Confession has always been a powerful mechanism for inner renewal and the purification of the soul.

Confession as a Journey to Spiritual Renewal

Confession has always been a powerful mechanism for inner renewal and the purification of the soul. At the very beginning of this process, a person ceases to bear the heavy burden of guilt and inner emptiness, gaining the opportunity to speak directly to God, who accepts every word with true love. The excitement and feelings of contrition that accompany the preparation for confession gradually give way to calm and a confident sense of change as each sin is spoken aloud. It is important to note that the priest does not act as a judge, but solely as a witness and helper, underscoring the significance not only of personal awareness but also of the connection with a higher spiritual force. This symbolic moment reminds us that forgiveness and transformation always occur within the context of a relationship with God rather than through human intermediation. The overall picture is clear: the act of confession not only alleviates the spiritual burden but also awakens a renewed sense of “I-in-God,” opening the path to true inner peace and harmony.

How does the process of confession affect a person’s inner state, and what role does the presence of others play in this process?

The process of confession profoundly impacts a person’s inner state by transforming the soul through the awareness and acceptance of divine mercy. First and foremost, confession helps to free one from the feelings of guilt and inner emptiness because the individual does not seek forgiveness from the priest, but directly confesses to God. As stated in one of the sources, before beginning the confession the priest proclaims: “Behold, child, Christ invisibly stands before you, accepting your confession; I am only a witness.” This statement (source: link txt) highlights the important role of the presence of a witness—the priest—who is there not as a judge but as an assistant, affirming the authenticity of the inner state of repentance.

It is also worth noting that on an emotional level, a person may experience intense feelings of remorse and contrition while preparing for confession; however, during the act itself, when sins are listed aloud, the initial overwhelming emotion may temporarily give way to a more peaceful state. The subsequent internal feeling of change indicates that, through confession, the person is transformed inwardly even if the outward expression of emotion appears less pronounced (source: link txt).

The presence of another person in the process of confession—the priest who accompanies and bears witness—plays a symbolic role. His presence serves as a reminder that an individual’s self-accountability is not an isolated act, but one that occurs within the context of a relationship with God. This secondary, intermediary role of witness emphasizes that the person is on the path to attaining forgiveness and inner tranquility. Additionally, when one confesses aloud, as noted in another source, “invisibly standing nearby is Christ Himself, the Lord, who accepts this confession and knows all our sins far better than we do” (source: link txt). Thus, the priest’s presence, although merely symbolic, enhances the significance of the process by reinforcing the sense that the confession occurs in an atmosphere of divine support and love.

In conclusion, confession affects a person’s inner state by purifying the soul and fostering an awareness of one’s “I-in-God,” where the presence of another person, acting as a witness, serves as an important reminder that true forgiveness and transformation occur in a relationship with God—not through a human intermediary who merely records the process.

Supporting citation(s):
"Earlier I spoke about repentance and only touched on the subject of confession. But confession is such an important matter that I want to dwell on it in more detail. There are two types of confession: the personal, private confession, where a person approaches the priest and opens up their soul to God in his presence; and the general confession, where people gather in a large or small group, and the priest confesses on behalf of everyone, including himself. I want to focus on private confession and call your attention to the following: the person confesses to God. In the instruction that the priest delivers before each person’s confession, it is said: 'Behold, child, Christ invisibly stands before you, accepting your confession; I am only a witness.' And it is important to remember this because we confess not to the priest, and he is not our judge. I would even say more: even Christ is not our Judge at that moment, but our compassionate Savior. This is very, very important." (source: link txt)

"Often, when preparing for confession, you experience a feeling of remorse and sorrow for your sins, and when you approach the priest, you simply list your sins, and the intense sorrow felt during preparation seems to fade away. … And afterwards, our inner state indicates that we have undergone some internal change." (source: link txt)

"When we confess aloud before the priest, invisibly standing nearby is Christ Himself, the Lord, who accepts this confession and knows all our sins far better than we do, because unfortunately, in many respects, we are not fully aware of ourselves..." (source: link txt)