“We’re missing out on God’s grace by not going to confession.” Tom Peterson
Following 25 years as an award-winning corporate advertising executive, Tom Peterson’s life would radically change forever, after receiving a transforming Spiritual conversion while on a Catholic men’s retreat. Soon afterward, he founded VirtueMedia (pro-life) and CatholicsComeHome.org. In 2011 Catholics Come Home evangomercialsTM were the first to air nationally on top TV networks like CBS and NBC, reaching 125 million viewers in every city across the U S.
In January 2014, Catholics Come Home aired an evangomercial in all the major College Football bowl games, featuring legendary coach Lou Holtz, promoting the goal of heaven, and inviting viewers to come home to the Catholic faith.
Recently, Tom began to host a new television series, prime time on EWTN on Thursday and Sunday nights called Catholics Come Home.
Peterson’s second apostolate, VirtueMedia.orgh, creates and airs sanctity of life commercials helping as many as 22,000 abortion vulnerable women in a given month, and were the first to air their ads nationally on MTV and BET.
Tom served as Vice Chairman of the Legatus International Board of Governors and is active in his local Atlanta Chapter. He encourages others to seek God’s plan for their lives, to help change our world for the better. His new book entitled “Catholics, Come Home” was recently published by Random House.
Why we need Confession?
In this episode, Tom Peterson, author of Catholics Coming Home talks about Confession and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
He explains:
-Why we need confession?
-What are the main reasons we don’t confess?
-How to handle the obstacles to confession?
-What is the fruit of this practice?
I was frantic until two weeks ago since I couldn’t find a speaker for this episode of our podcast. I’d written to so many Catholic authors and writers and no one would talk about confession. As always I was anxious and second-guessed if this topic that we decided for Lent was wrong. 😬 Like so many times when it comes to this podcast, I still haven’t learned to trust God. And when I was finally getting ready to move on, Tom Peterson replied.
He said, “I’m busy with Lenten missions, but I gave this talk at a conference in San Antonio. You can air it on your podcast.”
Just like that for free without a fuss. In moments like these, I realize that God is never early, never late, just on time. If it weren’t for Tom and his generosity, I wouldn’t have this and I thank the Holy Spirit for leading me to Tom and for him agreeing to air his conference talk without any reservation.
Why it Matters?
I love how Tom shares why we need confession, how it’s instituted by Jesus and its merits. He gives this beautiful quote of St. Augustine, “Know thyself, know thy faults and live.”
Confession can become a lens through which you see your own life. It makes us accountable for our actions. Tom explains why most Catholics don’t go to confession and deals with each of them, negating our excuses.
Embarrassment, he says is a biggie. “We should be embarrassed!” Tom says, “If we’re doing something, we shouldn’t be doing, we should be embarrassed about living a duplicitous life.” All in all, he presents a good case for confession
How to make a good confession?
You can start by making a good examination of conscience. There are plenty out there. Most are based on the ten commandments. Tom talks about using Bishop Barron’s wonderful 7 deadly sins and 7 lively virtues as an examination. I would recommend asking the Holy Spirit to shine a light in the dark areas. If there’s something recurring in your mind, something you did or said, then that’s probably going to be the one that God is asking you to prioritize.
Then go to the priest and say these few simple lines.
- Sign of the Cross
- Bless me Father for I have sinned.
- My last confession was X months/years ago.
- I fulfilled my penance at that confession.
- These are my sins…… go on with your list.
- I did X, Y times…….
- For these and all my sins I ask forgiveness and seek God’s mercy.
Don’t explain why you did what you did, don’t make excuses and don’t defend yourself. The priest understands. If he asks you a question, don’t feel offended, he’s looking for a way to help you. Often if you request a dialogue confession in the beginning or use it for spiritual direction, the priest may spend time in one area and work with you till you get it sorted.
The priest will give you a penance and also some advice. Make your act of contrition. I still use the one I learned in 3rd grade! 🤭 And receive your absolution. Fulfill your penance and spend time in Adoration, dwelling on how much you’ve been forgiven. Then extend the same courtesy to other people. Go out and celebrate, buy yourself a meal and party like Zacchaeus.
My Experience with Confession
I go every other month for confession because I have such a keen sense of death lurking. And I’m always failing. Struggling with certain areas, I need direction and I’ve found that the Redemptorist fathers are always open to dialogue confession. Under Ignatian direction, though the discipline is much stricter and I’ve been seeing the same set of priests for the last ten years. They don’t belong to my parish. However, a regular priest sees your journey and can work with you on the problem areas of your life. Confession has changed the way I do things. If I’d rather not confess it, I better not do it. 🤪 After confession, I always feel lighter and if I’ve coupled that with the Eucharist, then it’s even better. Confession makes me realize that I can’t do it on my own. Without Jesus, everything is difficult. It is only through Him that my sins, my recurrent failings can be overcome.
Our Hope
I hope you can make it to confession this Lent. Experience God’s mercy. If you haven’t done it in a while, don’t be afraid. There’s nothing and no one to fear. Don’t overthink it. Pray. Tom shares this book Deep Conversion,Deep prayer by Thomas Dubay. Prayer can bring about conversion. He also talks about the book, “The Temperament God Gave you,” an excellent book to know yourself.
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