I shall remember you in my prayers at Eastertide.
I have been to confession many times and try to go at least once every three months or so. It is good for the soul!
It frees us and facilitates our reconcilation not only with God but with others. Through confessing your sins, you look squarely at the sins you are guilty of, take responsibility for them and open yourself again to God and to the communion of the Church in order to make a new future possible.
Regular confession helps us to form our conscience, fight against temptation and allows ourselves to be healed by Christ. It also enables us to be merciful to others as Christ is merciful.
First, you spend some time examining your conscience, thinking about the wrong you have done and its effects on yourself, others and your relationship with God. Although you are confessing these sins through the priest, it is only God who can forgive these sins. You ask God to help you avoid these sins in the future (we can only ask and try - we are sinners after all). You make your confession with your whole heart and sorrow - Christ, through the priest, absolves you from your sin, the priest gives you a *Penance to do (*normally some prayers) and you must carry out your penance before your receive the Eucharist, so it's best to do it as soon as you've finished your confession.
I still remember vividly, my feelings of elation when I had made my First Confession at the age of 7. I came out of Church and thought to myself - if I were to die now I would go straight into the arms of Jesus. I still feel that sense of elation after Confession even now!Shrove Tuesday - pancakes are eaten by all Christians, and probably lots of non-Christians too. It's like the celebration of Christmas or Easter - much celebrating but many people have forgotten or don't know why.