Michael St. Pierre

March 31, 2022

To go or not to go: Confession during Lent

If you’re Catholic, you likely know that Lent is a time of repentance. This often includes frequenting the Sacrament of Confession prior to Easter. The question isn’t whether or not you ought to go but when you ought to go to Confession.

My advice: if you’re an extrovert, go to the Penance service offered by your parish. This is the type of event where many priests are brought in to hear confessions.

If you’re an introvert, you might want to avoid the big Penance service and opt for a simpler, no-lines option a week or two before Holy Week. Speaking as an introvert, I find that waiting in line, and seeing a lot of other people waiting in line, does not lend to a particularly spiritual moment. Rather, it just makes me more anxious.

Find the way of going to Confession that works for your disposition and personality. The key is just to go and then let it become a habit.