杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

On Friday, 杏MAP导航 Francis brought World Youth Day to Panama鈥檚 young people who are not able to participate in the event.

He celebrated a special Penitential Liturgy inside the Las Garzas de Pacora detention center in Panama and heard the inmates鈥� confessions inside confessionals the young detainees had made themselves.

Across the city meanwhile, Catholic priests have been the hearing confessions of WYD participants  in parishes and in specially set up spaces.

Amongst them, Father John Paul Hudson from the diocese of Austin, Texas, in the United States.

He spoke to Sean-Patrick Lovett about the humbling experience of hearing confessions.

Speaking of the Sacrament, Fr John explains that for the priest hearing the confession, what is more important than what is actually said, is to hear the real repentance, but, he says 鈥� I also hear the joy underneath! When somebody is asked to say the Act of Contrition and they say 鈥楢men鈥�, I can hear the lifting in the voice鈥�.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like you鈥檝e been carrying a hundred pound sack for a mile and then when you set it down there is a spring in your step鈥� he says.

Fr John says that in such occasions you know the Holy Spirit is involved in moving these people  to make a good confession.

Sean asks the Catholic priest: 鈥渨hat does it feel like to take that hundred pound sack off somebody鈥檚 shoulders?鈥�

Fr John describes it as a very humbling experience. He says he trusts in the Holy Spirit to give him the words to say, and of course 鈥渋t also very humbling to be there in the place of Christ鈥�.

To the question 鈥淚s confession is going out of fashion?鈥� Father Hudson says no, and says that apart from the intense experience of WYD, he hears confessions almost every day in his own parish.

鈥淚t is deeply connected to the faith鈥�, he says, 鈥渁nd the realization that we are all sinners and we need God鈥檚 grace more than ever鈥�.