As I have noted in the last two columns, this Lent the Diocese of Rockford is placing a special emphasis on one of the major themes which has characterized the Pontificate of Pope Francis. That is, his call to bring God’s mercy to the world, and of course to the faithful.

And so, the sacrament of reconciliation is receiving special and appropriate emphasis this Lent. That emphasis leads us to Wednesday, April 9, the last Wednesday before Holy Week.

On that day, throughout the Diocese of Rockford, all of our priests will be hearing confessions throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The effort of our priests on that day is meant to be a warm and inviting invitation to come to confession and “Be Reconciled.”

While confessions will continue to be offered throughout the Lenten season in all our parishes, I hope that April 9 might be the day that many who have been away from confession for a long time will feel the movement of the Holy Spirit to come back.

For those also who have been distant from the Church, the priest is waiting to bring you Christ’s healing forgiveness.

One reason that many people are reluctant to confess their sins is the need to tell our sins to the priest.

Even if one is anonymous and behind a screen in the confessional, one can still be left uncomfortable.

The idea of revealing our inmost faults to another human being can be intimidating for the best of us. “What will the priest think?” “Might he recognize my voice?”

And perhaps most often, the question is raised as to “why I need to confess to a priest.” “Who needs this intermediary?” “Isn’t it just as good to go to my room, close the door and confess my sins directly to God?”

We need first to remind ourselves that God has frequently acted in the world by means of human mediation.

Somehow, it seems, in order to keep the human race from looking at Him as simply a granter of miracles whenever we need Him, He uses some of us to convey His love, His law and yes, His forgiveness. Think of Abraham and Moses, think of the prophets, think of the humanity of Jesus.

In the same way, when the priest is hearing your confession, Christ is acting through him and his humanity.

When he says to one who has confessed, “I absolve you from your sins” what is being conveyed are the words and the divine power of Jesus. We are hearing in the confessional what the Gospels tell us people heard from the mouth of Jesus, “Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace.”

That is why Pope Francis, in a recent talk said, “the priest receives this confession with love and tenderness and forgives us on God’s behalf.”

For every priest, hearing the confession of another is one of his greatest privileges as well as his heavy burden. Knowing that he himself is also a sinner, the priest is most aware that God’s eternal forgiveness, by the Father’s plan, passes through him despite his unworthiness.

If you have been away from confession for a long time, perhaps for many years, or if you have something that is really bothering you, it is not unexpected that you might be nervous.

If you are saying to yourself, “I don’t even know how to start, or what to say.” Don’t worry. Begin by telling the priest that it has been a long time. Ask him to help you through your confession. Ultimately, a confession involves a simple and human conversation.

We need that human conversation. A chat with God “in my head” is too easily transformed into self-forgiveness.  

Again, to quote Pope Francis, “Go, the priest will be good. Jesus is there, and Jesus is more benevolent than priests, Jesus receives you, he receives you with so much love.”

See you on April 9.