Reviews for 7 Secrets of Confession

“Confession has been called the Sacrament of the New Evangelization.  It is the sacred encounter with Christ where we experience God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Vinny Flynn helps make even more accessible this beautiful sacrament of healing. Those who read this short but insightful book should be able to approach the Sacrament of Confession with greater love, fervor and gratitude and come away convinced that they are not only forgiven but truly healed and liberated.

7 Secrets of Confession is a helpful tool in the ongoing challenge of the New Evangelization.  I am happy to recommend it to every Catholic and confessor.” — His Eminence Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington

“If you are like me and greatly admire the writings and insights of Vinny Flynn, you are going to love his latest gem, 7 Secrets of Confession!  It truly is a book so needed for our times. In an age in which the Sacrament of Reconciliation is often misunderstood, neglected, and even ignored, this book offers invaluable insights into just how much Jesus offers us and wants to bless us through this sacrament of mercy, forgiveness, and healing.

I will definitely be recommending this book to the many people I meet as I travel and speak.  As a priest, I’m just loving these books by Vinny Flynn!” — Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, STL, Author, Under the Mantle: Marian Thoughts from a 21st Century Priest. (www.fathercalloway.com)

“Confession is one of the most powerful of all the sacraments, yet is sadly neglected in our world today. In 7 Secrets of Confession, Vinny Flynn provides a down-to-earth presentation of this sacrament that unveils its deep beauty and leads us to a more accurate mindset. Seeing confession through the eyes of God’s mercy, we come to desire it the way we desire Communion, recognizing that through this sacrament we receive the mercy and healing we are all so sorely in need of. In confession, Christ’s mercy embraces us and enables to experience, anew, the infinite depths of His love.” — Mother Assumpta Long, OP, Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

From the Introduction:

Vinny Flynn’s “7 Secrets” are like seven explosions that blow away the obstacles keeping us from the Sacrament of Mercy. If you’ve ever dragged your feet on the way to confession, gotten discouraged about confessing the same sins over and over, or wondered how your confessions could be more fruitful, then you’ll love this book. It turns what many see as a tiresome obligation into a precious, longed-for encounter with the Lord.

Whether you go to confession every week or haven’t been in many years, this book will help you rediscover and fall deeply in love with the gift of God’s mercy in this incredible Sacrament. I’m deeply grateful that Vinny hasn’t kept these secrets to himself. And when you read this book, you’ll be grateful, too. It truly is an answer to prayer. — Fr Michael Gaitley, MIC, Director of The Association of Marian Helpers; Author, 33 Days to Morning Glory, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, and The ‘One Thing’ Is Three; Creator of a comprehensive, parish-based program for the New Evangelization, called Hearts Afire. (www.AllHeartsAfire.com)

“Saint John Vianney once said that ‘The good God is more eager to rescue us from our sins than a mother is to snatch her child out of a fire.’ Drawing on the wisdom of the Saints, the treasury of Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and the fruits of his own contemplation and prayer, Vinny Flynn has written a deeply insightful and practical book. I warmly recommend it, not only to regular penitents, but especially to those who, for whatever reason, haven’t been to Confession in a long time — and who are looking for reasons to return. All readers  will find here remarkable insights into the mercy of God, who is so eager to rescue us from our sins, and who readily does so through this Sacrament of freedom, pardon, and peace.”  — Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore

“As someone who’s admitted to a love-hate-love relationship with confession for many years, I can easily vouch for the power of Vinny Flynn’s amazing 7 Secrets of Confession to change hearts and minds on the beautiful potential of this sacrament. Whether you are new to confession or a regular penitent, Vinny’s wise counsel will provide transformative grace in your life.” — Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and Author, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms.

“Truly wonderful. Here is the way ‘home’ — home to the embrace of the Father’s love and mercy this side of Heaven. The brave or even curious reader will find in these pages the path to forgiveness, to restoration, to wholeness and to freedom, the freedom to be all you were meant to be. Vinny Flynn has given us a gift — for every soul, for every fallen-away child, parent, friend and enemy, and for every faithful Catholic who carries the wounds of sin and unforgiveness and who desires to enter more deeply into the treasures that await in the healing and life-giving sacrament of confession.” — Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God (Formerly Author, EWTN TV & Radio host, Rosalind Moss,) O.S.B., Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope www.motherofisraelshope.org

“Brace yourself, and don’t say you haven’t been warned. Vinny Flynn will guide you to a closer relationship with Jesus and a deeper appreciation for the two most important sacraments: Confession and the Eucharist. It’s a journey that will change you and make you a better Catholic, even as it builds a closer relationship between you and God. This is a book that will definitely be on my “best of 2013” list.” — Sarah Reinhard, Author, A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy and blogger at SnoringScholar.com

