June 2018 SPECIAL EDITION February 2015 Issue | Page 8

February 2015
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on keeping on.
Walk Softly.
Pope Francis believes what Mahatma Ghandi said,
“If we live the ‘eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’
rule, the whole world would quickly become blind
and toothless.”
Be Available to your Kids and Family.
Pope Francis says spend less time on getting things
and more time on nurturing family.
Spend Sundays With Family.
What’s more important: watching another football
game or connecting with spouse and kids?
Work Toward Empowering Young People.
The Pope says that our future rests with our children,
not with our bank accounts.
Care For The Environment.
Pope Francis tells us to read Genesis. God put us in
charge of the world He created. So, protecting the
environment is a responsibility commanded by God.

Move On.
Pope Francis tells us to live Jesus’ ‘Great Commandment of Forgiveness’. Forgive all!
Respect Others, Even Those You Disagree
With.
The pope says we should challenge false opinions
but show respect and love for all.
Actively Strive For Peace.
We should always walk our talk.

Pope Francis says, in effect, “Try it, you’ll
like it. It’s a gumbo recipe for happiness.” I believe
he’s right.

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5. YOU DON’T HAVE TO CONFESS ANYONE ELSE’S SINS.

While few people come to Confession in order to talk about someone else’s sins, it happens. In most cases,
this is because there is some hurt involved, a spouse is cruel or one’s children have been hurtful. In those
cases, I understand needing to give Jesus the pain you have experienced, but the main purpose of Confession
is to reveal one’s own sins, not someone else’s.
6. IF A PRIEST TELLS YOU THAT SOMETHING ISN’T A SIN (THAT YOU BELIEVE IS A SIN), CONFESS IT
ANYWAY.

It is very frustrating and confusing when you know that something is a sin (it was on the reliable examination
of conscience, for crying out loud!), and the priest tells you that, in his opinion, that isn’t a sin. You don’t
need to panic or give in to confusion, and you don’t need to argue with the priest. Just know that you
confessed it the best as you could and let Jesus take care of it.
7. DON’T WORRY IF YOU “FORGET YOUR LINES.”

“I can’t go to Confession! I don’t know how to start! I don’t know my Act of Contrition!” If you blank on
how to go to Confession, just let the priest know. He is there as a representative of God’s love and patience.
Plus, he went to school for this. Even if you don’t know how it’s supposed to go, he can walk you through it.
8. YOU CAN TELL THE PRIEST HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEHIND YOU IN LINE.

That’s just a nice thing to do if you think of it. He might be going slowly because
he isn’t aware that there are 20 more people in line and only 15 minutes to go.
All of this is simply meant to help with some of the human issues that many
people have with confession. I know that there are more that I haven’t mentioned.
Just remember, the fact that you are even thinking about going to Confession is a
sign that God is inviting you there, and who would want to turn down a personal
invitation from God?
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