Monday, 27 April 2026

Conession and Dental Hygiene... Really?

There are few appointments in life that stir up quite the same quiet apprehension as a visit to the dental hygienist. 

We know it is good for us. We know we will feel better afterwards. And yet — there is often that familiar hesitation beforehand. In a surprisingly similar way, many of us experience the Sacrament of Confession. 

We may delay it, overthink it, or approach it with a mixture of reluctance and hope. 

Yet, just like that visit to the hygienist, what awaits us on the other side is something deeply refreshing — a sense of cleansing, renewal, and peace that we cannot quite replicate anywhere else.

There is something almost universal about the feeling. 

 

We sit in the waiting room — whether at the dentist or outside the confessional — and our thoughts begin to swirl. Have we left it too long? Will it be uncomfortable? Will it be awkward? Will we feel exposed?

In both cases, we know the truth: we are going because something needs attention.

And yet, we hesitate.

This gentle comparison — between visiting the dental hygienist and going to Confession — may seem light-hearted at first, but it opens up a deeper reflection on how we approach healing, both physical and spiritual.

The Apprehension Beforehand

Before a hygienist appointment, there is often a quiet internal dialogue.

We tell ourselves it will not be that bad. We remind ourselves it is necessary. We may even promise that next time, we will not leave it so long.

The same can be true of Confession.

Even though we know it is a gift — even though we know it is a sacrament of grace — we can still feel hesitant. We may worry about what to say, how to say it, or how it will feel.

Yet Scripture gently reassures us:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, ESV-CE).

Notice that word — cleanse.

Both the hygienist and Confession share this purpose: to cleanse what has built up over time.

St John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, once said: “The Lord is more eager to forgive than we are to ask.” This reminds us that what we fear approaching is actually a place of mercy.

Not Always Pleasant — But Always Necessary

Let us be honest — a hygienist appointment is not always comfortable.

There may be moments of sensitivity, moments of awkwardness, moments where we wish it would be over just a little sooner.

Confession can sometimes feel the same.

It asks us to be honest. It asks us to name what we would rather keep hidden. It asks us to face parts of ourselves that we might prefer to avoid.

And yet, this honesty is not meant to shame us — it is meant to free us.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13, ESV-CE).

There is a kind of spiritual “plaque” that builds up over time — small habits, repeated faults, things we excuse or overlook. Left unattended, they harden.

Confession gently removes these layers — not harshly, but carefully, with grace.

St Augustine, who knew well the weight of sin, wrote: “The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” In other words, the very act of bringing something into the light begins its healing.

The Role of the One Who Helps

At the hygienist, we are not alone. Someone is there to guide the process — trained, calm, and focused on our wellbeing.

In Confession, the priest stands in a similar role — not as a judge in the human sense, but as a servant of God’s mercy.

Through him, Christ Himself acts.

“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them” (John 20:22–23, ESV-CE).

This is not merely symbolic. It is real. The priest is there not to condemn, but to help us encounter forgiveness.

St Padre Pio, who spent countless hours in the confessional, once said: “Confession is the soul’s bath.” It is not meant to intimidate, but to restore.

Just as a hygienist has seen it all before, so too has the priest. There is nothing we bring that surprises God.

The Cleansing Itself

During a hygienist visit, there is a process — careful, deliberate, sometimes uncomfortable, but always purposeful.

In Confession, something similar unfolds spiritually.

We examine our conscience. We speak honestly. We receive absolution. We are given guidance.

It is not rushed, nor is it meaningless. Each part has its purpose.

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2, ESV-CE).

King David’s words echo the deep desire within all of us — to be made clean again.

St Catherine of Siena described God’s mercy as “a sea in which we are the fish.” We are not just sprinkled with grace — we are immersed in it.

The Feeling Afterwards

And then — the moment we were hoping for.

After a hygienist visit, there is that unmistakable feeling — fresh, clean, renewed. We may even find ourselves smiling a little more freely.

Confession brings something even deeper.

A lightness. A peace. A quiet joy.

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1, ESV-CE).

There is a sense that something has been lifted — not just mentally, but spiritually.

St Thérèse of Lisieux spoke of this childlike trust in God’s mercy. She approached Confession not with fear, but with confidence in God’s love.

This is what we are invited into — not anxiety, but freedom.

Why We Delay — And Why We Should Not

Despite all this, we sometimes delay both appointments.

We tell ourselves we will go later. We convince ourselves it is not urgent. We put it off.

Yet the longer we wait, the harder it can feel to go.

This is true physically — and spiritually.

“Return to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12, ESV-CE).

God’s invitation is not complicated. It is simply to return.

Not perfectly. Not with everything sorted. Just to return.

Seeing Confession Differently

Perhaps this comparison helps us reframe how we see Confession.

Not as something to fear — but as something to embrace.

Not as a burden — but as a gift.

Not as an obligation — but as an opportunity for renewal.

Just as we care for our physical health, we are called to care for our spiritual health.

St Francis de Sales reminds us: “Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections.” Instead, we bring them to God — gently, honestly, regularly.

Practical Guidance

We can begin to approach Confession with greater peace through simple steps:

– Go regularly, rather than waiting long periods
– Prepare briefly by reflecting on our actions and attitudes
– Be honest and simple — no need for complicated explanations
– Trust in God’s mercy rather than focusing on our weakness
– Stay for a moment of gratitude afterwards

In this way, Confession becomes not something we avoid, but something we return to with trust.

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes

O Our Lady of Lourdes,
you who call us to repentance and renewal,
guide us gently back to your Son.

Help us to approach Confession with trust,
not fear — with hope, not hesitation.

Intercede for us in our daily lives,
that we may seek healing for our souls
as readily as we seek care for our bodies.

Lead us always to the mercy of Christ,
and help us to remain faithful in His grace.

Amen.

A prayer for all who read this blog post and for all who never will

Heavenly Father,

we bring before You all who hesitate,
all who delay, and all who long for renewal.

Give us the courage to return to You,
the humility to seek forgiveness,
and the trust to believe in Your mercy.

Cleanse our hearts, renew our spirits,
and draw us ever closer to Your love.

Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Final Prayer-Poem

When hearts feel heavy, worn, unclean,
And burdens lie where we have been,
You call us back with gentle grace,
To healing found within Your place.

No fear remains where mercy flows,
No weight endures where love bestows.
And in that peace, so bright, so true,
Our souls are made anew in You.

Amen.

Parish Invitation

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20, ESV-CE)

You are warmly invited to join our parish community. Come to Mass, come to regular confession, take part in our parish activities, join our Living Rosary Group, and read our latest newsletter.

Come and be part of a place where faith is lived, shared, and nurtured.

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