St. Faustina Prayer Book for the Conversion of Sinners. Susan Tassone

mortal sin may yet supply the grace necessary for repentance, even though conversion is always a free acceptance of the grace that is offered.

      The Mass is the most powerful gift we can give ourselves and our deceased loved ones. (As I’ve written in my previous books, I urge you to put Gregorian Masses in your wills. They are thirty consecutive Masses offered for one deceased soul. Pope St. Gregory popularized this devotion. (See the “Resources” chapter for more information.)

What Is Confession?

      “Your sins are forgiven.”

      — Luke 7:48

      St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her this about the sacrament of confession:

      Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation] There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one’s misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late. (1448)

      The Catechism of the Catholic Church points out that the sacrament has a number of names, each important in describing what it truly is and does:

      It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus’ call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Father from whom one has strayed by sin.

      It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner’s personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.

      It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense, it is also a “confession” — acknowledgment and praise — of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.

      It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent “pardon and peace.”

      It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the love of God who reconciles: “Be reconciled to God.” He who lives by God’s merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord’s call: “Go; first be reconciled to your brother.” (nn. 1423-1424; emphasis in original)

      And, the Catechism goes on to say:

      Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful. (n. 1458)

      We become more like God as we walk with Him, as we walk where He calls us to walk.

      A sincere confession always leads us toward a complete conversion, where the meaning of conversion is a change of one’s entire life, actions, and beliefs to line up with God’s will for us. For some, it’s a slight shift in the course we were on. For others, it’s a major change in direction, venturing into seemingly uncharted, and at times frightening waters. Slight or major, it’s what every saint has done (some, including Paul, Augustine, and Francis of Assisi, quite famously).

      This isn’t to say conversion is just confessing mortal sins. (Although “just” that action is taking a tremendous step.) There’s a wider scope or spectrum to this. The Gospel speaks of “metanoia,” a change of mind and heart that every believer must seek — and live. “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15).

What’s the Difference Between Penance and Repentance?

      Penance always implies a renouncement, to give up something or put it aside voluntarily. It’s something we choose to do, not something we’re forced to do. (Again, free will plays a central role here.)

      Give up what? Perhaps a small “creature comfort” (that daily latte). Put aside what? Maybe a (deeply ingrained) me-first attitude.

      Why would we do something like that? Are we masochists? St. Paul has the answer:

      But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit [factions], envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

      If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Gal 5:16-25)

      To use a modern idiom: We have to walk the talk! That, in a nutshell, is true repentance. That’s true metanoia.

      Fortunately, blessedly, God is always kind, merciful, and generous. Our Creator knows what we need and He offers it to us (“offers” doesn’t force on us). He offers us grace through the sacrament of confession.

      Here’s more of what Jesus told St. Faustina about confession:

      Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls. (1602)

How Do We Prepare for Confession?

      If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

      — 1 John 1:9

      Not surprisingly, St. Faustina’s Diary includes descriptions of how she prepared to go to confession, advice on how we can better prepare to make a good confession, and comments on the sacrament in general. She wrote:

      I will call to mind the Passion of Jesus at each confession, to arouse my heart to contrition. (225)

      … I must pray for each of my confessors, that he might obtain the light of the Holy Spirit.… (647)

      Concerning Holy Confession. We should derive two kinds of profit from Holy Confession:

      1. We come to confession to be healed;

      2. We come to be educated — like a small child, our soul has constant need of education.

      O my Jesus, I understand these words to their very depths, and I know from my own experience that, on its own strength, the soul will not go far; it will exert itself greatly and will do nothing for the glory of God; it will err continually, because our mind is darkened and does not know how to discern its own affairs. I shall pay special attention to two things: firstly, I will choose,