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“I feel like I don’t need somebody between me and God,” said Ginny Hartkern, 59, of St. Brigid’s Church in Watervliet. “I think you can speak directly to God. You don’t need an intermediary.”

While it’s true that a person can always approach Jesus with sorrow and contrition for sins, and ask for forgiveness, it is not the same thing as going to confession. Humans need some formats, some structure to their lives to accomplish most things. This is true with schooling, cooking, typing, etc..

Confession is a wonderful sacrament which includes a prayer to the Holy Spirit asking for help in the examination of conscience. It then allows the penitent as much time as is necessary to examine his/her conscience. This includes prayers, review of the commandments, etc.. A true love of Jesus as Savior will be enhanced further as one contemplates the human weaknesses we all have.

Speaking with a spiritual adviser in the confessional is helpful for one’s soul. The interaction is cathartic, and spiritual advice in overcoming one’s flaws is always helpful. The final blessing and absolution of sins is straight from the bible - “whose sins you have forgiven are forgiven them; whose sins you have retained are retained.”

Confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) is a grace-filled experience, and one leaves the confessional feeling strengthened against the snares of Satan.