Each day we said Mass in Ars we vested in the sacristy where St. Jean M. Vianney heard the confessions of the men of his community. When he first arrived in the village few residents would attend the sacrament. They were a part of an age which valued reason over faith and did not perceive the presence of evil in their lives. Though catholic in name, their existences revealed little contact with religious value. Through his gentle words and caring ministry the Cure encouraged their conversion and spiritual restoration. Eventually the Sacrament of Penance became the cornerstone of his pastoring the flock.

It is unfortunate that in the present age a similar spirit which first confronted the nineteenth century French priest is in evidence in the contemporary church. The reasons for this situation are varied. Too many believers are confident in their own concept of divine forgiveness. They opine that in the privacy of their rooms they are forgiven all of their faults by merely engaging God’s attention. They fail to perceive the teaching of Christ in Scripture and Tradition that since in sinning we offend both God and man we ought to approach the priest as the representative of both. We recall the scene of the Gospel in which the Risen Lord appears before His disciples and imparts forgiveness on them for their betrayal of Him in the moment of His greatest need. And then mandates that they go forth and bestow forgiveness upon all who seek it. Others protest that the priest is no holier than they and therefore not in any position to judge them or give counsel. They fail to understand that this is exactly the reason the Lord has chosen this method of reconciliation. As a man taken from men, the priest is totally aware of his weaknesses and sin but also he is totally aware of the times he has heard the Lord’s mercy expressed in the words of absolution said over him. Therefore, he joyfully welcomes all who seek the graces of the sacrament. It is most unfortunate that a few Catholics can report negative experiences with a confessor. But this is no reason to punish ourselves by refusing to trust another and remain in our sin. We often hear complaints from the faithful that they feel foolish because they are always admitting the same faults. This is natural. Satan strikes us at our weakest point. This Saturday our second grade religious education students celebrated their First Penance. Do you remember the first time you were sacramentally reconciled? After Father listened to us, encouraged us, and gave us absolution, we left the confessional with a lightheartedness that we have rarely felt since. No matter how long it has been we can recover our innocence and experience the joy we received way back then.

A crucial part of our fruitful reception of the sacrament is an effective examination of conscience. In such an activity it is important to recall not only the evil we might have done but also the good that we failed to do. One usually begins with the Ten Commandments. While we might not make graven images as did ancient people, we might be guilty of putting other things before God: money, friends, or occupations. Too many otherwise intelligent people trust psychics, horoscopes, or other new age concepts thereby trusting inferior elements rather than divine providence. Our Jewish ancestors held God’s name in such reverence that they refused to write or even pronounce it. Too often the language of people today is punctuated with references to the divine which are inappropriate. False swearing is routine in too many circumstances. To honor the Lord’s Day only begins with the solemn obligation to worship Him in Eucharistic celebration. The remaining hours should be without servile labor whether that is in the field, at the factory, or on the computer. The divine gift of relationship should not be ignored as we acknowledge the beauty of His creation and the centrality of family. In concert with our obligation to the Almighty is our obligation to the world. As children we must not only obey them in our youth but care for them as they mature. As parents we are called to be the primary teachers of faith and morals.
Beyond the borders of home is a society of which we are a part and to which we must pay the proper tax levies, serve as jurors when called and express our beliefs in the public square as well as the voting booth. Not to take the life of another is only part of God’s command. We must care for our own physical existence as well as seek to protect others, born and unborn. We should reflect on those habits which are unhealthy. Our contemporary society seems to blind itself in terms of the depth of responsibility of each person as they engage one another. Infidelity among the rich and famous gathers headlines but we must realize that it is much closer to home as well. It should be recognized that great care must be displayed in building up relationships. Premature intimacy short circuits what could be a meaningful part of our lives. Married couples must place each other first in all considerations. They should recognize the essential need for trust which is mutual. Young people must realize that a certain level of maturity must pre-exist before one dedicates the totality of their being to another. The average person will never be guilty of robbing a bank but modern life can tempt one to be less than honest. Companies tell of employees stealing supplies while retailers raise prices to cover the costs of shoplifting. In addition, even young people take the creativity of others by electronically uploading music, videos, and games illegally. Classroom teaching goes on as well as plagiarism, made worse by computer surfing and phone texting. Lying is not the only violation of the commandment. Telling the truth to people who have no right to know it is gossip which can truly harm others. But one must also speak up when the life and reputation of another is at stake. Envy and greed can cause us to offend God and others and destroy the blessings we have. Though this concludes our look at the Decalogue, it does not comprise the totality of our examination of conscience which we will continue next week.

As we reach the middle of our fiscal year, let me express my gratitude to all who have contributed to the Capital Improvement Collection and increased their weekly gifts to the parish. These elements have assisted us to make major repairs to our heating systems without going into deeper indebtedness. Thank you for all you do. May God continue to bless you.

Vivat Jesus,

Fr. Brian