends. But if we have our ear in tune to the Holy Spirit, He guides us on the when and wheres and hows. Sometimes, we can even manage to muck that up.
Priests have a different duty. That's why they are celibate. That is the meaning of devoting themselves to being intimately connected with God above all things and people. So, that when he is rebuffed, it rolls off his back with the knowledge that some day the seeds he has planted will bring fruit. He may never get to see it or it may take decades. But, if the individual wakes up in the muck and mire that a life without connections to God brings and wants to reconcile with God, they will find their way to that confessional.
Keep warm kiddies!
I am off to the gym!
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