CONFESSION: OUR LENTEN PREPARATION
A Survey on a Filipino Catholics Confession Practice was recently released. This Survey initiated by Radio Veritas uses a stratified random sample of 1,200 respondents nationwide for a +/- 3% margin of error (gathered through a text-based and online data gathering process from an existing database of previous face-to-face on-ground interviews) the following information is indicative of the respondents’ yearly adherence to confession as Filipino Catholics, inclusive of the dates covering January 1– February 9, 2024.
As we begin the Lenten Season through the celebration of Ash Wednesday, this survey posed the question: “Do you fulfill your spiritual obligation of going to confession at least once a year” 51% said Yes; 17% said No, and finally 32% said sometimes; as such only about 5 out of 10 Filipinos after having reached the age of discretion have fulfilled his/her obligation to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year pursuant to canon law 989.
“This season of Lent is an opportunity for us to promote the sacrament of confession vis-à-vis the seemingly low percentage of Filipino Catholics who follow this precept of the church. The Bible says, ‘Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation’ (2 Cor. 6:2). During this time of Lent, every day we should try to make a good examination of conscience and as such go to confession. Lent calls for repentance through fasting, almsgiving and prayer, to move towards a rekindling of our baptismal promises which we celebrate on Easter, therefore the Sacrament of Confession is an integral part of it” (Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual, President, Radio Veritas).
The word “Lent” comes from the old English, “lencten,” which means “spring.” In Middle English is derived the words, lenten, lente, lent; related to the Dutch, lente, the German, Lenz, also rendered “spring.” In Old German are found the related words: lenzin, lengizin, and lenzo, which probably come from the same root as “long” and referring to “the lengthening days,” as the earth moves from the winter solstice toward the spring equinox.
In the Christian Church, Lent refers to the period of abstinence preparatory to the Feast of Easter. As this fast fall in the early part of the year, it became confused with the season, and gradually the word Lent, which originally meant SPRING, was confined to this liturgical use. The Latin name for the fast is Quadrag
Like Jesus in the desert, Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism … Our Spiritual Springtime. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our day-to-day lives, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we’ve done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need. But more importantly, to allow ourselves to do concrete acts of faith in our social and political lives.
Lent is the time of year when our Heavenly Father obliges us to prepare our hearts and to cleanse our souls so that we are ready to receive Our Lord in His glorious coming at Easter. There’s no time to delay. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
The Veritas Truth Survey further shares that when segmented by age; adults (40 to 60 years old) have the highest adherence at 54% followed by the elderly (61 years old and above) at 52%, then by young adults (21-39 years old) at 50%; and finally, by teens (13-20 years old) at 41%; showing that the older one becomes the more one fulfills this penitential obligation.
“The transformation of the heart that leads us to confess our sins is a gift from God … it is ‘His work.’ As we leave the confessional, we were his strength that restores life and rekindles the enthusiasm of faith. After confession we are reborn. Jesus’ call impels us all not to stop at the surface of things, especially when facing a person. We are called to look beyond, to focus on the heart to see how much generosity each person is capable of. No one must be excluded from God’s mercy. Everyone knows that the way to reach it, and the Church, is the house that welcomes all and refuses no one. Its doors are always wide open, so that those who are touched by grace may find the certainty of forgiveness. The greater the sin, the greater the love must be that the Church expresses towards those that convert” (Pope Francis).
During the forty days of Lent, let us try to be united with God, whether through a little fasting, a bit more prayer, confession or effort in showing signs of vigilance towards our government, so that our spiritual preparations during this Blessed Season may also serve as the building blocks for change as we prepare to overcome “the evils in the desert” hampering the way for a just and equitable society.
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