1. You have never made a sacramental confession and don’t know how. This book gives you easy, step by step instructions – all guess work is removed. One of the best tips? Let the priest know it’s your first – he will be glad to help you. Most priests will make it as warm and special an experience for you as they can.

2.You’ve been away from confession for a long time and it fills you with dread. . You are not alone! That’s why I did this book - to take some of the scary parts out of it. Not all of course, because it will always be a bit uncomfortable looking at ourselves when we blow it, but it does help knowing that lots and lots of people feel this way. I’ve been in the monastery for twenty-five years and I still get a nervous stomach and a feeling of dread sometimes. But reading about some of the wonderful ways God has worked in people’s lives through this sacrament – really helps to understand its value and importance in leading a good life. Do let the priest know how long it has been since you have made a confession… if you can’t remember what to do or don’t understand how things have changed since your last confession the priest will be glad to help you in any way he can.

3. You go to confession, but you don’t like it. . Maybe you will never like it, but maybe you are making it more difficult for yourself than it has to be!

In this book you will find good, solid advice to make honest and sincere confessions without embarrassing yourself to pieces.

Did you know that when you go to confession you are NOT SUPPOSED TO GO INTO COMPLETE GRAPHIC DETAIL of every sin you committed? All the priest wants to know is enough to know how serious the sin is and approximately how many times you have fallen. For instance stealing a pen is a lot different than stealing somebody’s social security check or a million people’s social security checks! The priest wants to help you to “Go and sin no more” by knowing how serious you have fallen … the priest can help you to make proper changes in your life and direct you to getting back on the road to right living.

4.You go to confession, but desire to get more out of it. . Now this one is easy. Not only does this book contain wonderful stories but I have selected a number of inspiring but solid, well-written information packed articles about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and how to get more out of it.. I have strived to provide material for the heart, mind and soul in order to present as complete a picture as I can of the great treasure that can be found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.



5.Relationships with others are not as open and life-giving as you desire. . Confession is much more than just getting right with God. It’s also about getting right with one another. There is no such thing as sin that does not affect anyone else. Everything we do whether good or bad has an effect on others. In this book you will find examples of how confessions restored marriages, families, work difficulties and other relational problems. You will learn how you can take steps to love even difficult people, and overcome negative responses that cause anger, fear and pain in others who come in contact with you. Confession helps us to become more loving, happier and fun people to be around. If you are a “prickly” person – confession softens the edges and warms the heart.



6. Your walk with God is on a dead end street. . God has a mission for your life. A beautiful plan that will bring you happiness and help many others. You were created with special gifts and talents, talents that no one else has or can use in the way to bring about the Kingdom of God that God has ordained for you to do. When your gifts are fully developed and fully used you will find the greatest joy and happiness in life. Discovering and using your gifts is essential for your happiness... like a bird that was meant to sing or an eagle that was meant to fly to great heights only in being totally "you" will you find peace and contentment. God knows you inside and out...if you feel that your relationship with God is at a dead end, that is a good sign it's time to turn around! In the Sacrament of Confession God allows us to make U-TURNS! In this book you will discover others who were on the wrong path and how this beautiful sacrament gave them the chance to regroup, reassess and reenergize themselves to start over in a new direction.

7. Your life is out of control and out of balance. . Only God can bring about true balance in our lives. Sometimes we can't see the mistakes we are making or assess accurately how the decisions we make will affect others. During the Sacrament of Confession God works through the Priest - giving him spiritual words and insights to help you. In one story a young man is being guided by a priest who suddenly stops mid-sentence to say something totally different. It was as if, the man said, the priest had just been tapped on the shoulder and given a direct message from God to say something else.

8. Your priorities cause stress and anxiety in daily living. . Don't wait till you have a heart attact or a stroke to decide its time to make changes in your life. Several stories share the unique way that God guided people to find time in their lives for prayer, for their families, for their life's work before it was too late. Preparing for confession through self-examination on a regular basis allows God to gently guide you to make the changes that will remove tension before damage is caused to yourself or others. This book shows the importance of making spiritual self-examination a part of your regular spiritual routine. When you see the results others have... you too will be convinced.

9. You have difficulty making healthy decisions. . If you are mixed up in your thinking, jumbled up with temptations from every side, than going to confession is the perfect solution. Sometimes even your friends cannot be counted on to tell you the hard things you need to hear because they don't want to lose your friendship. The priest wants your friendship too, but more than that he doesn't want you to lose your soul! In one story a young lady finds all sorts of reasons why she should do things she shouldn't. She even gets her family members and friends to back her up. It's only in the sacrament of confession that she is forced to deal with her problem straight on, acknowledge her weakness and avoid every form of temptation that will lead her astray.



10. You are unclear about how to handle moral situations. . Many of us know basic rights and wrongs... but in many situations so many different issues present themselves we are truly confused as the right way to go. In one story an adult lady finds out it was only through the sacrament of confession that allowed her to be alive today! It was the advice of a priest in a confessional that guided her mother to seek a second medical opinion - a change in surgery options that made her life possible. God continues to work through the ministry of Reconciliation. It's not a Sacrament that has gone beyond its time or lost its power to heal, restore, forgive and renew. It's the power sacrament for everyone!