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The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance: A Priest's View
When it comes to sin, no one's an innocent bystander. But do we really need to bring those sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance? Why? And what do priests think of the sacrament? Are they bored in the confessional? Distracted? Shocked by what they hear?
As The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance makes clear, priests cherish the sacrament of reconciliation as a powerful movement of God's healing love. If you have abandoned the confessional out of fear or apathy or the conviction that you don't have any "real" sins to confess—or if you are merely a once- or twice-a-year penitent—this book will put you back on track. There's no time like the present to return to this remarkable source of God's mercy and grace.
As The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance makes clear, priests cherish the sacrament of reconciliation as a powerful movement of God's healing love. If you have abandoned the confessional out of fear or apathy or the conviction that you don't have any "real" sins to confess—or if you are merely a once- or twice-a-year penitent—this book will put you back on track. There's no time like the present to return to this remarkable source of God's mercy and grace.
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 31, 2017
Can you ever read enough books about this sacrament of healing, justice and relationship with our Savior, Creator and King, not to mention the entire Body of Christ? I never seem to...
In The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance Father Walsh reflects on the bad press Confession has received especially since Vatican II, despite the efforts of the Council to improve our overall understanding of its purpose and use. Ironic, certainly, but even diabolic considering the great potential the Sacrament of Penance has to transform the Church and thus the world.
Some of Fr. Walsh’s chapter titles sounded promising when I was considering the book and in fact there was an excellent recent history of the sacrament in CHAPTER ONE: ‘Whatever Happened to the Sacrament of Penance?’ The rest of the book was pretty much what I would call a standard Confession book in that it discussed why people are afraid of the sacrament, why they shouldn’t be and ‘how tos’ to make the process easier. CHAPTER SEVEN: ‘The Other Side of the Confessional’ was the most interesting to me as it was Father’s perspective on things. He had some good stories to share.
What drives me to keep looking for new books on Confession, however, isn’t a quest after interesting stories, or questioning the validity of the sacrament or even trying to find information so I can explain it to someone by way of catechesis. I just want to understand how this sacrament can bring me closer to Jesus. Yes, a selfish motive. I have tried to phrase it in other ways, but that is what it boils down to in the end. It’s all about me. Well, and Jesus too. How can I use the sacrament better? How can I make better confessions? Better in that as it is a healing sacrament, what is my part as the penitent, so that I may be cooperative in my own recovery?
After I finished the book, I went to make my confession. I can say that it was substantially what it would have been without the book. And in a way I got the answers to my questions—not from the book—but from Jesus through the person of the priest in the sacrament. The sacrament is best used by actually coming and confessing our sins, remembering what a Merciful Father we have in Heaven and then rejoicing in His great Love for us, for me! So by going to Confession often, listening to what Jesus says to me there, and heeding His words, perhaps I finally have read enough books on the subject. Perhaps. We shall see.
But this is a FINE book if you need one on the sacrament of Confession!!!
In The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance Father Walsh reflects on the bad press Confession has received especially since Vatican II, despite the efforts of the Council to improve our overall understanding of its purpose and use. Ironic, certainly, but even diabolic considering the great potential the Sacrament of Penance has to transform the Church and thus the world.
Some of Fr. Walsh’s chapter titles sounded promising when I was considering the book and in fact there was an excellent recent history of the sacrament in CHAPTER ONE: ‘Whatever Happened to the Sacrament of Penance?’ The rest of the book was pretty much what I would call a standard Confession book in that it discussed why people are afraid of the sacrament, why they shouldn’t be and ‘how tos’ to make the process easier. CHAPTER SEVEN: ‘The Other Side of the Confessional’ was the most interesting to me as it was Father’s perspective on things. He had some good stories to share.
What drives me to keep looking for new books on Confession, however, isn’t a quest after interesting stories, or questioning the validity of the sacrament or even trying to find information so I can explain it to someone by way of catechesis. I just want to understand how this sacrament can bring me closer to Jesus. Yes, a selfish motive. I have tried to phrase it in other ways, but that is what it boils down to in the end. It’s all about me. Well, and Jesus too. How can I use the sacrament better? How can I make better confessions? Better in that as it is a healing sacrament, what is my part as the penitent, so that I may be cooperative in my own recovery?
