“Lose their Punch”

As I prepared for confession today, a piece of spiritual advice came to mind.  I had heard it paraphrased years ago, probably by our youth director. 
 
St. Faustina shares these words, once directed to her: “Do not fight against a temptation by yourself but disclose it to the confessor at once, and then the temptation will lose all its force.”
 
I think the way it was put to me was that, when we confess temptations, “they lose their punch.” 
 
The recollection of this adage was good for me today as it encouraged me to bring a temptation I’d been fighting for a long time to this Sacrament of Mercy.  I hadn’t planned on doing so before this thought came to me during my preparation. 
 
I ended up having a very good confession and left with peace and courage.  I know a daily struggle still awaits me, but am hopeful that I’ll experience some of “the punch” being taking out of the temptation in this area of my life. 

​I pray that the graces of this confession may be sealed and may be fruitful in my life as I move forward “with the help of [His] grace.”