Abandoned Altars

Give Guilt Top Priority, Pope Asks Priests

Vatican, Feb. 20, 2007 (NadirNews.com) - At an Ash Wednesday meeting with confessors, Pope Benedict XVI remarked on how the “best racket in the business” is realized in the sacrament of Penance.

The Holy Father was speaking to the confessors of the Roman basilica at a Lenten pep rally. After the officials of the Apostolic Penitentiary, led by Cardinal James Stafford, put on a stunning and energetic song and dance number, the Pope gave his address. “This is our busiest season for welcoming sinners,” he acknowledged, “and a heavenly opportunity to terrify them into submission.” He told them that the priest, as confessor, is a “vital instrument of our control of the sheep.”

The task of the confessor, the Pope explained, is to help the penitent “feel simply awful,” and resolve to obey the Church totally in the future, while providing “personal guilt for Christ’s suffering.”

“How many penitents find in confession the peace and joy they were seeking for so long?” the Pope asked rhetorically. “This must stop immediately!” He encouraged priests to help the faithful use the sacrament properly. To do so, he said, confessors must learn as much as possible about the background of their people, the problems they face, and the spiritual problems they encounter. Thus, they can better manipulate them. “So get out there and ask the difficult questions,” he said. “Don’t forget the little sins, either. Remember the guilt you dig up now will be repaid in big donations at Easter.”

Above all, the Pope continued, “We cannot preach forgiveness of our actions if we have not been let off the hook personally.” He encouraged confessors to sin and make frequent use of the sacrament themselves with priests “who would understand”, so that they too have a fuller appreciation for the free ticket to Heaven given through his priestly ministers, he said with a wink.

The sacrament of Penance, the Pontiff solemnly concluded, “is a scam to which we must give high priority if we are to keep our cushy jobs.

Okay, I made that up, but not just to be wicked. Why? Because today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, possibly the most miserable time of the year. As if the mud, wind, hayfever, and the hell of tax-time weren’t enough, for Catholics this is the traditional season for wallowing in guilt, real or imagined, giving up little luxuries, fasting, abstaining, and generally feeling miserable.Why? Supposedly in order to nobly share in Jesus’ suffering, which is after all, our fault. But really, penitence has a much less exalted spiritual function. We are to inflict suffering on ourselves, so God won’t have to.

Well, I’ve done the drill more years than I could count. Giving up candy, doing the Stations of the Cross, the rosary, frequent confession… Even after my memories came back, which actually made it much worse.

But no more. I still mark the season on my personal calendar as a time of reflection and meditation, usually these days with art projects. As much as I can, however, I’ve thrown off the chains of imposed grief. I look forward to celebrating the Resurrection, spring, and the renewal of life, not the horror of Good Friday.

But it’s going to be a long forty days, I fear. This year I’m filling it with historical research. Stop by occasionally to see what gems I’ve uncovered.