Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Archives

Sin

Looking For Peace? Try Confession

Book by Mary Ann Budnik

Book Review by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Looking for Peace? Try Confession! This is a masterpiece of simplicity. It spells out what our risen Lord gave to us on Easter Sunday night. He appeared to His disciples and told them, “Peace be with you.”

Then He instituted the Sacrament of Confession. He told the apostles and their successors in the priesthood, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them. Whose sins you do not forgive, they are not forgiven.”

What was Jesus telling us? He is telling us that if we want peace of soul, we must go to Confession frequently, because we are all sinners. Just as Jesus told the sinful woman, “Your sins are forgiven you,” and her sins were forgiven. Just as He told the repentant thief on Calvary, “Today you shall be with me in Paradise,” and the condemned criminal had his lifetime of sin forgiven--so this same Jesus forgives us our sins every time we go to Confession to one of His priests and he pronounces the words, “I forgive you your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

The root of all disquiet of mind is the sense of guilt. Peace is the experience of knowing that I am in the friendship of God.

This handbook by Mary Ann Budnik should be read by every priest and believing Catholic. It will encourage priests to make themselves available for hearing confessions, which is one of the main reasons our Lord ordained them to the priesthood. It will inspire the faithful to go to Confession frequently, because by receiving this sacrament, we obtain that peace of soul which is so desperately needed in our confused and anxious age.

Copyright © 1998 Inter Mirifica