“7 Secrets of Confession is one of the most inspiring, exciting, and necessary books on the Sacrament! Vinny Flynn masterfully leads the reader to plumb the depths of divine love offered us in a Sacrament that heals, liberates, restores, and sanctifies. I will approach Confession in a whole new light of truth because of this book. May it be read and lived by every Catholic!” — Kathleen Beckman, Radio Maria Host: Living Eucharist, Author, Rekindle Eucharistic Amazement

“This is a phenomenal book! It will touch the hearts and minds of the Faithful of all ages, helping them to understand, in simple but profound terms, the beauty of the Sacrament of Healing and Mercy. I believe it will also assist many priests in rediscovering the awesome reality of working in persona Christi Capitis, and will provide excellent material for preaching.” — Fr. Gary M. Dailey, Director of Vocations, Diocese of Springfield, MA

“Vinny Flynn is my favorite Catholic writer, bar none. With wisdom and wit, he is an advocate for three of his greatest loves: His love of God, his love of the Catholic faith, and his love for God’s children, particularly those who don’t yet understand the fullness of the faith. In 7 Secrets of Confession, he addresses the most misunderstood sacrament of the Church. Readers will never look at confession again. As he says, confession is not something we “have to do,” it’s something we “get to do.”

Sadly, confession got shunted to the back-room sometime after Vatican II, a victim along with Eucharistic Adoration of a form of  Catholicism in which “just showing up” was considered good enough. For this book, Vinny takes the intimidation factor out of this great sacrament of the Church to bring it into new relevancy for today’s Catholics, indeed, for today’s human person who might not yet understand who God is. God has a personal love for us, always, no matter what. We can’t change Him. But He can change us. As Vinny explains, we need not beg for God’s forgiveness; it’s there for the taking. God doesn’t wag a finger at us; rather, He reaches out to us with an open hand. This book finally makes sense of a sacrament that became misunderstood then forgotten over a generation or two. Readers will come to understand at last the pragmatic value of reconciliation — the restoration of full, loving relations with God.” — Felix Carroll, Author, Lost, Loved, Found: 17 Divine Mercy Conversions, Award-winning writer and web editor at the Marian Helpers Center

“No matter which side of the Confessional grille you’re on, Vinny Flynn’s 7 Secrets of Confession is an indispensable guide to getting the most out of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Whether you’re priest or penitent, Flynn has new insights into the most under-used sacrament of the Catholic Church. And here’s a secret about his book: He actually reveals more than seven! He lays out seven, but there are a multitude of secrets in-between. If you want to receive the limitless graces that Our Lord has for you in the sacrament of His mercy, this is the book for you.” — Patrick Novecosky, Editor-in Chief, Legatus magazine.

“I used to cringe at the thought of going to confession yet again, dreading God’s judgment on my laundry list of sins. Now, after reading 7 Secrets of Confession, I can’t wait to go to confession — again and again. I realize, as if for the first time, that this sacrament is fundamentally about our healing and spiritual freedom as God’s children, so we can live joyous and full lives in Christ. What a gift! Thank you, Vinny Flynn.” — David Came, Executive Editor of Marian Helper magazine. Author, Pope Benedict’s Divine Mercy Mandate

“You have let the cat out of the bag and the rats are in trouble. You have exposed the power of the Sacraments of the Church and the devil and his agents are in trouble. I encourage everybody; Catholics and non-Catholics alike, to read and reflect on these 7 Secrets of Confession, especially all pastors of souls, formators and teachers of the faith. This book should be found on the shelves of every Formation House, Seminary, Religious Community and Parish House. — Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, Catholic Bishop of Minna, Nigeria

“Vincent Flynn has written a beautiful book designed to bring Catholics more deeply into one of the great gifts of the Heart of Jesus – the Sacrament of Confession. He demonstrated that this gift of merciful love is designed to bring healing to our broken hearts by turning us back to God. It is written with clarity, charity and insight, which should bring the reader to a richer appreciation and participation in this great sacrament.” —Timothy T. O’Donnell, STD, KGCHS, President, Christendom College

“It is all about Mercy! God’s great mercy is what you will read about in these wonderful 7 Secrets of Confession. Vinny has done a fantastic job in his book of giving some great insights and practical guidelines. Read this book and enter into the mystery of God’s mercy! Great book! — Fr. Larry Richards, Author, Be A Man

“Vinny Flynn shows why confession of our sins is integral to evangelizing. Only when we recognize our sinfulness do we begin to appreciate the infinite goodness of the Lord. Only when we have experienced God’s forgiveness are we free to take up the mission of the Church. 7 Secrets of Confession gets to the heart of discipleship.” — His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago