Confession can change everything.
In an episode of “The Catholic Gentleman,” John Heinen, Sam Guzman, and Devin Schadt discuss how the Sacrament of Reconciliation turns the soil of our souls, allowing the seeds of grace to flourish from the ashes of shame and guilt.
1) Confession Is the Bridge From Guilt To Grace
Confession invites us to lay down our burdens of guilt and shame at His feet. Schadt explains the difference. Guilt is the sorrow for what we’ve done, but shame is the corrosive feeling of who we mistakenly believe we are.
“Guilt is good if it leads you to God, but the devil will try to define you by your sin,” he says.
Confession is where God tells us we are more than our sins, opening ourselves up to His mercy.
2) Penance Brings Us Freedom
Guilt, if left unattended, can spiral into shame, but confession offers a unique remedy through the Act of Contrition.
“Guilt can take on disordered aspects, but in its healthiest form, it’s about restoring–repairing damage when we know that we’ve hurt others,” Guzman says.
Penance is therefore not a punishment but a healing process–a restoration of the soul’s dignity, and a pathway to the freedom found by living in God’s mercy.
3) God’s Love Absorbs Our Shame
Confession has the profound ability to absorb personal shame with God’s infinite love.
This sacrament is not just about acknowledging our faults but is about embracing our identity as beloved children of God, renewed and redeemed.
“In confession, we can experience the love of God… Saint John Paul II said, ‘The absorption of shame by love can happen in confessional,'” Heinen says.
If guilt weighs you down, the gentlemen have some great advice for listeners on letting go of shame and stepping into God’s grace through the Sacrament of Reconciliation!
