Ask a Priest Anything...about Confession!

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Yep I am validly baptised so not a catechumen.

I’ve never actually met the priest so it’s a little bit awkward tbh. Just wanted to get a general idea if it’s a possibility before I have that conversation with anyone at my parish.

Thanks for the info 🙂
 
Nik said:
I’ve never actually met the priest so it’s a little bit awkward tbh.
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Got it. Still, you’re not going to develop a relationship with your pastor by avoiding him. This would be an excellent opportunity for you to introduce yourself to him, and make him aware of your situation and planned approach!
Nik said:
Just wanted to get a general idea if it’s a possibility before I have that conversation with anyone at my parish.
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Yep, got it. Go to your pastor, rather than to your RCIA leadership team. (I’ve seen cases where they (or even deacons) treat a general guideline as a hard-and-fast, unbreakable rule. Your pastor is the right person to make a judgment call and help you set expectations properly!)
 
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I’d still take it with me anyway unless by taking it in the confessional door wouldn’t close. Then I’d ask someone to watch it for me.
 
Margaret_Ann said:
I’d still take it with me anyway unless by taking it in the confessional door wouldn’t close. Then I’d ask someone to watch it for me.
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That seems like a good idea.

At school, people joke about me ‘carrying a piano’ or a coffin in my bag.

When you have a large laptop, textbooks, exercise books, lunch, water… etc then it really does add up!
 
catholic03 said:
Is it better to take it inside the confessional, will the priest ask me to remove it,
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Bring it in if you prefer not to leave it in a pew. I seriously doubt the priest is going to have an issue - it may attract a curious comment but that’s about it.
 
We are ALL under the seal of the confessional IF we overhear someone’s confession!
Someone I know was interested in going to confession and wanted me to be in the
confessional room with her as she has a sex abuse history. I asked the priest if this
was permissible with the understanding that I too would be under the seal. He said
that he would not permit this but rather I could stand just outside the door while she
was in there. Unfortunately the one chose not to return to the sacrament.
 
First off, I am NOT a priest! I have a friend who has Bipolar Disorder and she asked me about something similar.

I’d recommend that when you go to confession to inform the priest from the start something like “btw Father I want you to know that I have x mental health issue and that I am in treatment for it.” I would then suggest confessing whatever you feel you have done wrong, and not worry about whether it was sinful, etc.

God is a God of mercy!
 
I’m NOT a priest!!!

I would say the fact that your thinking of it while in the confessional means it should be brought up. It doesn’t really matter whether or not it is sinful since it is on your mind then it should be confessed.
 
I’m NOT a priest!!!

IMHO you don’t have to worry if your sins are venial or mortal,
but rather you should go to confession and confess your sins.
For sins to be forgiven you must be sorry, confess your sins, and
make satisfaction for your sins.

If you are vacillating between between two denominations then
you really need to be going to confession regularly. You should
let the confessor know of your struggles with the faith and of
your uncertainty about coming back to the church.

NEVER, EVER, EVER can a priest share what was said in confession!!!
 
To have a strong faith one should really go to confession more than once a year!
Once a year during the Easter season is the minimum not the ideal.

I would highly encourage to go once a month, but if you consider that to much for
you maybe consider going with the change of seasons (quarterly).
 
@Herculees,

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but many of your answers are at best repeating things that have already been said by the priests on this forum, and at worst either off-topic or just flat out bad advice. Please exercise prudence when you respond to this thread. You keep saying “I am not a priest,” before proceeding to give less-than-ideal answers, as though you are aware that what you are doing is wrong. So please check yourself before responding to long since answered questions.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Herculees said:
If you are vacillating between between two denominations then
you really need to be going to confession regularly.
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This is one of the things I’m talking about. I’m not sure the poster to whom you’re responding said anything like this.
 
I would add the following, the thread is titled “ask a priest”, and it has been very informative at times. Us lay folk should refrain from giving any advice on this thread.
 
tafan2 said:
Us lay folk should refrain from giving any advice on this thread.
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On the other hand, when “us lay folk” speak up with our own understanding, often there’s the opportunity for the speaker to learn whether they’re mistaken or not. 😉
 
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