I was deeply touched as I read your article “Cardinal: Use prayer against addiction” (September 28), and would like to share my story as I feel it could benefit others.
I was committing and confessing the same sin repeatedly until I reached a point where I felt fed up and sick of it.
I then reflected on my sin and the emotions I endured. I decided I had to put an end to this.
I was always questioning my penance of three Hail Marys when daily I prayed the full five decades.
I decided that in addition to the three Hail Marys I would give myself my own penance as well:
- Pray my three Hail Marys after confession.
- Reflect on Psalm 51 for a month.
- Note the date of my confession.
- Each day I did not commit that sin, say: “Thank you God for keeping me in your grace.”
- On the monthly anniversary, say: “Thank you God that I did not have to confess that sin this past month.”
- I also read and reflected on the Exodus. The Israelites had the Red Sea. Confession is our Red Sea.
It is now more than a year since I last needed to confess that sin and it feels very good.
Reflecting on Psalm 51 has become a habit and I thank God, because it is only through his grace that I could do this.
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