Covering His Bases

posted by Momo Fali on March 15, 2013

I got another call from the principal. I think she has me on speed dial.

Yesterday was all-school Reconciliation day at my kids’ Catholic school. That means every Catholic student goes to confession. It also means that my son had the opportunity to repent. My son. The child who once thought the Pope was really tall because I called him our highest priest.

If you don’t know about the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church…”

That means you have to get your mind right with both entities. Though some will argue that God and the Church are one entity, that is a discussion for another blog post on someone else’s site where people like to argue.

A lot of people think confession is an archaic tradition, but I find it really therapeutic. It’s a time for a lot of self-reflection and re-centering, though I can’t say that my 10 year old son sees it through my, more mature, eyes.

Most kids (and some adults) hate going to Reconciliation. It’s embarrassing and humbling, and a lot of children don’t know how to handle those feelings. Apparently, though, not my kid. According to the principal, he went to two confessions, with two different priests, and was on his way into see a third one when he was “caught.”

He says it was because he couldn’t decide who to talk to, but I think he was either trying to get extra forgiveness or split up his sins so he didn’t look as bad.

    Comments

  • Melisa


    Well, there is some value in getting back in line so the others don’t have to wait too long…

  • One Funny Motha


    That is too funny. I like how he got “caught.”

  • Patty


    I like that he keeps his options open until he find the confessional that’s just right! πŸ™‚

  • Tara R.


    I like the extra forgiveness option, or maybe he is saving it up for later.

  • Toni


    Gotta love that boy!

  • Amie


    I love the fact that his getting “caught” implies that there’s a threshold for just how much confession is too much.

    P.S. I haven’t been to confession since I attended that school, and I only went then because everybody had to. So send him through the line one more time for me.

  • sadia


    What Melisa said!

    Love your boy!

  • tara


    Maybe he was surprised at their reactions. Aren’t they supposed to be like “say ten hail maries” or something? Maybe your son was like SERIOUSLY?! I get in WAY more trouble at home for this stuff. I’m going to ask another priest….. πŸ™‚

  • Denise @ Musician's Widow


    Bless his heart! (No pun intended.)

    I remember when I was in school, I always seemed the first one to go. It didn’t scare me one bit! Today… well, I’m a lot like Amie. I haven’t been in years. And that’s just a personal thing for me. Perhaps some day I’ll come back to that sacrament and see it in the way I know the church urges Catholics to see it. The way I used to see it back in the day. For me for now, though, I’m good with talking to God on my own.

    But send him an extra time for me, too, if he’s still in the mood to go. πŸ˜‰

  • Veronica


    CAN’T.STOP.LAUGHING. I think he just had a lot to talk about.

  • Mare


    This is great! Love it! Catholicism can be funny and screwy, but I like it. It’s certainly predictable. I love your son’s authenticity. πŸ™‚

  • Jennifer @ Conversion Diary


    LOL!! That is too funny. Your son is awesome. I think I would have been like him if I’d been Catholic when I was younger. I just love confession – not only do you get all the graces, but it’s free therapy. I always walk away thinking, “I can’t believe this is free!” πŸ™‚

  • meleah rebeccah


    that is absolutely hilarious.