Confession

What Does It Mean to Be Merciful

DVRodriguez2024-08-29T17:54:41-04:00

God shows His power most by being merciful. Yet this is terribly misunderstood. Mercy means we see someone who is suffering and are moved to act! Mercy means replacing an evil with a good and thereby alleviating the suffering. We find this mercy in the Sacrament of Penance. Too often Catholics lose respect and honor for the sacrament; then one fails to receive all the available graces. Review how to make a good confession. See the greatness of what God is giving us. The examples of Saints Mary Magdalene. Zacheus, and Dismas will help enliven our souls with true contrition.

What Does It Mean to Be MercifulDVRodriguez2024-08-29T17:54:41-04:00

Horror for Every Kind of Sin

DVRodriguez2022-11-19T08:28:09-05:00

Be devoted to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart by striving to share her heart’s five principal sentiments: [1] Horror for all sin. [2] Scorn for this corrupt world. [3] Lowest esteem for self. [4] Profound love for all the things of God. [5] Veneration and love for the Cross. How very unlike her heart is our heart. Who amongst us desires to be humiliated? A hatred for sin will lead to greater contrition and a better confession. Meditating upon the Stations of the Cross will also increase our horror for sin and our contrition.

Horror for Every Kind of SinDVRodriguez2022-11-19T08:28:09-05:00

A Firm Purpose of Amendment

DVRodriguez2021-04-19T09:28:09-04:00

God becomes positively blind to our sins when we capture His heart. We do this by striving firmly and surely to have real contrition, to amend our lives, and to practice true repentance. Contrition is a rational sorrow of mind and detestation of sin with the purpose of not sinning in the future. It is always necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Without proper amendment, we risk making an invalid confession. A firm purpose requires much practice! And the grace available to us through the Sacrament is directly related to the response of the penitent. Don't be surprised if you fall [...]

A Firm Purpose of AmendmentDVRodriguez2021-04-19T09:28:09-04:00

To Hide Sins Well Confess Them Well

DVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:49-05:00

St. Thomas Aquinas taught "there are three sources of trial for the Church: (i) external persecution; (ii) undermining of the Truth from within by heresy and spreading of error; and (iii) corruption of members through sin." Under the guidance of the Holy Cure d'Ars, let us consider the third source. St. John Vianney could be tough in the confessional, but he would also shed tears and himself perform most of the penance due to his penitents. He knew that sin ties man to his shameful bonds (enslavement) and that absolved sins are completely gone! He had such a love for God and the [...]

To Hide Sins Well Confess Them WellDVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:49-05:00