…where there is darkness, light…

Just last weekend, we heard from St. Paul how we are called to expose the darkness of our hearts to Jesus.  While it is shameful to mention the things done in secret, we are called to expose them to Jesus so that everything exposed to the light becomes light itself.  This Monday, March 23 we will have our Parish Cluster Communal Penance Service at 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales. This is a great opportunity to expose your heart, your life, your sins to Jesus and allow His transforming love to make you new.

If you need help examining your conscience, the USCCB website offers many examinations of conscience you can pray with.  For the simplest, most straight-forward version, I turn to Fr. Larry’s Richards.  He often says that if anyone comes into reconciliation and doesn’t know what to do, he will simply ask for a yes or no to these questions and go from there.  They are listed below.  (FYI this is an Examination of Conscience for adults).

Adapted from Fr. Larry Richards’ Examination of Conscience:

1. Do you pray every day?
2. Have you used God’s name in vain?
3. Have you missed Mass?
4. Have you dishonored your parents?
5. Have you gotten angry?
6. Have you hurt others with your words?
7. Have you made fun of others?
8. Have you lied?
9. Have you cheated?
10. Have you gossiped?
11. Have you been jealous?
12. Have you been judgmental?
13. Have you been proud?
14. Do you consistently give to the poor?
15. Have you gotten drunk?
16. Have you gotten high?
17. Have you had impure thoughts?
18. Have you had impure actions with yourself?
19. Have you looked at pornography?
20. If not married, have you had intercourse with another?
21. If married, did you commit adultery?
22. If married, have you used artificial birth control?
23. Have you had sex with someone of the same sex?
24. Have you had an abortion?
25. Have you helped someone else have an abortion?
26. Are you sorry?

Jesus brought back Lazarus from the dead.  He can do the same for you!  See you Monday. Remember to come back on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. for our Lenten One-Night Mission!

Be freed!
Fr. Jeremy 

PS Please check out the Bishop's Decree on the Extinctive Union of Immaculate Conception Parish.