"Confession is the Soul's Bath"

"Confession is the soul's bath. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week and you will see that it needs dusting again!" St. Pio of Pietrelcina
This photo was taken just before we began one of Our Children's Rosary meetings.  The picture was taken by a child of a child in Confession.  There is something very special about this picture. Maybe it is the light streaming in through the stained glass window upon the child that so beautifully represents the cleansing of the soul.  There is also something wonderful in the way the light hits the screen completely obscuring the identity of the priest. In this way, one can envision Our Lord listening with a bent ear to each detail.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are told that when the priest "celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgement is both just and merciful.  The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner." (Catechism #1466)

In this Year of Mercy, there is a renewed call to come to the Sacrament of Mercy, and to come often. St. Padre Pio so beautiful illustrates how a soul, like our homes, needs frequent cleaning.

Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Nothing is Impossible with God
"Take Up and Read"

Sacrament of Mercy

Pope Francis inaugurated the "Year of Mercy" yesterday.  It was a beautiful decision to have the Year of Mercy begin on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  For Our Blessed Mother is always reminding us how her Son is full of love and compassion.  She takes us by the hand and leads us always in the direction of her Son.  Reminding us that his Heart is full of forgiveness.  


In October we received a note from our Children's Rosary group leader in Ashraf Town, Pakistan.  The Children's Rosary group there has been meeting daily all through the summer.  The children not only prayed in St. Joseph Church but also felt moved to go out of the Church and pray with the poor.  

These little children who have been praying so hard and sharing their love with so many were given a surprise in October.  A priest was able to come to their town and all the children in the Children's Rosary group were able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  The children were so excited.  In such small towns a visit from a priest is a tremendous grace.  Seeing the pictures of the children so reverently receiving the Sacrament of Mercy it seemed a beautiful example of how Our Blessed Mother leads us to the sacraments and the merciful embrace of her Son.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
What to Do When One Keeps Stumbling
"Open Your Soul in Confession as You Would to Me, And I Will Fill It with My Light"

"Open your soul in Confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light"

"Today the Lord has been teaching me, once again, how I am to approach the Sacrament of Penance: My daughter, just as you prepare in My presence, so also you make your confession before Me.  The person of the priest is, for me only a screen....open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light"(Diary of St. Faustina, 1725).

This photo was taken just before we began one of Our Children's Rosary meetings.  The picture was taken by a child of a child in Confession.  Never before have I seen such a beautiful representation of Confession.  Indeed the light filling the soul is so beautifully represented streaming in through the stained glass windows upon the child.  The screen completely obscures the identity of the priest which is also beautiful as one can more easily envision Our Lord listening with a bent ear to each detail.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we are told that when the priest "celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgement is both just and merciful.  The priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner." (Catechism #1466)

We are very grateful to the priests who give of their time to make this sacrament available to so many.  In the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut USA,  each Monday evening every Church in the Archdiocese is open for Confession between 6-7PM ET.  We are very grateful for this precious gift.

Mass Offered Today for the Members of the Children's Rosary

Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Fatima Parish
Hartford, CT

One of the Children's Rosary group leaders who runs a Children's Rosary in a parish named after Our Lady of Fatima has given a wonderful gift to the Children's Rosary.  On the 13th of every month she has a Mass said for members of the Children's Rosary.

Ninety seven years ago today Our Lady appeared to the three little children in Fatima, Portugal.  She asked the children, as she had done on her preceding visits, to pray the Rosary daily.  Another one of the requests of Our Lady of Fatima was monthly confession on the first Saturday.  

Our Lady promised the children that on the 13th of October she would show them a sign.  She was true to her promise and the children along with approximately 75,000 saw a magnificent site with the sun "dancing" in the sky.  

What to Do when One Keeps Stumbling?

Raising children is a challenge.  At least for my part I find myself with times of little patience and plenty of frustration.  As with many things such times of struggle seem to go in waves.  Times when things seem to be going pretty well at least with one child and then something begins with another.  It is such times when I wonder why the Lord called me to work with children.  From my vantage point I have encountered so many wonderful mothers.  

It is at such low moments that I consider from my position that at least I will not be drawn to judge other parents as I find myself lacking in so many ways.  The asisitance of Our Blessed Mother has been a source of considerable help as I frequently ask her to help me be a better mother and also ask her to help make up for that which is lacking in me. 

Through these frequent stumbles there is a place that offers additional grace and strength.  It is the confessional.  While some may advise monthly confession I seem to find myself seeking the sacrament weekly.  Some may think this is excessive.  Yet the more one wants to draw closer to Our Lord the more sensitive one becomes to the barrier sin presents in hearing His whisper.  Some years ago while reading the book Interior Castles by St. Teresa of Avila I was struck by her description of sin and how it obscures the inner light of Our Lord within us.  As more sin accumulates especially mortal sin it is as though a blanket is put over the inner light of our soul.  "No night can be so dark, no gloom nor blackness can compare to its obscurity. Suffice it to say that the sun in the centre of the soul, which gave it such splendour and beauty, is totally eclipsed, though the spirit is as fitted to enjoy God's presence as is the crystal to reflect the sun" (Intererior Castles).

While a soul in a state of grace is desribed by St. Teresa, "In a state of grace the soul is like a well of limpid water, from which flow only streams of clearest crystal. Its works are pleasing both to God and man, rising from the River of Life, beside which it is rooted like a tree". (Interior Castles) 

As with many of us we only want to be doing what is pleasing to Our Lord and in keeping with His Will.  But in order to hear His direction in all things one must be free of the fog of sin which serves to muffle that which Our Lord is trying to convey to us.  So in this way there is always a desire within to seek out this wonderful sacrament to keep wiping away any fog that roles in as a result of our weakness.

St. Faustina in her diary includes the following "Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconcilliation] There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimate or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracels of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated." (Diary 1148)