We know this: when we go to the sacrament of reconciliation with a truly contrite heart and receive absolution, we are forgiven of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. So, if you’ve ever left the confessional still feeling bad, you might wonder… “What gives?”
Today, Fr. Mike identifies 3 reasons why we might be experiencing a lingering feeling of guilt after confession, and he gives us a bit of advice to deal with those feelings.
- “I’m forgiven, but I still have to deal with the consequences.”
- “Someone else knows what I did.”
- “I’ve broken God’s heart.”
Finally, Fr. Mike reveals the source of these lingering regrets. The solution is deceptively simple.
Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents. He is also the host of the Ascension podcasts The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year.
I have gone to confession and not received my penance from the priest. Instead of bothering the priest I say a rosery How should I handle this
I pour my heart out during confession to our priest who sits and listens to me.
Is that the right thing to do.
I don’t mean to it just happens and I always write down and go through my sins so it is all related.
I also have problems forgiving myself
The Bible in a year !
The Catechism in a year!
Truly a gift that keeps on giving !
Really interesting
I have a question concerning baptism for Fr. Mike. I completed The Bible In A Year and now am listening to his Catechism In A Year podcast.
Dear Fr. Mike,
Can you please advice what will I do if I have received an incorrect absolution? There are times that the priest intentionally omit the very important formula “I absolve you from your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and replace it with other wordings like “God forgives you” or the “the Church forgives you”. I somehow read that we are obliged to reconfessing the same mortal sins again except for venial sins because the Sacrament was not celebrated and is invalid. Thank you
I know someone who has a scrupulous conscience and feels he forgot to tell a serious sin all the time.He avoids confession because of this.