“God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Prayer of Absolution
The sinful soul who dares to approach the Sacrament of Mercy and cross the threshold of the confessional is blessed beyond imagine. This soul, sin dark as coal, comes with only one thing, trust. Trust that God will forgive him through the ministry of the Church.
But, imagine hearing forgiveness from the mouth of Jesus Himself. That is precisely what occurs.
“When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1602
The most vile soul kneels before God, knowing it deserves no mercy but begging it just the same. Sinner coming again with the same sins, yet come he does.
‘My God, I am so sorry for having sinned against You. You redeemed me, and I threw it away. You fixed me and I broke again. Treat me as a slave. I am ashamed.’
Jesus looks at the soul, “lift up your eyes, My son.”
‘I-I can’t.’
“Yes, you can. Lift your eyes, look at Me.”
The soul raises eyes to Jesus.
“I forgive you, it is forgotten.“
The power of the Holy Spirit pours down into that confessional, more powerfully than Pentecost. The sins that had stained the soul are burned away. The soul is cleansed in the purifying fire of the Spirit.
“When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1074
The soul collapses into the arms of his Savior. He is overwhelmed by the love of God. Tears of love and freedom can’t be contained.
The soul exits, new and clean. Walking past sinful souls, an example of the hope Divine Mercy makes true to those trusting as they strand nervously in that line. As the newly purified soul passes, they receive the grace to stand in the line and approach mercy.
Amen