Vice President JD Vance delivered remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Fri., February 28.
Vance highlighted his conversion to Catholicism and made a special nod to the sacrament of Confession.
This acknowledgment is timely as the penitential season of Lent begins on March 5.
Interestingly, the Vice President’s habit of frequently seeking God’s mercy in the confessional came from necessity.
“I would probably go to confession every other week because I would fail to go to Mass every other week,” Vance began.
“You have business trips…the kids would get sick and…I just remember that this process of thinking, ‘OK if I don’t go to church this week, I’m gonna have to go and talk to some stranger about everything that I did bad the last two weeks.’”
Vance admitted that this routine gave him a better discipline and prayer life.
“I think one of the geniuses of our faith that [it] teaches us repetition, and it forms us through a process. Of course, that is I think the heart of the mystery of faith that somehow by practicing the Sacraments, even imperfectly as I certainly do, God transforms us.”
If you have not been to confession in a while, here are six simple steps to follow:
1) Make a thorough examination of conscience by reflecting on the sin in your life.
2) Begin with the sign of the cross and say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been [time] since my last confession…These are my sins..” and state your sins.
3) The priest will give you your penance (something to do or pray after your Confession). This is an act of repentance in response to God’s Mercy in the confessional.
4) The priest will ask you to pray the Act of Contrition aloud to proclaim your sorrow for your sins.
5) The priest will extend his hands and pray the Prayer of Absolution. Your response is: ‘AMEN’.
6) The priest will then likely give a final blessing like: “God has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.”
Act of Contrition
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,I have sinned against you,whom I should love above all things.I firmly intend, with your help,to do penance, to sin no more,and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.In his name, my God, have mercy.
Amen.