Human as we all are, we always commit sin either in thought, in words or in deeds. However, our forgiving God has given us ways and means to redeem ourselves so we can regain our state of grace. We can directly confess to Him and make amends or through the sacrament of reconciliation.

Speaking of reconciliation, when I was a little boy, being a Catholic, we were told that forgiveness was attainable only by confessing our sins to the priest. Hence, whether I committed venial or mortal sin, I would immediately go to confession on Saturday afternoons in our parish and found relief after saying the Act of Contrition, getting the priest’s absolution and blessing and doing my penance. Scared of going to hell, I would make it a habit to confess every single sin I committed whether it be venial or mortal. Was I that scrupulous!

It seemed like I’d spit and thought I committed a mortal sin! As I grew older, I learned that one could confess directly to God and be sorry for his wrongdoings and turn a new leaf. My Father Confessor advised me to go to confession only if I would commit a mortal sin and tell the priest everything including minor offenses made towards people whom I might have hurt- since my last confession. This, I’ve been doing since then. This way, I managed to obey the Commandment of the Church to go to confession, at least once a year at Easter time.

Now that I am in the Autumn of my life, my mind has been broadened from contacts with friends and more recently my former student, Prandy Yulo who was once a Catholic, being an alumnus of La Salle run by Christian Brothers. He is advocating a direct confession to God for as Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; No one comes to the Father but through me." This quote is an eye opener for me and now, I only go directly to Him who created me and Who will judge me in the end. Only when I have doubts about certain things do I go to a priest more for consultation- in a spirit of reconciliation. The truth however, is that I find relief in taking things off my chest and telling my problems to someone whom I can trust completely- what with the seal of confession. I guess this is human nature.

For us who have sinned, we must repent, repent, repent and we can only try our best to live a good Christian life. Repentance can be done anytime anywhere but more so during the season of Lent when we all get reminded about the pain and sufferings that our Lord Jesus Christ had to go through to redeem us and open the gates of heaven for us. This is primarily the season to get our lives back together and do what Jesus commands us to do: "You shall Love the Lord your God with your heart, with your soul and with all your mind" and "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." The second is extremely difficult to obey but we can only try for the love of God. Then and only then can we be assured of our place in Paradise.*