Lord, Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession by Scott Hahn

Lord, Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession by Scott Hahn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hardcover, 214 pages
Published March 18th 2003 by Image
Source: Purchased new print copy


I usually get carried away and write big long review's for Scott Hahn's books but I'm not going to this time. "Lord Have Mercy" is a much more personal book for the reader than any other book I've read of his. It's a wonderful book, which goes without saying, whenever I've read Hahn, I've underlined so many things and filled it with marginalia. Scott takes us through "Confession", which is known by many different names through the ages and even now we no longer call it that but "Reconciliation". As one can expect from the author he delves into the origins of the sacrament from its use, practice and purpose in the Old Testament. He goes deeply into the whys and wherefores with his usual light bulb moments and engrossing information. But it is when he starts getting into the how that the book becomes personal for the reader, as I personally experienced anyway. How we should practice confession as Catholics, examine our consciences, how often, the actual "healing power" of the sacrament for those who practice it as a staple of Catholicity. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a powerful and exhilarating practice of our faith but it is also easy to slip out of the habit and this book gives much food for thought, is so very educational and uplifting.