All we have to do is turn on the television and we will likely hear someone telling Oprah or some other TV show host their SINS. Yet there are those who will not go to a private confession with a priest. Which seems like the healthier format?
Sometimes it the ones who criticizes the most who seem most willing to tell it all. There are so many outlets of telling your sins or thoughts now. Even those not famous or willing to CONFESS on television, in books, or in the media, can do it here; on this lovely little screen we all look at many, many times a day.
What compels people to tell it all? Does it make us feel better to say it; or even hear it?
There are days that I have had ENOUGH of it all. The news depresses me, celebrities disappoint me, and even those facebook status updates are too much to read.
Yesterday I read ... "sometimes it's best to forget how we feel and remember what we deserve".
HUH?
What we DESERVE?
Have we become a society that believes we DESERVE things?
Sounds quite unbalanced ... sad in fact.
Listening to the radio yesterday I heard an interesting quote ... "the more stressed we become, the more potential there is to becoming self centered".
Stress is not a new thing. As my own children get older, I am certainly feeling more and more stress. There's so much to do; so many distractions. I'm not perfect and I know that I feel sorry for myself. Sometimes I even feel like I DESERVE things to make up for the way I feel. Athough I am pretty private about my complaints; well, the husband may get an earful, I know others who TELL IT ALL.
There are certainly times of the year where I feel more spiritually grounded. Advent and Lent sure do bring me closer to God. I think it's important to be reminded which leads me back to the sacrament of reconciliation ...“It’s cleansing to the soul. It’s uplifting for the spirit. If more people went to confession, they would understand how lifting the burden of sin improves their lives and their faith.”
YET, a private confession is scary to most.
For me, I would rather tell my sins or deepest thoughts to a priest. (Catholics believe the Sacrament of Reconciliation was instituted by Christ when he gave the apostles the power to forgive sins. That power has been transferred through apostolic succession of priests during the past two millennia.)
STILL, there are those who TELL IT ALOUD in a very public way.
Public Confessions ...
((((SIGH))))
Comments
(Does my post on my most remembered parenting mistakes count? Oh, shoot!) :)
I tried to email you...your email address gets sent back! Try me...slt3969@gmail.com.
there was just something about this entry though, that gave me the need to comment.
i am Catholic...born and raised. i value my faith deeply and i'm constantly searching to deepen my relationship with Christ.
yet so many times i struggle with Reconciliation. not because i don't believe that it's right, or true or in the many, many graces you get from the Sacrament...i think it's more the act of actually fessing up to your sins...owning up to them, and usually in the presence of a priest you know and work with.
i'm the youth minister at my Church so i work closely with my parish priest and i struggle with going to confession to him, knowing him (and his personality) and feeling like i will be judged or thought less of because of my sins (even though as a priest, i'm sure he's heard it all...but not coming from ME!)
sigh.
it has been on my heart for a couple of weeks now to drag my butt to confession...and this has just given me a stronger conviction.
thanks for that. ;)
Being truthful on your blog and facebook page is more about being genuine, not baring your soul. It's a line that must be held.
True confessions should only happen within the sacrament.
Great post.
:)