In Defence of Father Antonio: A Word to Teenagers Undergoing Puberty
Father Antonio is a servant of God, not a therapist for graphic confession. He has taken vows of chastity, purity, and service to your soul — not your fantasies. If you are struggling with the sin of lust, especially directed at your priest or spiritual authority, do not scandalize the confessional by sharing gory or explicit details. The confessional is a sacred space for healing, not for reliving temptation.
Instead, show humility. If you truly wish to indicate that you are under assault by the demon of lust — known in ancient tradition as Asmodeus, the demon of impurity — simply confess the sin in modest terms.
You may say:
“Father, I am battling lust and impure thoughts, and I fear the spirit of Asmodeus is tempting me.”
That is sufficient. If you wish to take it further in symbolic language, wear indigo clothing — the color of penance and spiritual clarity. Indigo signals to a priest trained in the symbolic tradition that the penitent is undergoing intense inner warfare. It is a nonverbal signal, ancient and discreet.
Father Antonio is not your enemy. He is not your crush. He is not a man to seduce or to test. He is a spiritual physician, and the confessional is a hospital for the soul. Help him help you. Be brief. Be honest. Be clean. Say your sins, not your fantasies.
May St. Michael guard you from the snares of the tempter,
And may the Virgin Mary purify your heart.
Amen.
I think Father Sebastian should come back in the New Year. -- Father Joseph of Medjugorje
