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"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

“What is the use of going to confession? I have always the same litany of sins to recite,” say many. Apparently, the complaint is valid. Many criticise others, approach the sacrament of reconciliation, come back and continue to be the same as if nothing happened. Some others might go to confession and say, “I am distracted in prayer.” After receiving the absolution, they find it impossible to complete even the short penance without distraction.

St. Francis de Sales has some relevant insight to share. “As long as the cause exists, it will always produce the effect. As long as the roots remain, shoots will continue to appear.” Francis further counsels:

Do not make accusations that are simply irrelevant. This is what many do as a matter or routine: ‘I have not loved God as much as I ought;’ “I have not prayed with as much devotion as I ought;’ ‘I have not shown as much concern for my neighbour as I ought;’ ‘I have not received the Sacraments with as much reverence as I ought;’ and similar things. The reason for avoiding such accusations is that, in saying such things, you mention nothing specific to help your confessor to understand your inner dispositions as regards sin. As a matter of fact, all the Saints in Paradise and every person one earth could say the same things if they went to confession. Therefore, find out the particular reason you have for making such accusations. Having discovered it, accuse yourself of the fault you have committed quite simply and plainly (Introduction to the Devout Life, Part II, Chapter 19).

So we need to confess the cause of sin and seek guidance. I may criticise another due to a variety of reasons. When I am proud and think that I know everything, my pride will find an outlet in criticism. I may criticise another because I am jealous. Then my target of criticism will be another’s success. I may criticise another because I bear some grudge against him/her. Thus, a multiplicity of causes like pride, jealousy, grudge and so forth produce criticism. Till I tackle the cause and remedy it, my criticism will continue.

So, St. Francis de Sales advises the one who approaches the sacrament of reconciliation to confess the cause of sin and remedy it. Pride is to be overcome by humility, jealousy by appreciation, and grudge by instant forgiveness. Similarly, distractions may be caused by worry and anxiety, or attachment to persons and things apart from a host of other reasons. Practice of trust and confidence in God dissolves anxiety. Maturity in friendship conquers immature attachments to some persons. Detachment and renunciation reduce to ashes attachment to things. As a result, distraction in prayer will give way to concentration. We will, then, no longer be the same persons, but the ones progressively transformed.

(Fr. Antony Mookenthottam, msfs)