It is through the radiance, the fire of Jesus, that our sins are burned away. That’s why so many envision fire falling from the sky. The Lord purifies with heavenly flames that issue from His Heart. They come from the furnace of His love. Our evil is evaporated in the Presence of Christ and is especially dispelled through Confession.

Confession prepares the way for the Eucharist and breaks the bonds of Satan. In verbally admitting our faults we are declaring a humility that immediately chases away Satan. He can not stand to be in our midst. He is the prince of pride. He cannot bear to stand in the presence of humility. He is powerless when a person is humble. He has no legal right to hold terrain.

When we confess sins we are renouncing sins, which means we are renouncing the devil. When we renounce the devil in the Name of Jesus, He has no choice but to leave. His chains are broken. His hold on our hearts and minds is lessened or expelled altogether.

During Communion, demonic infestations are often chased from our very bodies, or from around our families and friends.

The stronger a Confession, the more demonic residue is cleared.

The more demons that are expelled, the more peace.

That’s why I say that before receiving Communion we should pray to the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden faults we have never acknowledged and then take these to the confessional.

A good time for such soul searching is during Adoration. We should ask the Holy Spirit to allow us expiation of the slightest sins.

Go back to Scripture and note the many things that are listed by Paul as infractions, things we don’t usually take to be of much consequence. Jealousy. Outbursts of anger. Selfishness. They’re listed in Galatians with lewd conduct and sorcery (5:19-21)! Or look at what defiles us from today’s Mass reading (Mark 7:14-23): “Evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.” 

After we recollect all past transgressions — after we pray to heal all those we have ever hurt — we must maintain vigilance against repeating them. Confession should be a monthly ritual to keep ourselves pure, because when we are pure — when Christ has deigned to wipe clear the slate of those many sins — Communion and Adoration become all the more potent. They take on a special radiance. They sweep to the very bottom of existence and purge faults that will otherwise cause a long purgatory.

There is nothing more enjoyable than the feeling of a spiritual cleanliness — nor is there anything more important for the soul’s destiny.

 [Adapted from Secrets of the Eucharist by Michael H. Brown]