After I finished the book, I went to make my confession. I can say that it was substantially what it would have been without the book. And in a way I got the answers to my questions—not from the book—but from Jesus through the person of the priest in the sacrament. The sacrament is best used by actually coming and confessing our sins, remembering what a Merciful Father we have in Heaven and then rejoicing in His great Love for us, for me! So by going to Confession often, listening to what Jesus says to me there, and heeding His words, perhaps I finally have read enough books on the subject. Perhaps. We shall see.
But this is a FINE book if you need one on the sacrament of Confession!!!
January 27, 2012
Quite simply this book should be required reading for all Christians. For Catholics it will make you fall in love with the Sacrament again, or reinforce what you already thought you knew. For our non-Catholic brethren, it is an excellent way to dispel the myths and misunderstandings of why we do what we do. Father Walsh has written this book in a. Easy to follow style. It is most definitely an engaging book, and is one I had difficulty putting down.
March 25, 2022
As the title of this book suggests, Fr. Christopher Walsh examines a sacrament that is not as prominent as it once was. Walsh briefly describes the pre-Vatican II of his youth where a large portion of Catholics would go to confession weekly, resulting in long hours in the confessional with priests trying to get through lots of penitents. The rite could and did devolve into a "sacrament factory" attitude where confession became very formulaic. Vatican II called for a renewal of various aspects of the sacrament. Walsh sums it up: "Penance is a sacrament of healing, of forgiveness and of reconciliation." [p. 23] The sacrament heals the wounds caused by sin, a therapeutic effect. The sacrament forgives sin, removing guilt and the punishment due, a judicial effect. The sacrament reconciles the penitent with God and the Church, a relational effect. The priest is a doctor, a judge, and a mediator in this sacrament. The priest helps the penitent to continue on the path of conversion, turning to God and growing closer to Him. The post-conciliar attitude gave the rite of the sacrament more flexibility and more focus on the individual.
Walsh also looks at reasons people avoid confession. Some people fear to reveal their sins and worry about a negative reaction from the priest. Also, some are uneasy with the more flexible form of the sacrament--will I have to confess face-to-face? Will I have an awkward conversation? Yet another problem is the "I am basically a good person" attitude that does not acknowledge sins. A final objection is why a penitent can't go straight to God instead of confessing to a priest. Walsh deals with all these objections in a straightforward and pastoral way, encouraging the reader to reflect on the examples and arguments he makes.
He concludes the book with insights on how to get the most out of the sacrament. He argues that people should go fairly often (maybe once a month) to support spiritual growth through healing (even of the wounds of venial sins) and counseling (spiritual direction). He talks about good ways to examine your conscience. He reviews the various parts of a good confession. He finishes with reflections about how priests experience the grace of the sacrament in giving absolution, often to people who struggle with the same problems and sometimes to people who seem more advanced spiritually. The experience is humbling and exhilarating to Walsh and to many of the priests he consulted in preparing this book.
Overall, the book is a great way to reconnect with the sacrament or to have greater insight into the value and blessing of reconciliation.
Highly recommended.
Walsh also looks at reasons people avoid confession. Some people fear to reveal their sins and worry about a negative reaction from the priest. Also, some are uneasy with the more flexible form of the sacrament--will I have to confess face-to-face? Will I have an awkward conversation? Yet another problem is the "I am basically a good person" attitude that does not acknowledge sins. A final objection is why a penitent can't go straight to God instead of confessing to a priest. Walsh deals with all these objections in a straightforward and pastoral way, encouraging the reader to reflect on the examples and arguments he makes.
He concludes the book with insights on how to get the most out of the sacrament. He argues that people should go fairly often (maybe once a month) to support spiritual growth through healing (even of the wounds of venial sins) and counseling (spiritual direction). He talks about good ways to examine your conscience. He reviews the various parts of a good confession. He finishes with reflections about how priests experience the grace of the sacrament in giving absolution, often to people who struggle with the same problems and sometimes to people who seem more advanced spiritually. The experience is humbling and exhilarating to Walsh and to many of the priests he consulted in preparing this book.
Overall, the book is a great way to reconnect with the sacrament or to have greater insight into the value and blessing of reconciliation.
Highly recommended.
November 17, 2019
Waisted of your life, go spend time with loved rather than read and contemplate on this rubbish
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews