Lord, Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession

Jesus told his first clergy, “If you forgive the sins of any, they’re forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they’re retained.” In Lord, Have Mercy, Scott Hahn explores the sacrament of reconciliation and shows why it’s the key to religious growth, particularly in these times of intense anxiety and uncertainty.

Drawing on the history of ancient Israel, the Gospels, the writings of the early Church, and the lives of the saints, Hahn reveals the living, scriptural heart of the Church’s teachings on penance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This can be a story that begins with the sin of Adam and Eve, continues in the biographies of Moses, King David, and the Apostle Peter, and reverberates in the lives of believers today. Hahn presents the Catholic and biblical perspective on sin and mercy, elucidating in clear, easily understood language the true import of Jesus’ simple, yet profound promise–“I am the door; if any person enters by Me, he’s going to be saved (John 10:9).

Like Hahn’s earlier books, Lord, Have Mercy offers thoughtful, authoritative insights into controversial issues and disputed doctrines in a manner with a purpose to enlighten lay readers yet is thorough enough for scholars to appreciate. More than just a Bible study, This can be a guide for the confused, providing practical advice and inspiration with a purpose to lend a hand readers come to a deeper knowledge of themselves and of Jesus through the sacrament of penance.