Come Home to Christ this Lent

Lent is a season of return. It is a time when the Church calls us back to God, and back to the basics of Christian living. At the heart of that invitation is the call to come back to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (often called “confession”). This sacrament is a time for Catholics to come to the Lord as a sinner, to be seen and loved by Him, and to experience the freedom of His forgiveness. Yet for many Catholics, confession can feel intimidating and overwhelming. Every Lent, I am inspired by the number of Catholics who return to the sacrament after many years. Their hearts receive the courage necessary to come. It is a beautiful privilege to tell a penitent, “Welcome home.” If you are someone who has been away from the sacrament for a long time, Christ is inviting you to rediscover it as a place of peace.

Confession is not simply about listing sins or “checking a box.” It is a sacrament, an encounter with God’s grace. Confession was given to us by Jesus so that for all time, we can have access to His merciful heart. On Easter night, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (John 20:23). In that moment, Christ entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church and to Her priests. What a humbling invitation for us as priests to be instruments of God’s mercy.

What happens when we go to confession? Three things happen at once. 

First, we are reconciled with God. Sin wounds our relationship with the Lord, even when we don’t feel it. Through the priest’s absolution, God restores us to sanctifying grace and forgives our sins completely. He lifts the burden we carry, even the ones we’ve held onto for years. With the burden gone, we are more able to live in the truth that we are unconditionally loved by God.

Second, we are reconciled with the Church. Sin never affects only us. Confession restores us to full communion with the Body of Christ and strengthens the entire Church through our humility and honesty.

Third, we are strengthened to begin again. The sacrament doesn’t just erase sin; it gives us grace to resist sin in the future. This grace strengthens the soul and will, giving us the spiritual strength needed to better resist future temptations.

Common Questions About Confession

What would you say to someone who hasn’t been to confession in years and feels embarrassed or ashamed to come back?

First, you are not alone and you are exactly the person this sacrament is for.
Shame often convinces us that we don’t belong in the confessional anymore, that we’ve waited too long, or that we should “know better by now.” But the truth is there is no expiration date on God’s mercy. God is in the business of forgiveness. As Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). From a priest’s perspective, when someone says, “It’s been a long time,” the reaction is not judgment, it’s gratitude. Gratitude that the person came back. Gratitude that grace is at work. Gratitude that a soul trusted God enough to take that step. If it has been years, simply say so. The priest will help guide you through the process. You don’t need perfect words or a perfect memory. What matters is a sincere heart and the desire to return. Lent is not about proving ourselves; it’s about coming home. Jesus told us that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (Luke 15:7). Heaven rejoices when you return.

What do priests wish people understood about the priest’s side of confession?

Many people think that a priest will be disappointed in someone who confesses their sins. In reality, priests enter the confessional very aware of their own need for mercy. As Scripture reminds us, “[The priest] himself is beset by weakness” (Hebrews 5:2).

Every priest is a sinner who also has to go to confession. That shared experience changes everything. We have experienced the kindness of a good confessor, and we want to be that for you. Priests do not remember most confessions. They are not shocked by what they hear. They are not comparing sins. Instead, they are focused on one thing: being an instrument of Christ’s mercy in that moment. The Seal of Confession provides absolute confidentiality. Nothing said in confession can ever be repeated or used against someone in any way. That sacred trust allows the priest to be fully present to the penitent and allows the penitent to be vulnerable with God. Many priests would say that hearing confessions is one of the most humbling and hopeful parts of their ministry. It is a privilege to witness God’s grace at work in such an intimate way.

What if someone freezes, forgets what to say, or gets emotional?

That happens more often than people realize and it is completely okay.
If you freeze, simply say so. If you forget something, the priest will help you. If you become emotional, it’s a sign that a tender place in your heart is being healed. Tears are not a problem in the confessional; they are often a prayer.
Confession is not a performance. It is a vulnerable prayer. It is opening your heart to God. Priests are trained to help people through vulnerable moments. We will walk you through it. 

If someone is afraid they’re “doing confession wrong,” what would you want them to know?

You don’t have to be perfect to come to confession—that’s the point.
There is no such thing as a “perfect confession.” What God desires is honesty, humility, and the desire to turn back toward Him. The structure of confession exists only to help us. If you’re unsure what to say, the priest will guide you. If you’re unsure whether something is a sin, you can ask. If you stumble over the Act of Contrition, the priest usually will pray it with you or give you a card so you can read it.

Confession is not about saying everything perfectly; it’s about being as honest as you can with yourself and God. By the time we walk into the confessional, God has already revealed to us in our heart what we need to confess. Once there, we simply let go of sin and shame and open our hearts to healing and mercy.

A Lenten Invitation

This Lent, consider confession not as an obligation to dread, but as an encounter with Jesus to embrace. Whether it’s been weeks or decades, the door is open. Mercy is waiting. And the words spoken at the end of confession will greet you: “Your sins are forgiven, go in peace.”

God is ready when you are.

--

Fr. André Melancon is the Vicar General, the Pastor of St. Bernadette Soubirous, and the Chaplain of Vandebilt Catholic High School.