Comments on: From Perfunctory Penitence to Compelling Confession In Four Easy Steps http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/ Connecting the dots between Catholic faith and culture Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:29:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Madaline Danko http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-8105 Madaline Danko Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:13:51 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-8105 Hi, Very interesting article you have there. I actually run a couple of blogs on this topic, and since I have found some of your articles very informative I definatelty think that my members would enjoy reading them. With that said I would like to place a link to some of your articles on my blogs since they are more detailed than the information posted on my blogs. Thanks for your help! Hi, Very interesting article you have there. I actually run a couple of blogs on this topic, and since I have found some of your articles very informative I definatelty think that my members would enjoy reading them. With that said I would like to place a link to some of your articles on my blogs since they are more detailed than the information posted on my blogs. Thanks for your help!

]]> By: lauren http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-6079 lauren Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:30:27 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-6079 That's odd... many have said that homosexuality is a violation of the purity code. I tend to agree with them. That’s odd… many have said that homosexuality is a violation of the purity code. I tend to agree with them.

]]> By: Basic Guy http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5965 Basic Guy Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:59:58 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5965 I really appreciate the Litany of Penance and Reparation--it is a great aid to confession and spiritual growth--thanks! I really appreciate the Litany of Penance and Reparation–it is a great aid to confession and spiritual growth–thanks!

]]> By: Dan http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5889 Dan Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:30:09 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5889 Great article! Good writing and information. Keep up the good work. Great article! Good writing and information. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Brian Z. http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5879 Brian Z. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:25:41 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5879 Thank you for this post Father. I was getting ready to go to confession when I came across it. I have a problem with vengeful thoughts and I usually confess it as just that, "I have had vengeful thoughts." After reading your blog I looked deeper than just the behavior. I realized that I was angry because of what certain people in the past did to me. But I looked deeper still and realized the heart of the matter was, they hurt me. It was as simple as that. The fact that I was hurt made me angry so I had thoughts of revenge. I confessed not just the bahavior but how I arrived at the behavior. I also confessed getting angry at my loved ones and, again, would confess it as that. I looked deeper and realized the reason I got angry was out of laziness. I was relaxing and didn't want to do anything and they bothered me so, I lashed out. I confessed in just that manner, not just the behavior but what lead me to it. Is this what you mean? On a side note. I became frustrated with my son and cried out, "Lord please!" It was out of frustration but I was sincerely asking the Lord's help. Was I guilty of taking the Lord's name in vain? Do you have any advice on avoiding the pitfalls of taking the Lord's name in vain? It would help since I do get frustrated and angry and try very hard not to take the Lord's name in vain in any way. But, once and a while something slips out and I am just not sure. Thank you and God Bless you Father. Thank you for this post Father. I was getting ready to go to confession when I came across it. I have a problem with vengeful thoughts and I usually confess it as just that, “I have had vengeful thoughts.” After reading your blog I looked deeper than just the behavior. I realized that I was angry because of what certain people in the past did to me. But I looked deeper still and realized the heart of the matter was, they hurt me. It was as simple as that. The fact that I was hurt made me angry so I had thoughts of revenge. I confessed not just the bahavior but how I arrived at the behavior. I also confessed getting angry at my loved ones and, again, would confess it as that. I looked deeper and realized the reason I got angry was out of laziness. I was relaxing and didn’t want to do anything and they bothered me so, I lashed out. I confessed in just that manner, not just the behavior but what lead me to it. Is this what you mean? On a side note. I became frustrated with my son and cried out, “Lord please!” It was out of frustration but I was sincerely asking the Lord’s help. Was I guilty of taking the Lord’s name in vain? Do you have any advice on avoiding the pitfalls of taking the Lord’s name in vain? It would help since I do get frustrated and angry and try very hard not to take the Lord’s name in vain in any way. But, once and a while something slips out and I am just not sure. Thank you and God Bless you Father.

]]> By: Katherine G ERT http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5877 Katherine G ERT Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:04:30 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5877 I enjoyed reading this. And I agree that we need to go deeper to fix what is causing the sin (we are actually studying this to a certain degree in social psychology at the moment). I have always had a particularly difficult time with Confession, even going to very caring, and understanding priests (one time after a rather large event in my life, I did have a bad experience in Confession with one priest). I have tried writing down what my sins are and what I think could be causing them, I have tried relaxation techniques, pretty much everything I can think of to make the best Confession possible, and I still feel numb and I draw a blank when I go in the Confessional. I think it's a defense mechanism of sorts, but I'm trying to move away from that and past that. I know from talking with others about this that they have the same issue of drawing a blank or going numb at times, so that is why I am posting this as a comment rather than an e-mail. Do you have any advice for this sort of issue? Have you ever had people get really nervous or draw a blank and how did you handle it? I am really stuck on this one, and I am grateful that you posted this blog, in part so I could see a different approach, and also so I could ask some questions. I enjoyed reading this. And I agree that we need to go deeper to fix what is causing the sin (we are actually studying this to a certain degree in social psychology at the moment). I have always had a particularly difficult time with Confession, even going to very caring, and understanding priests (one time after a rather large event in my life, I did have a bad experience in Confession with one priest). I have tried writing down what my sins are and what I think could be causing them, I have tried relaxation techniques, pretty much everything I can think of to make the best Confession possible, and I still feel numb and I draw a blank when I go in the Confessional. I think it’s a defense mechanism of sorts, but I’m trying to move away from that and past that. I know from talking with others about this that they have the same issue of drawing a blank or going numb at times, so that is why I am posting this as a comment rather than an e-mail.

Do you have any advice for this sort of issue? Have you ever had people get really nervous or draw a blank and how did you handle it? I am really stuck on this one, and I am grateful that you posted this blog, in part so I could see a different approach, and also so I could ask some questions.

]]> By: Amanda http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5874 Amanda Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:13:38 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5874 Thanks, Father! This is just what I've been looking for! God bless you! Thanks, Father! This is just what I’ve been looking for! God bless you!

]]> By: Maggie Gutierrez http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5873 Maggie Gutierrez Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:34:52 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5873 Thank you for focusing on healing. The Pharisees in the Gospel focused on what the others were doing wrong. Monsignor, your litany helps me look at my weaknesses, how I fail my dearest Lord and understand how much I am forgiven. If I ask for it, the Lord gives me the grace to work on these attitudes with Him. Friendship is restored, yes, but healing is possible. Isn’t this spiritual work a process? Because I remember when all I can think of was to keep the minimum necessary to make it to heaven. Thank you for focusing on healing. The Pharisees in the Gospel focused on what the others were doing wrong. Monsignor, your litany helps me look at my weaknesses, how I fail my dearest Lord and understand how much I am forgiven. If I ask for it, the Lord gives me the grace to work on these attitudes with Him. Friendship is restored, yes, but healing is possible.

Isn’t this spiritual work a process? Because I remember when all I can think of was to keep the minimum necessary to make it to heaven.

]]> By: DH http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5869 DH Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:45:24 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5869 Thank you Father! I've been praying for advice and information like this. What a powerful litany! Thank you Father! I’ve been praying for advice and information like this. What a powerful litany!

]]> By: Julie http://blog.adw.org/2010/02/from-perfunctory-penitence-to-compelling-confession-in-four-easy-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-5866 Julie Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:53:44 +0000 http://blog.adw.org/?p=5608#comment-5866 Thank you, Father. This is actually an answer to a very specific prayer request! Thank you, Father. This is actually an answer to a very specific prayer request!

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