Sunday, March 30, 2008, Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, Year A Assumption Grotto Parish, Detroit
What a Priest Confessor is for You
(outline only)
Introduction
Highlights of the narration of the power to forgive sins.
Development
Confessor as a father
Fear, discouragement, shame
Trust, encouragement, wisdom
Confessor as a doctor
Tell a doctor everything
Doctor then can heal
Confessor as a teacher
“Is this or that a sin”
“how do I get out of slavery to this sin or that”
“What’s going on”
Instruct, teach, share the wisdom of the saints
He’s the one in the Catholic community who dedicates his life for this. You should expect your priests to be educated, and to take your situations, cares, worries, questions seriously
Confessor as a judge
Looks at the gravity of sin, the state of the sinner, the sincerity of the sinner, and whether to administer absolution, and what penance to give.
His is a judgment of mercy. There is another judgment at the end of time which will be pure justice. Be wise, and frequently draw near to the judgment of mercy.
How absolved sins will not be reckoned at your last judgment.
Conclusion
Think not of yourselves alone this day, but of your neighbors.
