In my previous post I explained the Sacrament of Confession by using information from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The purpose of Part I was to describe the theology of the sacrament.
The purpose of Part II is to provide tools and guidance for participating in it.
After reading this post, I hope you feel excited to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation!
In this post I’ll focus on:
In my mid-twenties I began to practice my Catholic Faith more seriously and attend Mass regularly. During that time, I kept hearing a priest talk about confession during his homilies.
Even though I wanted to go to confession, I didn’t know much about it because I wasn’t taught to go regularly.
I desired to understand why I need to receive the sacrament, what it is and the effects.
Once I discovered this information and received the sacrament, it was life-changing!
Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life (Respect Life).
In honor of Respect Life Month I’d like to share a prayer from the Sisters of Life, a religious order whose mission is to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.
I arrived in Lourdes, France on July 31st and left on August 6th.
(I learned that Lourdes is pronounced “Lourd” in French.)
It was a special experience that I’m grateful for. It still seems surreal that God permitted us to go!
Lourdes is a beautiful place, and I hope to return someday.
I’ve been reflecting on my time there, and I’m sure I’ll continue this process for a while…
Since so much occurred during the pilgrimage — and so much is continuing to unfold — I plan to write about it in pieces.
In this post, I’ll share how my friend and I presented our prayer intentions (both your intentions and mine).
I’ve been praying the Divine Mercy Novena since Good Friday. (I’m grateful to those who are praying along with me!)
Those praying the novena know it ends on April 27th, the day before the Feast of Mercy.
Have you heard of this feast?
Have you ever heard of the Divine Mercy Novena?
St. Faustina wrote,
“The Lord told me to say this chaplet for nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It is to begin on Good Friday” (Diary, 796).
Jesus explained,
“I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they need in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death.
On each day you will bring to My Heart a different group of souls, and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy, and I will bring all these souls into the house of My Father. You will do this in this life and in the next. I will deny nothing to any soul whom you will bring to the fount of My mercy. On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My bitter Passion, for graces for these souls” (1209).
Pray with Me
I’ll be praying the Divine Mercy Novena, and I want you to join me!
Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent for Christians.
During the next forty days, the Lord calls us to increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Have you reflected on what you’re being called to do this Lent?
