Homily Notes, 01-31-21 - Septuagesima Sunday

 January 31st, 2021
Septuagesima Sunday

The Extraordinary Form follows the 1962 calendar which includes a Pre-Lent season called Septuagesima. The word Septuagesima is Latin for “seventieth.” It is both the name of the liturgical season and the name of the Sunday. Septuagesima Sunday marks the beginning of the shortest liturgical season. This season is seventeen days long, and includes the three Sundays before Ash Wednesday.  The Septuagesima season was to help the faithful prepare for Lent.

Saint Catherine of Siena Choosing a Crown of Thorns over a Crown of Gold by Alessandro Franchi

"So run that you may obtain."

Today we have St. Paul reminding us that life is like a race, a race whose goal is heaven.  And as any other racer would do, we have to prepare to attain the goal.  We can't attain it by doing whatever we want.  A runner trains so that they can win the prize. St. Paul reminds us that these people who are trying to win an earthly crown do more than we do to obtain our eternal crown.  Worldly people fight to win a little trophy that won't last.  In order to prepare themselves, they train.  They examine themselves to see what they need to change to run better.  They check to see what improvements they need to make.  They study their running, and their opponents running, so they know what needs to be done to win.  We are meant to do the same in our spiritual life.  We need to examine ourselves to see what needs to change so we can obtain the goal.  That is what confession is for.

From time to time, a general confession needs to be done.  It's looking at the big picture and not just the small details.  It's really confessing all of our sins to make sure we are on the right path.

A general confession is a re-confession of all past sins, even ones already forgiven.  A first general confession will be the sins of the whole life.  It is not meant for the scrupulous (those who cannot distinguish between grave/not grave and who think every action is a sin, they think they are perpetually in grave sin). General confessions give us humility by seeing all of the sins of our life and giving us the graces we need to fight against them in the future.  Being on a mission gives us time to realize and have a deeper knowledge of our sins, and the deeper malice of the effect that they have on ourselves and on the world.  Sin offends God.  To sin against the Creator is to sin against His creation -- it effects the whole world.  

Making a good general confession helps us receive communion more fruitfully.  Through communion, we receive more graces to fight against sin.  It is a source of strength and nourishment.  

General confessions can purify our souls.  It will restore peace.

It is a good idea to make a general confession if:

* you made a bad confession in the past (if you weren't really sorry)

* before entering a new state in life or before a big changes happens (ordination, marriage)

* when you're on a retreat or a mission, when you have stepped away from the world and can see your sins more clearly and have true sorrow for them.

How do I make a general confession?

* Prepare well before hand so it can be complete

* Use an examination of conscience to recall neglected duties or times you willfully put yourself into sin

* Focus on mortal sins: type, number, and circumstance

* Write them down.  Try not to take too long because others are waiting.

We can confess sins based on different time periods of our lives: places we have lived, people we were around, state in life.

The qualities of a good confession:

* Simple and humble: just your sins, no explanation or excuses

* Have a good intention.  Do not try to deceive the priest.

* Be discreet: do not confess the sins of others.

* Be faithful and true: don't lie, invent, or exaggerate.

* Answer any questions that your priest asks

Preparing well before hand will prevent you from giving unnecessary details or talking about things that are not relevant to the confession.

Take this opportunity to make this general confession.  It is a restart to your life, putting yourself back on the right track.

In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard: all received the same reward, no matter where they started.  We can always begin again and start to do the right thing.  Take the opportunity to profit well from this parish mission.  Make a general confession and prepare well for it.  Make good resolutions and follow through with them during Lent, and continue those resolutions for the rest of your life.