Confession, Consciousness, and Who You’re Really Talking To

I’ve been thinking lately about the idea of confessing to a priest instead of directly to God. Even if a belief isn’t fully true, I tend to think there’s usually a small truth tucked inside it somewhere. So what’s the truth here?

Right now, I’m leaning toward this: confession may be less about who you’re confessing to, and more about what energy or frequency you’re feeding when you do it. Guilt, humility, release, accountability, forgiveness—those are internal states. Maybe no other being is actually required for that process to work.

As a kid, I thought about it in a much simpler way:

If God can hear me everywhere… why do I need a “cellphone to God” via a priest?

That question earned me some very intense stares in religion class 😂

But honestly, it still feels valid.

As an adult, I can see more layers. There’s the human aspect: saying things out loud, being witnessed, ritual, structure, tradition, and accountability. There’s also community psychology—sometimes people need a mirror, a guide, or a safe container to let something go. And for some, the priest represents authority, absolution, or a symbolic stand-in for God that makes forgiveness feel real.

So maybe the answer isn’t either/or. Maybe it’s a little of this and a little of that.

Maybe confession works because it shifts your internal state, focuses your intention, and moves you from shame into release—regardless of whether it’s God, a priest, a journal, or your own quiet thoughts doing the listening.

Curious what you all think.

Sincerely,

the little Catholic girl who asked too many questions and survived 😌

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