The Priest as a Father of Confession
General Idea of the Lecture
This lecture discusses the role of the priest as a father of confession, not merely as a listener, but as a spiritual father and guide who leads the human soul to God through the Sacrament of Repentance and Confession, in an atmosphere of holiness, reverence, and awe.
️ Core Spiritual Teaching
- Confession is not storytelling or complaining about others, but rather the condemnation of oneself before God in the hearing of the priest.
- The Sacrament of Confession is a holy mystery in which the Holy Spirit dwells, and therefore it must take place in an atmosphere of reverence and holiness, preferably inside the church.
- True confession is connected to sincere repentance, remorse, determination to begin a new life, and the desire to correct mistakes and their consequences.
- The father of confession represents God in terms of His justice and judgment, therefore the confession session must not turn into friendship or familiarity.
- The father of confession must be experienced in human nature, spiritual life, the wars of demons, and must know God’s commandments and what is lawful and unlawful.
- The priest must be wise, balanced, able to keep confidentiality, show no favoritism, and not be influenced by human pressures.
- The father of confession is both loving and firm, comforting souls without compromising the truth or justifying sin.
- The primary goal of confession is to lead the soul toward spiritual growth, true repentance, and practical healing of sins and their consequences.
️ Conclusion
Confession is a sacred encounter between the soul and God, guided by a wise and prayerful father of confession, whose aim is the salvation of the person and his spiritual edification, not merely granting absolution, but leading him on the path of repentance and growth in life with God.
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