(upbeat '50s music)
ANNOUNCER KAI: It's Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
While their neighbors relax and enjoy the day,
we can see Catholics gathering
to cleanse themselves of sin in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, also known as Confession.
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: What a great way
to observe their natural behavior.
Oh, it looks as if we have a particularly
nervous penitent.
ANNOUNCER KAI: Not surprising.
This is the sacrament that Catholics
hate before, but love after.
(upbeat music playing)
LIBBY: Hi, I'm Libby.
KAI: And I'm Kai.
Welcome to Catholic Central.
LIBBY: In this episode, we are going to talk
about one of the most misunderstood
practices in the Catholic Church:
the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
KAI: People also call it
the Sacrament of Conversion,
the Sacrament of Forgiveness,
and the Sacrament of Penance.
But, you may know it by it's more common name:
Confession.
LIBBY: OK, so you may get a little uncomfortable when
you hear that word.
KAI: Detailing all the ways in which
you failed yourself and others
may not exactly be your idea of a good time.
LIBBY: But for Catholics, Confession can
bring healing, peace, and a kind of joy
and inner freedom they can't experience
any other way.
KAI: So, most people know that Confession --
the Sacrament of Reconciliation --
is something that Catholics do.
But it really points to a universal reality
that all people have.
LIBBY: There are time when every single person does
things they regret,
says things they said they wish they had not said,
or hold onto an attitude that makes life miserable.
KAI: There is a universal human longing
to bring our darkness to the light.
To be made whole, and to become our true self.
LIBBY: As universal as that might be, though,
the first question you might ask is:
"Why do it this way?"
KAI: You might say, "Isn't it much easier to
confess my sins directly to God?"
You don't even have to leave the house.
Or even put on pants.
LIBBY: That's a great question.
Nothing stops anyone
from communicating directly with God.
The Church hopes you do.
But there is value in speaking to another human being.
One who will keep confidentiality
and receive the Confession with a sense of reverence.
KAI: Saying something out loud can take away its power.
Sin loves to stay secret.
It can grow and deceive that way.
LIBBY: Another reason Catholics do what they do
is because they recognize that sin
doesn't just affect your relationship with God.
KAI: As early as the 3rd Century,
it became obvious to the Christian community
that serious sins like apostasy, murder and adultery
affected everyone.
LIBBY: So back then, penitents --
KAI: People who had publicly sinned --
LIBBY: -- Could make a public confession
and hang out their dirty laundry in front of everyone.
Then do acts of penance everybody could see.
That didn't go over so well.
KAI: Yeah, they stopped doing that.
There was still an awareness
that others were affected by sin.
The problem is,
you can't go to every single person on earth
and apologize.
LIBBY: For us, the priest represents
the entire community. The body of Christ.
Saying you're sorry to him
is like saying you're sorry to the whole group.
LIBBY: So now your next question might be,
"Wait -- why does a priest get to do that?"
KAI: Catholics believe the authority
comes from Jesus Himself,
who gave it to the Apostles, who handed it down
to the priests all the way here to today.
John 20 explains:
LIBBY: "And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them
'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive
are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'"
So whenever Catholics confess
to a priest, he represents Jesus Christ,
who gave him the authority to absolve us.
KAI: To absolve comes from the
word, "to set free."
LIBBY: Confession releases us from our sins
and puts us back in right relationship
with God, others and ourselves.
KAI: Even the famous psychologist,
Carl Jung, believed in the power
of confessing wrongs and receiving
absolution from a person sanctioned to give it.
He often asked new patients if they were Catholic.
If they said yes, he sent them to Confession first.
Some of the patients never came back,
because Confession took care of whatever was bothering them.
LIBBY: But it is important to know that Confession
is not therapy.
It is a sacrament that washes away sins.
KAI: It is not magic, either.
You have to do your part.
LIBBY: There are three things required
for a Catholic confession to be valid.
One, contrition. You have to be genuinely sorry
for your sins.
KAI: So no doing whatever you want
and using Confession
as a "get out of jail free" card.
LIBBY: Two, you have to confess your sins out loud
to a priest in person.
And three, satisfaction.
You have to perform whatever penance the priest prescribes.
KAI: Remember, penance is not a way to earn forgiveness.
LIBBY: Instead, it's an opportunity to pause a moment
to consider the seriousness of sin,
and to accept the mercy of God
who forgives and transforms.
KAI: Which brings us to the question:
What actually happens during a confession?
(upbeat 50s music playing)
ANNOUNCER KAI: Let's return to our penitents
in their natural habitat,
in this case, a booth.
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: But penitents are known to choose other places
where they can talk to a priest privately.
ANNOUNCER KAI: Oh, our nervous penitent
hasn't run away.
He will probably choose the door
that has a screen for privacy.
But oh, he chose the face-to-face option.
Fascinating!
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: He starts by saying when his last confession was.
ANNOUNCER KAI: One year! We are in for a rare treat.
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: Now come the sins.
Our penitent is doing an excellent job
at confessing his own sins and not blaming his family
or mean neighbors.
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: Now, for a few words of advice
or encouragement from the priest.
And here's the penance.
It might be a prayer or some act of service.
Whatever the priest feels will be the most helpful
for the penitent to grow closer to God.
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: Next, the Act of Contrition.
Here, the penitent expresses in prayer
that he is truly sorry for his sins
and intends to avoid them in the future.
ANNOUNCER KAI: I see the penitent has chosen the Act of Contrition
printed on a card in the confessional. Classic.
But now the most exciting part,
the Prayer of Absolution.
Declaring the penitent's sins absolved in the
name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
ANNOUNCER LIBBY: After that,
the penitent goes in peace.
KAI: So how often
does the Church say he should go to Confession?
LIBBY: The Church recognizes
the importance of individual conscience.
You usually know when you've done
something your way and not God's way.
And it's time for Confession.
Formally, Catholics should receive
the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ
at least once a year.
To do that, serious sins should be confessed
beforehand.
KAI: But when you need to go to Confession, go.
I personally tend to go every couple weeks.
Or sooner if I have something I've said, or done,
weighing on me, or need to get something off my chest.
LIBBY: Like when you feel guilty
for eating someone else's lunch?
KAI: How did you know about that?
LIBBY: You told me this morning.
KAI: Ah, yeah, phew. I was worried
the priest had broken the seal of the confessional.
LIBBY: He can't. Every priest is sworn to uphold it.
Even secular courts all over the world
recognize this,
and by law, they can't force
a priest to reveal anything that has been told
in Confession.
KAI: So, my secrets are safe with the priest
even if I blab about them?
LIBBY: Yep. Plus, the priest has likely heard it all,
so don't worry about shocking him.
KAI: Speaking of shocking, you may have heard
stories about confessions that were less
than stellar.
LIBBY: Unfortunately, it is true.
Priests are people too,
and sometimes particular ones haven't been the most
kind or helpful in the confessional.
KAI: If you've had a bad experience
or you're afraid to go, ask someone to recommend
a priest who is known for his compassion and wisdom.
LIBBY: It's like Pope Francis said:
"The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord's mercy moticates us to do better."
(elevator music)
ANNOUNCER KAI: As he leaves the booth, that spring in his step and big smile are sure signs of joy.
LIBBY: I'm Libby.
KAI: And I'm Kai.
See you next time on Catholic Central.
(upbeat 50s music)