The Dark Box: A Secret History of Confession
For Catholics of my generation visits to the “dark box” were a weekly occurrence; we were very regular confession-goers. The regularity, however, didn’t diminish the feelings of trepidation and dread associated with the experience. In my teenage years, finding a “sympathetic” priest was a small blessing. I well remember when the word went around within our circle that one particular priest had a lenient — perhaps that should be a forgiving — attitude to immodest thoughts and actions. Not surprisingly, he was quickly nicknamed “the jagger’s priest”.
Looking back, the obsession with sex and sexual sins undoubtedly inculcated in us a deep and abiding sense of guilt, something that in later life inhibited many of us when it came to relationships. On the positive side — and this is a side very much neglected in what is otherwise a compelling history of confession — the unburdening of sin that was such a central part of confession, had a cleansing and therapeutic effect, though perhaps not long-lasting.
