The thing I have found that most Catholics dread, no matter how many times they go to Mass, no matter how much they go to Adoration, no matter how many Rosaries, Chaplets, and other prayers they say every day, is unfortunately the Sacrament of Penance. So many of us nowadays come up with excuses to not go to Confession on a good basis, of which the usual one (and a poor one at that) is, "But I've done such horrible things, how can I go in there and tell someone about them?" Let me say right off the bat that this is both incredibly saddening to hear and also a point at which I always say, "Trust me, they've heard worse."
Confession is so absolutely amazing. Seriously. When you receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in true contrition, you are being reunited to Christ in sanctifying grace! In fact, it is Christ Himself doing this through the priest who is in persona Christi! If you are in sin, wouldn't you rather be back with the God Who loves you and has forgiven you over and over instead of wallowing in guilt and shame?
Let me put it this way: Anyone who has ever been in a relationship, whether it's of a romantic nature or not, knows that we, being fallen, screw up a lot, as in, ALL THE TIME. People do very stupid things to others, and the loving bond between them is broken. This is exactly what sin does, especially mortal sin! But in any relationship, the people who done hurtful things, as well as those who were hurt, usually will want to repair the broken bond for the sake of continuing the relationship. This is exactly what Confession is about; coming to ask our Bridegroom, the One Who wants us completely in a loving relationship with Him, for forgiveness for hurting Him.
Obviously in human relationships it takes the mutual action of all involved to repair the bond. However, with Christ one side of it is already completely forgiving and merciful, so that we are the only ones who really need to have the courage and active will to respond to His call to come back. Each and every time we have a chance to go to Confession, He's calling us to return home to Him, a bride returning to her Bridegroom to ask for forgiveness.
Along with the actual act of returning to Him in contrition, we should prepare ourselves before we do so, just like a bride will first ask the family and friends of her Bridegroom to help her understand how she offended Him, will read about how to do so in a humble, nearly begging manner, as well as mull over what she has done to realize why she is returning. The Father, the Holy Spirit, Mother Mary, and the Saints are the family and friends of our Bridegroom Jesus, and Scripture (especially, in this case, the Song of Songs) tells us both how and why we should come back to Him. Finally, we should always make a daily examination of conscience to understand what we could have done better for Him every day! All of these allow us to truly come back to Him in a humble heart that is begging to be back in His grace again.
So go to Confession! A lot! Saint Padre Pio made sure to go to Confession at least once a week. If Christ tells us that "each day has enough evil of its own", then each week has more than enough evil to need Confession on such a usual basis. But we always need to remember that we're not going back to merely "be freed from evil and sin", but rather to be filled with His grace and mercy so we can love Him and accept His immeasurable love all the more.
(For Scripture recommendations, try Luke 15 and Psalm 51, which are the Prodigal Son and David's "Act of Contrition". Pray while reading them! Also, ask Mary, the Mother of Mercy, to come with you into the Confessional so you can truly come back to our Bridegroom Christ even more than before!)
St. John Vianney, patron Saint of confessors, please pray for our priests that they may always be listening and speaking to those coming to Confession the words that Christ has for them!
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