In my younger days, I avoided confession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was easy to do. Confession was offered on Saturday evenings, and Saturday evenings were convenient for finding something else to do. I told myself I would go another time. I convinced myself that my sins were not serious. I postponed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avoidance is subtle that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I have grown older, my relationship with confession has changed. What once felt uncomfortable now feels like relief. There is something deeply steadying about hearing the words spoken aloud: \u201cI absolve you.\u201d<\/em> It is not vague reassurance. It is not self-help. It is the assurance that God has forgiven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripture is clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\u201d Faithful. Just. Not hesitant. Not partial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And yet, there was a time when I did not feel forgiven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went to confession sincerely. I examined my conscience carefully. I received absolution. But afterward, the weight remained. I returned again. And again. I could not understand why God was not forgiving me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I apologized to the people I believed I had hurt. I tried to repair what I could. Still, something felt unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, I asked a priest why I did not feel God\u2019s forgiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He answered calmly, without hesitation: That sentence settled into me and stayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had done everything externally. I had confessed. I had asked forgiveness of others. I had heard the words of absolution. But I had not accepted what God had already given. I was holding onto the offense as if self-condemnation were a form of humility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was not humility. It was resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Psalmist writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.\u201d God removes what we continue to carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I realized that seeking forgiveness has two movements. We seek reconciliation with God and with those we have hurt. But we must also receive that forgiveness. We must allow it to take root. Until we forgive ourselves, we will continue returning to the same place, asking again for what has already been granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolution is real. God\u2019s mercy is not partial or hesitant. When He forgives, He forgives completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question is whether we are willing to live as though that is true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confession is no longer something I avoid. It is something I respect. It is where truth is spoken plainly, and mercy is given freely. It is where I am reminded that I do not need to carry what Christ has already carried for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forgiveness is offered. I go to confession again and again, wondering why I do not feel forgiven. A priest gently tells me the truth: God has already forgiven me. It is I who must learn to accept it.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":132804860,"featured_media":12906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[401,35706480],"tags":[785751677,59002,732819,9505,71131,100179,785751676,785751675,13993],"class_list":["post-326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith","category-faith-spiritual-growth","tag-absolution","tag-catholic-faith","tag-catholic-spirituality","tag-confession","tag-forgiveness","tag-mercy","tag-sacrament-of-reconciliation","tag-self-forgiveness","tag-spiritual-growth"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Receiving-Mercy.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9vUsN-5g","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13021,"url":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/2026\/03\/07\/confession-and-lent-the-sacrament-of-return\/","url_meta":{"origin":326,"position":0},"title":"Confession and Lent: The Sacrament of Return","author":"myallaboutyou","date":"marzo 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Lent has always been a season of return. In the early Church, penitents walked through Lent preparing for reconciliation just as catechumens prepared for Baptism. This reflection explores how the sacrament of Confession developed, why it belongs especially to Lent, and how it restores the life first given in Baptism.","rel":"","context":"En "Early Christian Witnesses \/ Early Church History"","block_context":{"text":"Early Christian Witnesses \/ Early Church History","link":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/category\/early-christian-witnesses-early-church-history\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Traditional Catholic confessional in a quiet church during Lent symbolizing repentance and the sacrament of reconciliation","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DALL%C2%B7E-2026-03-07-05.49.52-Photorealistic-interior-of-a-historic-Catholic-church-focusing-on-a-traditional-wooden-confessional-booth.-The-confessional-is-dark-polished-wood-with.webp?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DALL%C2%B7E-2026-03-07-05.49.52-Photorealistic-interior-of-a-historic-Catholic-church-focusing-on-a-traditional-wooden-confessional-booth.-The-confessional-is-dark-polished-wood-with.webp?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DALL%C2%B7E-2026-03-07-05.49.52-Photorealistic-interior-of-a-historic-Catholic-church-focusing-on-a-traditional-wooden-confessional-booth.-The-confessional-is-dark-polished-wood-with.webp?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DALL%C2%B7E-2026-03-07-05.49.52-Photorealistic-interior-of-a-historic-Catholic-church-focusing-on-a-traditional-wooden-confessional-booth.-The-confessional-is-dark-polished-wood-with.webp?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11990,"url":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/2026\/01\/12\/mercy-for-yesterdays-regrets\/","url_meta":{"origin":326,"position":1},"title":"Mercy for Yesterday\u2019s Regrets","author":"myallaboutyou","date":"enero 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Release yesterday\\u2019s regrets into God\\u2019s endless mercy. Each morning brings a clean slate: 'My child, I remember your sins no more.' Fresh mercies await in Lamentations 3:22-23. Start your day forgiven and free. #DailyBlessing2026\"","rel":"","context":"En "Biblical Studies"","block_context":{"text":"Biblical Studies","link":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/category\/biblical-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A young woman with curly hair stands in soft golden morning light, her face gently illuminated as shadows of regret fade behind her. 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This reflection explores how sanctifying and actual grace cooperate with our daily actions, how spiritual dryness can deepen our faith, and how saints serve as living compasses guiding us toward union with God. 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This name, meaning \"God is salvation,\" represents assurance of redemption and divine authority. By invoking His name, believers seek mercy, protection, and comfort, emphasizing its profound impact on faith and spiritual connection.","rel":"","context":"En "Biblical Studies"","block_context":{"text":"Biblical Studies","link":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/category\/biblical-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the-holy-name-of-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the-holy-name-of-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the-holy-name-of-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/the-holy-name-of-jesus.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":625,"url":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/2018\/08\/28\/st-augustine-the-son-of-tears\/","url_meta":{"origin":326,"position":5},"title":"St Augustine, the Son of Tears \u2014","author":"myallaboutyou","date":"agosto 28, 2018","format":"quote","excerpt":"In Son of Tears, I pause with Augustine in the moment when his heart finally breaks open before God \u2014 not in despair, but in recognition. Fra Angelico\u2019s painting reveals a deeper truth beneath his tears: the quiet way grace moves when our strength ends, and the hidden power of\u2026","rel":"","context":"En "Art & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art & Culture","link":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/category\/art-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Saint Augustine in pink robes praying with hands covering face in a traditional setting.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/create-a-highly-detailed-high-resolution-image-inspired-by-fra-angelicos.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/create-a-highly-detailed-high-resolution-image-inspired-by-fra-angelicos.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/create-a-highly-detailed-high-resolution-image-inspired-by-fra-angelicos.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/my-all-about-you.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/create-a-highly-detailed-high-resolution-image-inspired-by-fra-angelicos.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/132804860"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=326"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12907,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326\/revisions\/12907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my-all-about-you.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\u2014 1 John 1:9<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have been forgiven. It is you who has not forgiven yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Psalm 103:12<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Peace is given.
The rest is acceptance.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"