The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Today we meditate on the Sacrament of Reconciliation

We begin with a true account of an exorcism that took place in Earling, Iowa in 1928. After all the psychological and psychiatric testing was completed, it was determined there indeed was a case of demonic possession and an Exorcist was called in. Men of the parish were asked to assist b/c when the exorcism began the possessed person became very violent and had to be restrained. However, the devil took a new strategy and fought back in a very surprising way, by revealing the deepest darkest sins of those present in the room, making them so embarrassed they fled for shame. After many instances of this, one person blurted out to the demon, “Why do you say nothing of the Priest?” To which the devil responded, “What has been confessed, I do not know.”

You see, Scripture calls the devil the Accuser “Who accuses us day and night before the throne of God.” However, Satan apparently only knows the sins we have not confessed. What has been confessed is out of the devil’s reach and he cannot use against us. The Exorcist made a practice of Regular Confession, therefore the devil had no ammunition to use against him. But when we don’t go to confession, the guilt piles up and the devil uses it against us.

The devil Accuses us to Discourage us. He uses discouragement to drive us away from God. Confession dispels the dark cloud of discouragement; it removes the Sin and Guilt; It gives us a clean start; and it brings the light, grace and healing of Christ.