Lose Weight!..on your soul by going to confession!

When we sin, we purposefully turn away from God, or try to hide from Him. We can never hide from God. He sees all. When we sin, we become slaves to that sin, captivated, enslaved imprisoned, and we become weighed down. Our souls become heavy and weighed down over time to the things of the world, as gluttons to a sin or sins. We must have an examination of conscience and go through our daily lives, habits, what we are tempted by, what we give into, and where we have sinned and go to confession regularly. We have the gift and sacrament of confession so that we may be aware of where we are offending God. If we don't have confession, then we don't have an examination of conscience? When we take the time to pray and look inside, the Lord helps us find what wants to stay in the darkness, and shines His light on it. When we go to confession, it is like the weight of the world is removed from us, and we feel light, and like we are closer to God…as if our souls are more elevated and closer to God, because that is what happens to a soul. 

What you are tempted to something, pray! Also, think about how you will feel after if you were to give into the temptation, and let that also help make your design. Don't weigh yourself down with sin and hidden sins, do an examination of conscience and go to confession! 

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TRY THIS! 

Examination of Conscience by St. Ignatius of Loyola  

The Examen, a prayer of awareness that Ignatius of Loyola taught in his Spiritual Exercises, helps one notice God's presence in our daily lives. This modern adaptation invites reflection upon five points for spiritual thanksgiving, grace, and self-examination and awareness.  

Presence 

I relax in my favorite prayer space and posture. I become aware that God is Looking at me with love, and I ask for the Holy Spirit’s aid in this time of prayer.  

Gratitude 

I give thanks to God for his gifts today. What was my favorite moment? How did God reveal himself to me?  Review I recall my emotions, thoughts, and urges during the day. What stirrings in my heart were of God? Did I resist his grace today? 

Forgiveness  

I acknowledge the times when I acted sinfully and selfishly. I ask for God’s forgiveness and healing, and rest in his mercy.  

Hope 

I resolve to trust in God’s loving guidance. I plan, with the Holy Spirit, How I will live more in accord with his love tomorrow.    

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Learn from the pros!  

Read what the Saints and those alike said about Confession  

“Those, on the other hand, who recognize that they are weak and sinful entrust themselves to God and obtain from him grace and forgiveness. It is precisely this message that must be transmitted: what counts most is to make people understand that in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, whatever the sin committed, if it is humbly recognized and the person involved turns with trust to the priest-confessor, he or she never fails to experience the soothing joy of God's forgiveness.”                                                         Pope Benedict XVI – On the Sacrament of Confession 

 “In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason, he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance.” Saint Thomas Aquinas  

“Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week and you will see that it needs dusting again!” Saint Padre Pio   

“Confession is the soul's bath.” Saint Padre Pio    

“The devil does not bring sinners to hell with their eyes open: he first blinds them with the malice of their own sins. Before we fall into sin, the enemy labors to blind us, that we may not see the evil we do and the ruin we bring upon ourselves by offending God. After we commit sin, he seeks to make us dumb, that, through shame, we may conceal our guilt in confession.” Saint Alphonsus Liguori  

"Strive always to confess your sins with a deep knowledge of your own wretchedness and with clarity and purity." Saint John of the Cross  “Whoever does not meditate, is like someone who never looks in the mirror before going out, doesn’t bother to see if he’s tidy, and may go out dirty without knowing it. The person who meditates and turns his mind to God, who is the mirror of his soul, seeks to know his faults, tries to correct them, moderates his impulses, and puts his conscience in order.” 

Saint Padre Pio  

“Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. “ Saint Faustina (Divine Mercy in My Soul)  

"In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You." Saint Augustine 

"A soul does not benefit from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery." Saint Faustina 

 “Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works.” Saint Thomas Aquinas   

Make a good examination of conscience in knowing God’s laws, and what has been broken, and go to confession soon.