Confession and Wellbeing: can the Sacrament of Reconciliation help us flourish?
Researchers from the University of Glasgow and Wake Forest University are exploring how Catholic Confession may influence our emotional and spiritual wellbeing — and they are inviting Catholics across the UK to share their experiences.
For centuries, Confession has been an important part of Catholic life, offering us an opportunity to acknowledge our mistakes, seek God’s forgiveness, and begin again with a renewed sense of hope and peace. But have you ever wondered whether going to Confession can also improve our wellbeing? Can receiving God’s forgiveness help us feel happier, more peaceful, and better able to face life’s challenges?
These are some of the questions being explored by an exciting research project called Confession & Flourishing.
Within the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, commonly known as Confession, provides a special opportunity to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness, and research has already suggested that experiencing divine forgiveness can have a positive influence on wellbeing.
However, surprisingly little scientific research has examined whether the Catholic practice of Confession itself brings similar benefits – and The Confession & Flourishing project hopes to explore this important question.
The researchers want to understand not only whether Confession contributes to wellbeing, but also how it might do so. For instance, is it the experience of forgiveness, the opportunity to reflect on our actions, the sense of spiritual renewal, or a combination of these experiences?
By exploring these questions, the study hopes to deepen our understanding of the relationship between faith, forgiveness, and human flourishing.
The project brings together researchers from the University of Glasgow in Scotland and Wake Forest University in the United State, led by Professor Michael Brady from the University of Glasgow and Professor Eranda Jayawickreme from Wake Forest University.
The project will examine how religious practices, emotions, personal beliefs, and experiences of forgiveness may influence people’s wellbeing and personal growth, and will consider how cultural backgrounds and attitudes towards the Catholic Church might shape people’s experiences of Confession, including through research involving the UK and Sri Lanka.
By combining scientific research with an understanding of Catholic teaching and practice, the team hopes to develop a clearer picture of the potential benefits of this important Sacrament.
Although Confession remains an important sacrament, current trends seem to be suggesting that fewer Catholics appear to be attending regularly. It is though that some people find Confession comforting and spiritually uplifting, whilst others may feel nervous, uncertain, or uncomfortable about attending. Some may even have fallen out of the habit.
The researchers are interested in hearing from Catholics with all kinds of experiences, including those who attend regularly, occasionally, rarely, or not at all. They want to understand what encourages people to go to Confession, what might discourage them, and whether their feelings about the Church influence their decisions.
Importantly, the study is not simply about encouraging more people to attend Confession. Its central aim is to understand people’s real experiences and discover whether, and in what ways, the sacrament may contribute to their wellbeing.
As part of the project, the team are inviting Catholics living in the United Kingdom to participate in an online survey, where you will be invited to respond to a series of questions about your experiences and attitudes towards Confession, your involvement in other Catholic practices and sacraments, and how you have been feeling recently.
You will not be asked to reveal what you have confessed, as the researchers are interested in your experience of the sacrament, and not the personal details of your sins. The survey should take no more than 30 minutes to complete.
Whether Confession has been a source of comfort, a difficult experience, or something you have not practised for years, your perspective could help researchers gain a better understanding of Catholic life. Â Their research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how forgiveness, religious belonging, and spiritual practices relate to human wellbeing, and may also provide useful insights for priests, parish communities, religious educators, and others involved in supporting Catholics in their faith.
Most importantly, the project offers ordinary Catholics an opportunity to have their voices heard in research exploring a sacrament that has been central to Catholic life for generations.
Will you help researchers discover whether Confession can help us flourish?
If you are a Catholic living in the UK, you are invited to find out more and complete a short screening questionnaire to see whether you are eligible to participate.
For further information, please contact the research team at:
Your experience matters. By sharing it, you could help deepen our understanding of Confession, forgiveness, and wellbeing.