New Believers Of God

CHAPTER FORTY

There was one more thing I still wanted to do.

The next day, I had my Mom drive me to St. Margaret Mary's, where she dropped me off and I walked inside.

The entire sanctuary was completely empty. I will admit, it was always weird seeing it like that. However, I knew one person was there for sure.

Over on the right-hand side, not too far away from the tabernacle, were the confessionals. I had a choice of two, one where I would be face to face with the priest, and one where we would be separated through a screen. I ended up choosing the latter, not feeling like I could handle talking to his face. I was afraid I would get too emotional.

I opened the door and walked inside, then closed it behind me and knelt down.

"In the name of the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit." said Father Stanley, to which I touched my forehead, chest, and shoulders in return, "Amen."

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned." I said back.

I had never been to confession before, except a few times for CCD, although those were more like demonstrations than anything. I guess to be more specific, this was my first time ever going on my own. Therefore, I couldn't really tell him when my last time was.

"What sins have you committed?" he asked.

That's the whole reason I, or anyone for that matter, was doing this. After everything that had happened over the last few weeks, I felt like it was necessary for me to get it all off my chest and out of my head, That's what these lessons in faith had taught me.

"I have lied." I answered "I have made some bad decisions that hurt people I care about. I pushed them away when they wanted to help me and blamed them for what I had caused. But most importantly, I almost lost my faith in God. I didn't think I could believe in him anymore because of what I had been put through. I didn't think he could exist if he could do that to me. But I've realized where I was wrong about that, and I just want to make it up to him now."

When I had finished, I told him "This is all I can remember" before he gave a penance.

"I ask that you pray three Our Fathers and two Hail Marys." he replied.

I then followed by saying the Act of Contrition.

"Oh, my God." I began "I am sorry for my sins. In choosing to do wrong, and failing to do good, I have sinned against you, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy."

In return, he responded with the Prayer of Absolution.

"God, the father of mercies," he began "Through the death and resurrection of his son
has reconciled the world to himself and sent the holy spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins."

Lastly, he concluded by once again saying the sign of the cross.

"In the name of the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit." he said, to which I once again touched my forehead, chest, and shoulders in return, "Amen."

"Thank you, Father." I told him.

"Go in peace, my good child." he replied.

As I exited back out into the sanctuary, I knelt down at the platform and followed the penance I had been given, praying my prayers in silence. When I was done, I began walking back to the front when I stopped at the cup of holy water by the door.

At that moment, I had an idea.

I pulled off my necklace, which I had reattached the Jesus piece to using a piece of clay, dropped it into the cup for a couple of seconds, then took it out, dried it off with my shirt, and put it back on.

I was now officially a new believer of God.