Discipline of confession (Christianity)

The very act of confessing one's guilt and hearing words of forgiveness has the effect of lifting the weight of guilt feelings and of the moral paralysis that sometimes accompanies them. Further, because of Christ's sacrifice of himself on the cross, confession is not merely psychologically therapeutic, it also heals and transforms the inner spirit. There is a subjective change in the individual and an objective change in his relationship with God. Although this is received as a demonstration of God's grace, it is a requirement, and a corporate requirement - confession of sins is intended to be made in the hearing of others, or at least one other, as well as privately without human mediation. There is a transforming of humanity when sins are confessed openly, a freeing from fear and pride as there is recognition that all are sinners and, through the forgiving words spoken out loud, a sense of the reality of God's presence and forgiveness. This freedom spreads, as the confession of sins by one person to another gives the other the freedom to confess his own sins or come out with something within his life that troubles him.

Three things are said (St Alphonsus Lugiori) to be necessary for confession: examination of conscience; sorrow; determination to avoid sin. Inward healing is ignited by confession of specific sins rather than generalizations. These sins must be taken seriously. And there must be a desire and will to be delivered from sin. Once there is awareness of the horror of one's own sin, one can hardly be horrified by the sins of another. There is an end to pretence. Just as honesty leads to confession, confession leads to change.