Adult first confession preparation

[anodos]

I am currently in RCIA and I do not want to wait until the Easter season to make my first confession. (I have read that the sacrament of reconciliation is open to those who are not yet Catholic, but perhaps I’m wrong?) Can anyone suggest ways in which they have personally prepared for this? Did you set aside a period for fasting and prayer, or take a vacation alone?

 

[silicasandra]

When I was in RCIA, my priest told me that since I was unbaptized, I could not receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation until after I was received into the Church. But for others, who were already baptized, they were invited to confess before their reception into the Church but I don’t think they were required to do so.

I did have several informal talks with my priest during the process, though, about what might be stumbling blocks for me as a member of the Church, so if you aren’t able to do your first confession until after RCIA I would definitely recommend setting aside time to speak with your priest one-on-one.

 

[JRKH]

I returned to the Church after some 35 years. I had considerable problem in trying to reconcile the “common” approach to the sacrament (go through the 10 commandments and confess the type and number of sins). To me, with so many years away this just felt totally unworkable. In addition, I felt that simply confessing sins did not get to the deeper, “root cause” spiritual faults.

SO

After several months of prayer, I determined to build my first confession off of the “Seven Deadly Sins”, rather than the 10 commandments.
As I looked at my life, I began to see how one deadly sin led to others and how each strengthened the other and entangled me in their web. I wrote and rewrote a confession as I prepared and finally went to see father, carrying my paper with me. I read it out to father and at the end, his response was, “it’s obvious you have given this considerable thought”. We chatted just briefly then and finished with my act of contrition and his giving absolution.

In summary, I did not take a vacation, but rather took time to prayerfully consider my past life and, not just the acts, but the spiritual faults that I allowed to grow in me. I’m a big believer in “root cause analysis” for the purpose of spiritual growth.

Peace
James

 

[puzzleannie]

I am currently in RCIA and I do not want to wait until the Easter season to make my first confession. (I?

missing info
are you already baptized? if so you make your first confession before Confirmation (which may not be at Easter depending on the custom of your parish and diocese) whenever you are ready. Your preparation class is designed to prepare you for first confession, which is why you may want to wait until you have the benefit of that help.

If you are not baptized there is no need for confession because baptism wipes away all sin. You return for more instruction after Easter, called Mystagogy, which deepens understanding of the sacraments you will have received, incorporate you more fully in to Christian life and discipleship, and prepare you for first confession.

 

[djwright4341]

There is a process in place for those of us who want to join the church as adults, whether coming from other faiths or starting from scratch, and we should have patience and let the process unfold. However, “ask and it shall be given unto you; knock and the door shall be opened.” If some sin(s) is weighing very heavy on you, talk to your priest.

I went through RCIA myself last year. If you’re not baptized yet, you have it easy. Baptism washes away original sin as well as any personal sin and you start with a clean slate. We had a young woman in our RCIA class who was worried about not being baptized, so our priest baptized her several months prior to Easter. Talk with your priest!

If you have been baptized, then you may go to confession whenever you feel you need to. I wanted to go to confession early, and was told by our RCIA instructor that I could go to regular confession anytime. Let the priest know that it is your first confession and he will help you through it. Again, talk with your priest!

 

[anodos]

Thank you, all, for your responses! JRKH, I like your idea of the ‘seven deadly sins’ approach; while I haven’t rigorously gone through the entire list, in daily life I notice that I struggle especially with pride and apathy/sloth (which does not always look like typical laziness - I have read that sloth can also appear as being ‘too busy’). It’s better to find the root of the fault, and not simply confess the results.

Yes, I am baptized. I apologize; I should have mentioned it, but I didn’t think until later. In my diocese, Confirmation happens around the Easter vigil, regardless of whether one is a catechumen or candidate.

I will be patient, and talk to my priest.