In the Act of Contrition we pray, “I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.” God knows our temptations. Satan is also well aware of what triggers them.
I suspect that most of us confess the same sins repeatedly over the course of our lives. The specifics might differ, but I’ll bet there’s a theme unique to each of us. It frustrates me greatly to keep making the same mistakes. I’m sure I’m not alone.
Matthew Kelly, who founded the Dynamic Catholic Institute, says that confession is like a clean car. When it’s first been cleaned we tend to try to keep it clean. Then, as time goes by, it gets easier to not see the clutter that accumulates in the backseat or on the floorboards. In the same way, we need our souls to be made clean often enough for us to be conscious of our getting them soiled yet again.
I need to focus especially on the simple phrase “with the help of Thy grace.” Only through the Holy Spirit can I possibly make any headway in avoiding the certain near occasion of sin.
Linda Ricke is a wife, a mother, and a grandmother who writes about everyday life from Monticello, Florida.