I recently came across two very worthy “clip-out” articles from the National Catholic Register on October 21, which I thought appropriate for this Advent season as we prepare our hearts in spiritual renewal. Mass and Reconciliation must be a priority for spiritual vitality. What better way to welcome Christ than to repent of our sins which weigh us down and embrace the Eucharist that gives us new strength to be His presence as gift to others.
1. It’s your way to relive the Last Supper.
2. When was the last time you prayed too much?
3. If you want to spend eternity with Christ, you need to get to know Him now.
4. It’s the central, necessary activity of Christian worship (Luke 22:14-23; John 6:53; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
5. It’s your best way to identify yourself with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
6. Some of the greatest people in history were Mass-goers (St. Francis, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Pope John Paul II).
7. Wise people invest money for the future. How much more should we invest in eternal life?
8. It has to be better for you than TV.
9. If you’ve been to confession, you get to receive Jesus Christ. If you find a better deal, do that instead.
10. If you knew Jesus would be somewhere, wouldn’t you go see Him?
11. Guaranteed Bible readings. Countless lives have been changed by Scripture. Might yours?
12. Statistics say that people who go to church are less stressed.
13. It’s the best way to pray for your family and friends -- and to cope with troubled times.
14. One out of Ten Commandments asks us to go to Mass every Sunday.
15. You’ll become a better person at Mass. The more you are a part of God’s life, the better you’ll be.
16. Life is complicated. Get directions that work -- from the One who created life.
17. It’s your way to go most directly through Jesus Christ to God the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer.
18. Is an hour too much to give to God? How many do you spend on other priorities?
2. When was the last time you prayed too much?
3. If you want to spend eternity with Christ, you need to get to know Him now.
4. It’s the central, necessary activity of Christian worship (Luke 22:14-23; John 6:53; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
5. It’s your best way to identify yourself with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
6. Some of the greatest people in history were Mass-goers (St. Francis, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Pope John Paul II).
7. Wise people invest money for the future. How much more should we invest in eternal life?
8. It has to be better for you than TV.
9. If you’ve been to confession, you get to receive Jesus Christ. If you find a better deal, do that instead.
10. If you knew Jesus would be somewhere, wouldn’t you go see Him?
11. Guaranteed Bible readings. Countless lives have been changed by Scripture. Might yours?
12. Statistics say that people who go to church are less stressed.
13. It’s the best way to pray for your family and friends -- and to cope with troubled times.
14. One out of Ten Commandments asks us to go to Mass every Sunday.
15. You’ll become a better person at Mass. The more you are a part of God’s life, the better you’ll be.
16. Life is complicated. Get directions that work -- from the One who created life.
17. It’s your way to go most directly through Jesus Christ to God the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer.
18. Is an hour too much to give to God? How many do you spend on other priorities?
How (and Why) to Return to Confession
1. The presence of sin can easily lead to depression and anxiety.
2. You shower to show respect for those around you. Cleansing your soul makes you better to be around, too!
3. Mortal sin, un-confessed, “causes exclusion from Christ’s Kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices forever, with no turning back” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1861).
2. You shower to show respect for those around you. Cleansing your soul makes you better to be around, too!
3. Mortal sin, un-confessed, “causes exclusion from Christ’s Kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices forever, with no turning back” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1861).
4. As they leave the confessional, people smile a smile of freedom.
5. Because love means having to say you are sorry to the one you love.
6. You will grow in humility, sincerity and self-knowledge.
7. Blessed Mother Teresa went. Frequently.
8. Hoping to convert on your deathbed? That’s not very likely. Most likely, you will die as you lived.
9. It is itself a serious sin to go to Communion if you have serious sin on your soul and have not asked for forgiveness in confession.
10. Don’t be scared to death of confession. Be scared of death without confession.
11. Be strong. Face your sins; deal with them and move on.
12. Make sure there are no unpleasant surprises at your particular judgment or at the Final Judgment.
13. The priest will listen to your sins and will never tell a soul on pain of losing his soul. Priests even learn to forget what they hear.
5. Because love means having to say you are sorry to the one you love.
6. You will grow in humility, sincerity and self-knowledge.
7. Blessed Mother Teresa went. Frequently.
8. Hoping to convert on your deathbed? That’s not very likely. Most likely, you will die as you lived.
9. It is itself a serious sin to go to Communion if you have serious sin on your soul and have not asked for forgiveness in confession.
10. Don’t be scared to death of confession. Be scared of death without confession.
11. Be strong. Face your sins; deal with them and move on.
12. Make sure there are no unpleasant surprises at your particular judgment or at the Final Judgment.
13. The priest will listen to your sins and will never tell a soul on pain of losing his soul. Priests even learn to forget what they hear.
