One of the greatest blessings of being a Catholic Priest is hearing confessions and offering the faithful absolution. For me it is where ministry becomes very real…it’s where the rubber meets the road in peoples lives. I can preach all I want, and yes, it does good, but when a person comes and opens their heart I feel I can offer God’s love, his wisdom, and his forgiveness in a way that is individual and tailor made to the person and their problems. I guess this is the great value of a sacramental system. The sacraments provide one on one encounters with God.
Balaam's Ass 
One of the greatest blessings of being a Catholic Priest is hearing confessions and offering the faithful absolution. For me it is where ministry becomes very real…it’s where the rubber meets the road in peoples lives. I can preach all I want, and yes, it does good, but when a person comes and opens their heart I feel I can offer God’s love, his wisdom, and his forgiveness in a way that is individual and tailor made to the person and their problems. I guess this is the great value of a sacramental system. The sacraments provide one on one encounters with God.