The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance: A Priest's View

Fr. Walsh has a warm style of writing. His book can apply to almost anyone who is interested in this topic. Enjoyable and factual. Highly recommend.

Fr. Walsh has a simple and direct way of explaining this most important Sacrament. He shares interesting anecdotes and makes a very complex and mysterious subject more approachable. Who doesn't want to learn more about Confession? Everyone I know wonders how to do it "better". An easy read and great gift.

It is common to hear confessional "horror stories" of Catholcis who had bad experiences with going to confession. In the midst of these what gets eclipsed are the vast majority of good and healing confessions that have taken place, the good priests who offer sound advice and help people to draw closer to Christ. Because of this fear and misunderstanding, use of the sacrament of pennance has drastically declined and yet people are not the better for it. They are depriving themselves of one of the greatest sacraments God has provided for His Church. This is the situation that Fr. Walsh attempts to address in his book. He addresses what the sacrament was, what has become and what it should be. He takes stock of objections people have against confession, and then through use of annecdotes and advice he helps the reader draw either back to this sacrament or grow in appreciation of its importance.

In his overview of the sacrament of penance, Fr. Walsh expresses concern not that this sacrament has undergone more changes than any other through the years, but that Catholics learn to approach it "integrally, meaningfully, and regularly." He describes penance as a sacrament of healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and believes that "penance should be the sacrament for contemporary society." That established, Walsh lists and counters three common reasons people avoid confession: (1) feelings of embarrassment and shame, (2) confusion about the sacrament and its forms, and (3) the belief that "basically good persons" have no need to confess. In the chapter on getting back to frequent confession, Walsh explains the benefits of penance or "reconciliation" as the sacrament is now called: grace, ongoing conversion, keeping on track, and moral counsel and spiritual direction. He also addresses the mechanics of confession, particularly examination of conscience, and the role of the priest. Walsh uses plain language and examples to help make his case, which should be of interest to the large percentage of Catholics who, for one reason or another, are not now or never were in the habit of receiving this healing sacrament regularly.

This is a very interesting book which sheds new insights into the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I would like to recommend this book especially to priests and people who work in spiritual direction.