Confessors should reflect God's mercy, papal preacher says

Published: 2004-04-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When hearing confessions, priests generally should communicate God's mercy more than his judgment in order to imitate Christ and to bring people back to full life in the church, said the preacher of the papal household. If judgment is overemphasized, "it becomes difficult to recognize Jesus in the confessor," said Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, offering a Lenten reflection April 2 to Pope John Paul II and senior Vatican officials. The preacher encouraged everyone in the papal household -- the vast majority of whom are priests -- to go to confession before Easter, but he also said they should reflect on the way they behave when administering the sacrament. "In the parable of the prodigal son, the father does not behave like a judge, but precisely like a father. Even before the son has finished his confession, the father embraces him and orders a party," the preacher said.

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