I had the interesting experience of going to both confession and the dentist back to back this week. On Thursday I had my semi-annual tooth cleaning, and on Friday I went to confession before the vigil Mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. There’s nothing quite like being scrubbed and scraped clean, both physically and spiritually, to make one self-reflect.
As I was sitting in the chair, listening to the hygenist chatting away – there’s nothing like a captive audience- I realized how alike these two things are; confession and tooth cleaning. Both are routine, part of our lives, happening joyfully and regularly, right? Am I right?
Maybe not. Maybe you are how I was, and let far too much time go by between “visits”. Always an excuse at the ready, something much better to do than spend time on this preventative care for body and soul. You make a plan to go on a certain date, or during a particular time of year, but when it rolls around, there’s always a reason why it just doesn’t work out. While seemingly sad, you are secretly relieved that this burden has passed you by once more. I understand. I’ve been there. I once went 3 years without going to the dentist or to confession. You can imagine the decay, spiritual and otherwise.
Shortly before I met my husband, I was in a sad place where prayer and sacraments were low on my priority list. During one particularly harrowing event in the twilight of my party girl days, I promised God that if he got me home safely, I would go to confession the following week. He did, and so I did too. It happened to be the start of Lent, and providence arranged it that the parish near my apartment had extra hours for confession. That was truly good, because I spent an hour in the confessional that first time back. The during was painful and wrenching, having to admit all of my many sins. Not unlike sitting prone at an awkward angle, a stranger scraping bacteria off of your teeth with a metal hook: a fresh start. Having the ugliness of our sin lovingly washed away by a man standing in persona Christi; so humbling and so painfully beautiful. A fresh start.
Fast forward nearly six years, and I have gone to confession every 8-12 weeks since that shaky return to the sacrament. I don’t always want to go. I even try to weasel my way out of it every once in a while. I always end up back behind that screen, welcoming the grace and peace only our Lord can offer. After I walk out of the confessional, kneel and say my penance, the flood of forgiveness and grace is palpable. My soul is clean and spotless, until I mess it up again. Just like my teeth.
If it’s been a while since your last confession, these tools may help you make the journey back, to be reconciled with the God who loves you.
An examination of conscience based on 10 commandments and precepts of the Church
An examination of conscience for parents
Examination of conscience for single people
