We were soaked in sunscreen, swimsuits, and sun-wrap dresses. It was spring break my sophomore year of college, and our family took our customary trip to Mexico. Blissful, carefree, and reading lots of books on the beach pretty much describes our trip. My sisters and I shared a room with my mom and our brother slept in the pull out bed in living room of the time share. Dinners, walks and talks, and lots of laughing punctuated the trip.

Behind my smile, I was carrying a shameful sin. A secret of small proportions but for me? The daughter who had never done anything wrong? I was weighted down.

After we went to Mass in the small town, I sought out the priest. Even if he only spoke some English, I longed for the healing absolution of the Sacrament of Confession.

As I stood up from kneeling, his soft voice reminded me: “You want to make peace with your family.” That part would be way harder than saying it to him.

Sisters, even sins done in secret damage all of us. The Mystical Body of Christ aches and pains when we sin. The effects reverberate out. It always hurts more than just us.

After you take yourself to Confession, after you unburden yourself of the sins that keep you from closeness to Our Lord, take your apologies to those in your life who need it.

I did, and while it was the hardest conversation of my young adult life, it was the right thing to do. And it was freeing and healing.

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Nell O'Leary is a recovering lawyer turned blogger, speaker, and sewer of baby goods while tending to her husband and four kiddos in the great city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She serves as Managing Editor for Blessed is She and can down a hot cocoa in no time flat. Find out more about her here. She is the editor of our Blessed Conversations Series and guide for the Gift of You course.