Testimonials on Going to Confession

Would you like to share your testimony, to encourage others to go to Confession?  All testimonies will be anonymous.  Please e-mail it to Carmela: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thank you!

From an Adult

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Being an adult who was raised Catholic over the years as the topic of Confession came up I would dismiss the idea and not even pursue the topic to allow myself the opportunity for the subject to gain any credibility.  Instead what I immediately thought was, “How could the activity of Confession have any value or assist me with the current day issues or topics I face? How could Confession be of any value or make a difference?” 

What I finally realized was my memories of Confession are memories that were put there by a ten year old child.  If I look at any other issue I deal with today I do not go back to the solution I applied as a ten year old child.  Therefore, the memory of going to Confession as a child, in an adult mind and thought process, did not fit. 

What I had to come to know is Confession as an adult is not the same as confession as a child.  As a child if you do A then, the penance is B.  As an adult taking part in Confession, at least in my limited experience, includes more discussion around what is being confessed, understanding it and the penance to accompany it.   

Now, having been involved in the Sacrament of Confession for over a year what I have come to realize is Confession is a component to spiritual health.  Most people know it takes food, water, air, rest and physical activity to be physically healthy.  What I have concluded is Confession is one component of spiritual health.  Each element of practicing spirituality overlays upon the other and brings a deeper spirituality and greater understanding.  Similarly, if you eat right you feel good but, if you add exercise you feel even better. 

What I have found is understanding Confession and asking and receiving forgiveness of sin brings a greater understanding to daily readings, daily prayer and causes me to listen to familiar gospel readings with a different ear.  Just like the absence of illness may cause a person to think they are healthy, I thought in the absence of Confession I had spiritual health.  What I did not realize until I started to "exercise my spirituality" in a new way via Confession was how much better it could get. 

What I would tell anyone, even if you do not yet understand how, just by taking part and sticking with it, deeper spiritual health will come. Believe me, I do not at all yet claim to fully understand what I am doing but, I can feel it is having a positive effect.

From a Teen

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Confession is great tool and gift to have, and I am so glad that my school, Saint Joseph's High School in Trumbull, offers it. 

After I receive Confession I feel completely renewed and free of sin.  It is a great relief because I know that my sins have been forgiven and it is a time where I am able to start over fresh and brand new.  It gives me the power and the ability to follow God the best that I can, knowing that he believes in me and my will to do his good deeds.

I am so thankful that Saint Joe’s has Confession because it allows me to get forgiveness whenever I need it.  It is so convenient because there is always time available before and after school.  The school really cares about student’s connection with God and the forgiveness of sins.  They give everyone an equal opportunity to go whenever they have free time and even announce it over the loudspeakers so that everyone can be aware of when it is offered. 

Students are also always given the option of having anonymous Confessions, so that they are not intimidated to come forward.  Saint Joe’s really cares about its' students and their need for the sacrament.