Should we really look for a dying priest?

A Catholic priest, in his Holy Week homily, said the best "Easter gift" that people can give to God to thank Him for saving us is a pure soul – a soul made pure through confession.

He lamented, however, that very few Catholics these days go to confession, estimating that in a parish of about 50,000 people, only about 100 go to confession at least once a year, the minimum requirement of the Catholic Church.

The priest said many people find it too embarrassing to confess their sins to a priest. He then suggested, in jest, that those uncomfortable confessing their sins should look for a dying priest as “he will carry your sins to his grave.”

On a more serious note, he said Catholics should not be afraid to go to confession because priests are bound to keep everything confessed to them secret.

WHAT IS CONFESSION?

Going to confession is a central requirement of the Catholic faith. It is one of the Five Precepts—or "Five Commandments"—of the Catholic Church.

I recalled a moment from last year during our regular Sunday breakfast with neighbors after Mass. An 85-year-old lady asked, "Five Commandments? I thought there were Ten Commandments?" I explained that the Five Commandments differ from the Ten Commandments.

With her beside me, we Googled the Five Commandments of the Catholic Church and according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the official summary of the teachings of the Catholic Church, these are:

(1) “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation."

(2) “You shall confess your sins at least once a year."

(3) “You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season."

(4) “You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation."

(5) “You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence."

On the other hand, the Ten Commandments are:

(1) I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.

(2) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

(3) Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

(4) Honor your father and your mother

(5) You shall not kill.

(6) You shall not commit adultery.

(7) You shall not steal.

(8) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

(9) You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse.

(10) You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Source: USCCB

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Both sets of commandments are essential for an Examination of Conscience, a prayerful review of our thoughts, words, and actions used in spiritual preparation for confession.

For instance, the first of the Ten Commandments states: “I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.” 

According to the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), this commands us to love and worship God and to maintain reverence for prayer and holy things.

In contrast, the First Commandment forbids idolatry, superstition, spiritism, tempting God, sacrilege, and attendance at false worship. Big words. For many Catholics, even regular churchgoers, these terms may require additional research. 

To find reliable information, one can type on Google: "For Catholics, what is considered idolatry?" or "For Catholics, what is considered superstition?" A valuable resource, the Catholic Encyclopedia, defines idolatry as "the greatest of mortal sins." 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. One commits idolatry whenever they honor a creature in place of God—whether that be power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, or money. "

On YouTube, a Catholic exorcist warned that mortal sins against the First Commandment are more common than we think. 

Some of the sins that are listed under this category are: astrology (reading the future based on stars); palmistry (divination based on the lines on one's hands); cartomancy (divination using playing cards); alomancy (divination using salts); Devil-worship; evil eye, spells, incantations, and witchcraft. 

The Catholic Stand said modern witches are unlike the warty, green-skinned witches on stereotypical Halloween decorations. Many practitioners claim their intent is harmless, suggesting that using crystals or performing spells allows them to connect with their inner selves and womanhood. These practices have become increasingly common globally, with public figures like Filipino-American actress Vanessa Hudgens openly discussing her involvement in witchcraft. 

Despite its growing prevalence in modern culture, witchcraft remains a grave mortal sin. It is essential to recognize these practices as harmful and must be confessed and avoided.

CONFESSION "CHALLENGES"

Admittedly, going to confession regularly is not as simple as it seems.

I grew up attending a non-Catholic school that offered extensive sports facilities—including a swimming pool, basketball and badminton courts, a bowling alley, and even a golf course—but lacked religion classes.

Once a month, an elderly Catholic priest would visit to preside over the First Friday Mass and hear confessions. I remember him stating that the easiest sin to commit is the "sin of the tongue." He explained that while it is difficult and complicated to steal, kill, or commit adultery, it is very easy to sin through our words and speech.

Fortunately, in college, in UP Diliman, my friend Anna taught me to go to confession at least once a month. Then in the early 2000s, I heard Mother Angelica on EWTN mention that Pope now Saint John Paul II went to confession everyday. 

Mother Angelica said if even the Pope feels the need to confess daily, we should consider confessing more frequently—perhaps even twice a week—if we want to go straight to Heaven.

My husband, Riz, and I attempted to follow this practice. However, when the confessor at Greenbelt Church in Makati learned that it was my second confession in a week, he said, "There must be something wrong with you if you have to confess twice a week."

At another time, an Italian priest shouted angrily after I confessed my sins. I was so traumatized that I asked God to make me physically incapable of committing a sin. A few years later, I experienced a major stroke and for a few hours, I couldn't move even my fingers. I joked to my husband that my prayer has been answered.

A priest said as humans, we will always commit a sin but the important thing is to return to God immediately whenever we fall into sin. Only the Devil will tell us that there is no longer any hope for us.

Another confessor at Greenbelt shared a valuable perspective on forgiveness: we should forgive those who hurt us but remain mindful of those experiences to protect ourselves. He emphasized that we have a moral obligation to avoid people and situations that put us at physical or spiritual risk.