Examining our hearts; Confessing our sins

“I know my offense...”
Psalm 51, referred to as the Miserere, is King David's profound prayer, a confession of the gravity of his sin. This psalm reflects the significance of knowing our faults and failings, acknowledging our responsibility for what we have done, confessing our guilt to God, and rejoicing in His mercy. “For I know my offense; my sin is always before me. Against you alone have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight... Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom... Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit... Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit” (Ps 51: 5,6,8,11,12,14).
This psalm, which is so rich in emotion, reveals the depths of pain which a soul experiences when in sin. The deprivation of grace leaves the sinner feeling “crushed” and in need of cleansing. Yet, the sinner is ever-conscious of God’s love and the salvation which is offered to the contrite. Not only is the repentant sinner grateful for the generous mercy of God. The penitent also pledges his desire to bring others to repentance: “I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you” (Ps 51:15).
Knowledge of our sin, consciousness of our transgressions, and awareness of how our sin affects humanity is the beginning of conversion. Within us, God stirs that longing which makes us realize that we have done wrong and that we want to make right our relationship with God. Just as God took the initiative to restore the relationship between humanity and divinity after the Fall of Adam and Eve, so now, when we sin, God inspires within us that desire for repentance, that need for His forgiveness, that hope in Divine Mercy, all of which follow the knowledge of our sinfulness.

The Examination of Conscience
In the spiritual classic, Introduction to the Devout Life, the 17th-century Bishop and Doctor of the Church Saint Francis de Sales, encourages the daily practice of examination of conscience. “As to the examination of conscience... we examine how we conducted ourselves throughout the whole course of the day. To do so more easily, we may reflect on where, with whom, and in what work we have been engaged. If we find that we have done any good, we must thank God for it. On the other hand, if we have done anything wrong in thought, word, or deed, we must ask pardon of his Divine Majesty with a resolution to confess it at the first opportunity and to make careful amendment for it” (Part II, Chapter 11).
The saints advocated daily examination of conscience as a means to heighten their awareness of their sins and imperfections. By this practice, the saints engendered day-to-day aversion to sin, and stimulated growth in perfection. The regular examination of conscience is then a key to holiness of life and a necessary preparatory tool for a good confession.
Recently, I wrote to the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia about the upcoming Reconciliation Weekend on February 24 and 25. Included with my letter was a brochure on how to make a good confession as well as a sample examination of conscience. This is intended as a stimulus for people to be guided by the Holy Spirit in order to recognize particular sins. Thus an examination of conscience must begin with a prayer that God will allow the penitent to know the state of his or her soul, acknowledge sin, be motivated to sorrow, and make a thorough confession.

Confessing our sins
Ever since the Risen Christ gave to His apostles the power to forgive sins on Easter Sunday evening, the Church has sought to reconcile sinners with God and His Church. From her earliest days, the Church has been ever aware of the damaging effects of sin, as well as the healing power of repentance and the confession of sin.
As we become more conscious of the loving relationship with God which we should enjoy, we become more conscious too that, as human beings, we must be faithful to the expectations which God has of us. The daily examination of conscience enables us to recognize those times when we often fail to live up to the expectations which God has of us. When we sin, we must experience a desire for forgiveness. In that desire for forgiveness and that hope of conversion, we seek God's mercy in the manner which He gave to His Church, the Sacrament of Penance. Through the confession of our sins to a priest, accompanied by genuine contrition and a desire to sin no more, we receive an abundance of mercy (God’s love in the face of our weakness) and grace (God’s life within us). Saint Isidore of Seville, a 7th-century Bishop and Doctor of the Church, taught: “Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin, all hope consists in confession; in confession there is a chance for mercy” (Paul Thigpen, A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints).
In these coming weeks before our Reconciliation Weekend, the parishes of the Archdiocese will employ various means of encouraging people to come to confession. The faithful of the Archdiocese will be of great assistance to their priests simply by encouraging family members, neighbors, friends and co-workers about this momentous opportunity to experience and rejoice in the celebration of God’s mercy. I invite everyone to become involved in helping to bring those who have strayed to make a good confession. Offer to friends, neighbors, or family members copies of the brochure and examination of conscience which were mailed to all Catholic households. Refer those who have questions or concerns to the “Bless Me” Telephone Line or to the Archdiocesan web site (www.archdiocese-phl.org). Remember an exhortation from Saint James: “If anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (Jas 5:19-20).