Lord, Have Mercy:
The Healing Power of Confession

by Scott Hahn
NY: Doubleday, 2003

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Scott Hahn acknowledges that "Confession is a mixed-up matter for many Catholics. The more we need it, the less we seem to want it. The more we choose to sin, the less we want to discuss our sins." In "Lord, Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession", Hahn makes a strong case for our need of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He begins by offering historical insight into the sacrament. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God gave the people very specific rituals to confess their sins. "First, [God] explicitly insists upon such a confession. Then, He gives the sinners something to do - a liturgical act of sacrifice and penance. And finally, He insists that they do all this with the help and intercession of a priest." All three of these elements remain in the sacrament of today.

Only God can forgive sins. Therefore, when Jesus healed physical ailments and claimed to forgive sins, he presented witnesses with a dilemma: either he was God, or he was a blasphemer. After the Resurrection, Jesus shared that power with his apostles, "the first priests of the New Covenant." Previously, priests assisted the process. Now, they were also judges. "If they forgave the sins of any, they were forgiven; if they retained the sins of any, they were retained." (Jn 20:22-23) Obviously, to make such a determination, they needed to hear what the sin was. The tradition remained. People continue to confess to God, "but in the way that He ordained through Jesus Christ - to a priest."

Hahn also spends a great deal of time discussing sin. He provides an insightful description of mortal, venial, and original sin. Included in the appendix is an "Examination of Conscience" which is helpful for reviewing one's day, week, or life! He also presents ways to make the most out of the sacrament.

"Lord Have Mercy" forces Catholics to take another look at Confession, a sacrament most of us tend to want to take advantage of as little as possible. For those who are not Catholic, this book will provide insight into the reasons for this sacrament and the benefits for those who make it part of their lives.


Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is editor of "The Spiritual Woman Newsletter", (http://www.spiritualwoman.net) and author of "Letters to Mary from a Young Mother" (iUniverse 2004). She has a Master of Arts in Applied Theology from Elms College.

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