think, 'If people knew what I feel or think, they would not love me.' These carefully kept secrets can do us much harm. They can make us feel guilty or ashamed and may lead us to self-rejection, depression, and even suicidal thoughts and actions One of the most important things we can do with our secrets is to share them in a safe place, with people we trust." (Henri Nouwen) What is one of those safe places? The Sacrament of Reconciliation! Under the seal of confession your revealed, damaging secret is revealed to be kept secret forever. What a paradox! You are set free from living in the darkness with this past sin and your secret is forgiven and forgotten by the priest and by God. It is sealed in the loving mercy of God. How magnificent and magnanimous is our God to us! God knows your secrets but invites you to publicly confess them. In this way, you will live freely in the light of his presence and not in the shadow of fear, shame and guilt.