Summary
Father Patrick Gilger, a Jesuit priest in Chicago, describes the return of Catholics to confession during Lent as a positive sign that individuals want to be good. The sacrament of penance and reconciliation has shifted from being an embarrassing recitation of sins to a cathartic quest for grace. O’Toole, a professor emeritus at Boston College, notes that until recent decades, parishes maintained lists of sin categories ranging from adultery to talking in church during confession. However, the practice saw a decline due to psychological complexities and changing cultural norms, including clergy abuse scandals. Father Thomas Gaunt leads Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and reports an uptick in U.S. parish confession rates. Today’s confessions are more focused on conversation about God’s mercy and love rather than reciting sins. Key priests emphasize that confession is a therapeutic process benefiting both penitent and confessor, as people seek to confront their own shortcomings amid a society that often judges harshly.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Confession, Grace
