*Husband-Wife DATE to CONFESSIONAL?*

A TRUE STORY

[Husband says to wife:]

"Honey!" ... "Excuse me!"

[Wife replies:]

"Yes, husband." ..... "Are you talking to me?" ... "Are you talking to 'ME'! ... "What do you want now?" ... "You know you've been absolutely driving me 'crazy' lately and I've had just about enough of you! ... So tell me. What precisely is it you want from me now? ... I suppose you want me to wash your clothes, feed you food, wash your dishes, fold your clothes and clean up after you again!" ... I tell you, between you and those kids you forced me to bring into the world, I am so 'MAD' that I could 'CHEW NAILS'! ... One more word from you mister, and I 'SWEAR' I will run out of this house 'SCREAMING'!!!"

[Husband clears his throat. Nervously he speaks further:]

"Oh, it's nothing dear. I just thought you and I would have some time alone together." ... "You know, ... Mmmm ... Like go on a 'date" or something." ... "What do you think? Would you like to go on a 'date' with me??!!!" ...

[Wife:] A date? ... You said you want to go on a 'DATE'!!!' ... "Are you completely 'CRAZY'!!!!!!!" ... "Being seen with you on a 'DATE' is the "LAST" thing I "EVER" want to do!!!"

[Courageously husband says:] Well, darling, I was just praying the rosary (You know the one you bought me for my birthday?) and I thought you and I would go get some coffee together and sit alone for a while. Perhaps then you can tell me in more detail how your day is going!

(I told you this husband was "courageous!)

[Husband:] Oh, yes. ... One more thing. ... I thought we would stop off at the church before we go on our, MMmmmm, "date". ... You see, it's Saturday and our priest is offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation." (Confession) ... "Honey, I know we've hurt each other lately with words we've said and not said. Also, that we've hurt each other in things we've done and not done." ... "Well, sweetheart. I tell you what. I'll go in the Confessional and talk to the priest first. Yes, I've got things I need to tell him I've done wrong. Afterwards, if you wish, you can have your turn.

***

This "does" happen you know. We Catholics get criticized a lot for kneeling at certain times, standing at certain times, making the sign of the cross with holy water at certain times, and attending elaborate Mass as often as we can. ... There are feast days, times of fasting, garments worn at certain times and so on. But what many non-catholics don't realize, there is meaning in every tradition, every procedure, every prayer, every nuance. Many of these activities dating back "hundreds" of years (if not thousands). Every detail is a symbol, a "form of worship" if you will. Honorable and sacred approaches to our Heavenly Father.

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My point is this. To a good Catholic man, to a good Catholic woman, when you say, "It is time to go to Confession", the shirts come on and the shoes are laced. Everybody gets in the car, and off they go!!!" ... Then, in the moving of the lips and speaking to a man across the room (a man who's role and duty in life is to be a priest) a practising Catholic who is "worth his salt" (so to speak) confesses what he or she has done wrong in life, even if making that confession is difficult.

***

[Confessing sins in your head can be easier than confessing to God in front of a human being!] ... "This", my friend, is a great and ancient psychology. A "therapy" actually (to say the least). ... I will venture to say (speaking as a psychotherapist myself), attending Confession can be as productive and emotionally exhilarating as some professional therapies. - Not to mention "cheaper!"

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

1440 (a): "Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. ..."

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1441 (a): "Only God forgives sins. Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, "The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven. ..."

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1442: "Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action his whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that he acquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation." The apostle is sent out "on behalf of Christ" with "God making his appeal" through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God.""