Celebrating God's Forgiveness
I have to admit that my understanding of "going to confession" was very different from my daughter's understanding. When I was a little girl I remember going into a dark "closet." I was always afraid that the priest would not be able to hear me or worse that the priest would yell at me. When my daughter, Cindy, came home with her lesson on "Celebrating Reconciliation" she asked me to go over it with her. First, we talked about how God always loves us and is ready to forgive us. Then we studied the two ways of celebrating Reconciliation —celebrating by ourselves with the priest or celebrating with others and the priest.

Cindy's book pointed out that there are some things that are always part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

1. Examining our conscience and being sorry for our sins.
2. Confessing our sins.
3. Receiving a penance.
4. Praying an act of contrition.
5. Receiving absolution.

On the day that Cindy celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, all the families were invited to take part in the ceremony. I listened to the hymn, "Come back to me" and to the reading about the lost sheep. I examined my conscience. And I went to confession. I was not afraid at all. I cried but they were tears of joy. I cried when I heard the priest say, "I absolve you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

After the ceremony, Cindy gave me a cross, which she had made. I will cherish it always.

A RECONCILIATION CROSS
Take two pieces of wood or cardboard. Tape them into the form of a cross. Attach a string or piece of yarn to the cross. Wear around the neck. .