Often one hears the following comments. “Do not feel guilty.” “There is nothing one needs to feel guilty about.” “Guilt is debilitating.” Guilt is frequently portrayed as being negative, destructive, and unnecessary. Though it is conceivable that, on some rare occasions, this attitude may be justified, but without guilt, improvement in mankind is not possible. Contrary to the opinion of some individuals, guilt is generally good for people; it often stimulates change and reform.

Can a sinner, a thief, a murderer, a liar reform their lives, if first they do not admit that their actions are sinful and accept the guilt that should accompany their waywardness? Reform can only begin when one accepts responsibility for one’s actions; something that few in modern societies are willing to do. For many, personal failures are always someone else’s fault. On the other hand, John Henry Newman, the incisive 18^th century cleric and thought leader, argued that, “We are personally responsible for what we do, that we have no means of shifting our responsibility, and that dereliction of duty involves punishment.” In other words, we can gain traction over ourselves only after we accept responsibility for our actions. Guilt helps us to understand that we are responsible for what we do or fail to do…. and that there are consequences for what we do or not do.

As St. Ambrose noted in the 4^th century, “Guilt is more profitable than innocence. Innocence made me arrogant: guilt has made me humble.” Guilt provides us with the insight into the need to make changes in our lives, in our behavior; it is the trigger that propels mankind to a new level of existence. In our modern world, it is customary to eliminate all feelings of guilt, thus removing the real building block for improvement. Unfortunately, many in modern society relish the opium of guiltless feelings. In truth, when guilt is reasonably applied and accepted by man, then man can be healthy, creative, and reformative.  Once man accepts guilt, he can charge forward with changing his life, quickly or over a period of time, making all necessary changes.

George Macdonald, minister and admired author in the 19^th century declared, “No, there is no escape. There is no heaven with a little of hell in it – no plan to retain this or that of the devil in our hearts or our pockets. Out Satan must go, every hair and feather.” Accepting guilt is the first step in kicking out the evil resident in one’s heart and beginning anew. It is time to cease making excuses and to accept one’s own failures; then one can make changes to one’s behavior and life and move forward.

Guilt is indeed good!