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Confession

Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. . . . 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, Diary

Knotted stomach. Whispered prayers. Apprehension. I turn hot as I kneel and trip over the words in the ancient script for confession. I lay down all my many faults, words pouring out in a wave. Advice and encouragement comes from God through the priest, like a balm to my open wounds.

From somewhere in my foggy brain, I pull out the words of the Act of Contrition and wait for the words of freedom: “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” A tear rolls down my cheek as I stand to exit the confessional, do my penance, and ponder God’s unending mercy.

We aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow, but God in his mercy always offers us a second chance. In honor of National Mulligan Day, let us take a spiritual mulligan from Christ’s generous fount of mercy.

Dear Lord, thank you the gift of your mercy! Though I am but a poor sinner, you shower me with love and mercy. Help me to fully trust in you. Let me be a reflection of your mercy to others and enable me to be as generous as you.

To Ponder: Today, resolve to take advantage of the mercies that God offers to us. Find a time to experience the graces of Reconciliation and make arrangements to go regularly.

Copyright 2016 Jen Steed for The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion.
Reprinted with the kind permission of Ave Maria Press. All rights reserved.

About the author: Jen Steed is a Catholic wife and mother to three whose nose can usually found buried in a book, once all the work is done (or not!) You can find her blogging about the top five priorities of women at HappyLittleHomemaker.com.

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