Pope's Intention

Let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the forgiveness and infinite mercy of God. And let us pray that God may give his Church merciful priests and not torturers.

Pope Francis – March 2021

When I go to confession, it is in order to be healed, to heal my soul.
To leave with greater spiritual health. To pass from misery to mercy.
The center of confession is not the sins we declare, but the divine love we receive, of which we are always in need.
The center of confession is Jesus who waits for us, who listens to us and forgives us.
Remember this: In the heart of God, we come before our mistakes.
And let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the forgiveness and infinite mercy of God. And let us pray that God may give his Church merciful priests and not torturers.

Loving God,
you have reconciled us in Christ Jesus
and have given us the ministry of reconciliation.
We pray for all those from whom we are estranged.
Bring healing to strained or broken relationships.
Forgive us for the times we have wronged others,
whether by ignorance, neglect, or intention.
Grant us the courage and the grace to seek their forgiveness
and opportunity to make amends.
Where others have wronged us,
grant us a gracious spirit,
that we might forgive
even as we have been forgiven in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Reconciliation has cleansed me dozens of times, but it has resurrected a significant relationship:  the one with my father.

In 2011, I knew that I needed to reconcile with my dad – and ultimately with God — for being a distant son.  Perhaps my desire was to reconnect with my father after my parents’ divorce in 1995.  Perhaps my desire was to yearn for a father-son relationship as I recently had a child of my own.  Or perhaps my desire was to resolve that nagging feeling in my soul that I, too, had done something wrong.  Whatever the reason, I was asking God for a “fresh start” after years of pain.

I carried decades of frustration, sadness, and burden with me.  Sharing a story that desperately needed to be told, I exposed my guilt to my parish priest.  I found a safe place in the confessional to share critical details; in fact, during our discussion, we discovered a solution as to how to best proceed.  Years of turmoil were transformed into a new beginning for our relationship.  What began as an intimidating process ultimately developed into a lifetime of blessings.

Eventually, my dad and I reconciled.  Instead of being limited by a deathbed conversation, we could process the past, and more importantly, our future.  He now is a vital part of my life.  I am proud to include him as a member of my family.  My three children relish his company.  I cannot wait to visit with him.  Importantly, there is hope.

The sacrament of reconciliation has ignited a new relationship with my father.  This spiritual healing happened because I involved God at the foundation.  I can freely say that I now love my dad.  This year we honour St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus. Not all of us had a good relationship with our own fathers. This year, let us pray to God the Father for reconciliation in families.