Confession a lost art for some..An abundant grace for others.

Divine Mercy Sunday is here today, Jesus' favorite Sunday as told to us by St. Faustina. His abundant grace is here for all, even the worst of sinners-Would God have it any other way?

This post is not meant to be judgmental but to encourage the faithful whom have not been in a long time. As we are asked to confess our sins on a regular basis so that we may remain in a state of grace to receive our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Living in a state of grace is hard.. wait.. no.. living in a state of grace is VERY VERY Hard, the enemy tempts us in so many ways, we must keep our vessels clean so that the Holy Spirit may fill us with love, and help us to prevent the devil from sending his minions to claim our soul.

Do I sound a bit fire and brimstone-ish? I hope so, fear of God must be spread, as well as fear of eternal separation from God, as we do not know the Time or the place of our death it is recorded with God... are we so sure we can make it til next week to confess, let alone tomorrow?

Please my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, remember if you die with a Mortal Sin you will pay for it, this is why our lord has given us this wonderful sacrament, we must make GOOD confessions, put aside the uneasy feeling of confessing and remember that just as the Priest is truly Christ at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he is Truly Christ when he issues Absolution!

With confession comes the key part.. the Confessional does not have a Revolving door, you MUST make a firm purpose of amendment for your sins, please be truly sorry. Please make a good Act of Contrition! And please keep your penance.

"Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi Pater: quia peccavi nimis cogitatione verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum Nostrum."

from the Gospels today (both Vatican II parishes and Latin Mass parish's had the same reading's today!)

John 20:22-23
"When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."