At the beginning of a new year, many Christians make resolutions to start the cycle in a way that allows them to experience Jesus' teachings even more fully. One of the sacraments that is part of the lives of the faithful is Confession. Although it may inspire some apprehension, especially about the correct way to express ourselves, Confession brings us closer to Jesus and makes us want to follow in his footsteps even more. The sacrament is a return to God, a moment when we approach divine mercy, receiving forgiveness for our offenses. Watch the interview with Father Marcus Vinícius Maciel, rector of the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Health and Peace, and learn more about how to prepare for a good Confession.

Why should we Christians go to confession? 

The sacraments are signs of God's love for us. Because God has great affection for each of us, and knows our fragility, He gifted us with the sacrament of confession to give strength and restoration for our journey. We should confess in order to reconcile ourselves with God and with our brothers and sisters, and to receive this grace of God within ourselves.

And when is the right time to seek the sacrament?

The right time to confess to a priest depends greatly on each person's upbringing and how mature we are in our conscience, how we develop our capacity and sensitivity to perceive our relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. It is important that we have a mature, adult conscience, that we are not so scrupulous as to be lost or confused by every event, but it is also important to know that this frequency is necessary. The Church asks that it be at least once a year, but a person who has a life of reflection will seek this reconciliation more often, thus being able to have their heart cleansed through this constant attitude of seeking God and harmony with their brothers and sisters. Confession is regenerative and integrative.

How can I prepare for a good Confession? What should I think about?
We should seek the words of Jesus. A reflection on the Ten Commandments, for example, can help us, but the fundamental thing is to keep the Word of God in perspective. And what does God tell us? To love our neighbor as ourselves means to love ourselves, to love others, and above all, to love God. But whoever says they love God whom they do not see, but does not love their brother whom they do see, Jesus says is a liar. Thus, the great criterion for preparing for Confession should always be to observe the attitudes of the Gospel, the attitudes of Jesus, which can put us in the perspective of having a heart in tune with the heart of Jesus. This attunement will prepare us well for a good Confession.

And how can we feel this harmony?

A very simple and beautiful example is that song by Father Zezinho that goes like this: to love as Jesus loved, to think as Jesus thought… A question we can ask ourselves is this: how would Jesus act in this situation in my place? How should I act to have a heart like Jesus'? Above all, by cultivating love for people, for the weakest, for those who need us most, and especially for those closest to us, those who live with us.

What if I forget some sin?

For God, a repentant heart is worth more than a mathematical enumeration of sins. If I forget any sin, God forgives, forgives all sins. We don't need to be obsessed with meticulous detail about each one, finding quantities; what's important is having a true attitude of repentance and conversion, of seeking God and reconciliation with our brothers and sisters.

Why is it important to fulfill the penance given by the priest?

Fulfilling the penance that the priest asks of us is a way of expressing our gratitude, our commitment to beginning a new life. It is not a payment or exchange, it is an expression of a repentant heart willing to build a new time.

Is the start of a new year a good time to seek the sacrament of Confession?

It is good to confess whenever we are about to experience an important moment and whenever we realize that our hearts need it. It can be a good practice to confess at the beginning of a new year, but it is not an obligation or a condition. The important thing is to always remember that God came for sinners, not for saints. I should confess frequently to be in a state of grace, and I should receive communion to maintain this grace of God within me, thus strengthening my journey of communion with the Lord and with my brothers and sisters.