First Confession Needs A Little More Respect

Last updated on: February 29, 2016 at 3:01 pm by Rebecca Frech

First Confession Needs A Little More Respect 2016-02-29T15:01:48-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A few weeks back, our 8 year old made his First Confession.

It wasn’t until later that I began to wonder why it’s not treated like a bigger thing. It seems like it should be, but it just isn’t. I’m not sure why.

Baptisms have special white clothes, big parties, and a special cake.

First Communions – same deal – special white clothes (for the girls at least), party, cake.

Confirmations, again with the special clothes (white again for the girls), party, and cake.

Weddings – white dress (again for the girl), party cake.

First Confession? First thing on a Saturday morning, wearing pretty much just regular clothes, no party, no cake.

Why don’t we make a bigger deal out of this? Of all the Sacraments, why doesn’t this one have white clothes? This is the once designed to clean them up. Soul-cleansing is what the whole Sacrament is actually about, but it’s just whatever you’re wearing.

The longer I’ve thought about it, the more I think we’re missing something here.

In every parish we’ve ever attended, First Confession is treated as a step on the way to First Communion. It’s one more thing on the to-do list instead of a very separate and distinct occasion.

First Confession marks the end of the Infallible Innocence of Childhood, and the true beginning of the journey towards adulthood. From this moment forward, they cannot hide behind anyone else, but stand before the Lord taking responsibility for what they’ve done, and what they’ve failed to do, on their own tiny shoulders.

It’s an awesome and a frightening moment, this end of baby-hood. It’s a moment which deserves more recognition than a harried hour sucked out of a Saturday, on a day when nobody gets dressed up. Going to Confession for the first time represents a seismic shift in the faith life of Catholic children, and we ought to show it more respect than treating it as a minor way station on the rush to the Eucharist.

**Photo credits – all the pictured used are of my family, and the rights belong to me. You may not use any of these images without permission.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 25, 2016

Have you seen the girl with the minivan?

Next Post

March 7, 2016 Stop Judging The Crosses of Others And Start Asking How to Help

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Hannah bring annually for Samuel when he lived at the Tabernacle?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A staff A crown A candle A robe