If there is one thing that makes the Catholic Faith special I would say it would be that we are a Sacramental Church. It is because of the Sacraments that I am a Catholic.  For us, as Catholics, when we celebrate any of the Sacraments we are allowing God to come into our lives in a very real and substantial way. I do think, however, that many Catholics fail to understand what the Sacraments really are. I would like to take some time to talk, a bit, about what the Sacraments are and what they do. 
 
The first of the Sacraments that I would like to discuss is Reconciliation. Most people refer to this as Confession. This has become a little used and little appreciated Sacrament. So many have told me that they don’t like to go, and that they don’t see why they need to go to Confession. So, do we need to go, and if so, Why? The answer is that we should go to Confession because it allows us to, not only receive the gift of God’s forgiveness, but it also allows us to fulfill our responsibilities to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me briefly explain what I mean. 
 
We believe that, when we become Catholics that we become part of something much bigger than ourselves. Saint Paul says that we become part of the Body of Christ. What he means, and what we believe, is that, as Catholics we are all connected to each other. That means that what happens to any member of the Church effects the body as a whole. That means it affects me as an individual. Saint John Paul II said that, because of this connection, whenever any one of us does something good or true or beautiful, it lifts us all. He also said that when any one of us does something sinful, no matter how small or secret that act is, it lowers us all. When I commit a sin it keeps the Church, as a whole, from being what it is meant to be. My sin keeps you from being all that you are meant to be. That is why Confession is so important. My sin separates me from God; it also separates me from all of you. I need to be reconciled. Confession gives me God’s forgiveness; it undoes the affects of the sin that I committed. Confession also reconciles me with the whole body of Christ. It undoes the damage my sin has done to the whole body. 
 
There are other aspects to this beautiful Sacrament. It is good for the soul. Going to Confession is a healthy spiritual exercise. Confession teaches us humility. Above all going to Confession is a reminder that we are not in this alone and that we have a responsibility to love all those who make up the Body of Christ. Confession forgives us our sins and it reconciles us with God. Our going to Confession is also a great gift to our brothers and sisters in Christ allowing them to be all that God longs for them to be. 
 
God Bless, Fr. Jack