"Bless me Father, for I have sinned"

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Celia

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Do you all start your confessions this way always? I usually don’t, I just say like, “Good afternoon” or something and then dive right in. No priest has ever said anything about it, but am I supposed to be saying that, or is it just old fashioned, or what…Now I’m worried that I’m doing it the wrong way. Are you supposed to follow the traditional form always or can you kind of ad-lib as long as the important stuff gets across? :hmmm:
 
While there are specific words that must be said by the priest, I don’t think there is a “rule” for the penetint (you). I always use the “bless me Father” opening and that is how we teach the CCE kids. Some priests have cut me off and/or just started in with questions immediately after the Sign of the Cross. I think what is important is that you say all of you sins in number and in kind. I also think its important (but I don’t know if required) to mention how long it has been since your last Confession.
 
It depends on the Priest. If I am in the confessional, I use those words, if it is face to face, it usually begins with a prayer and unfolds as more of a conversation. At least that is my experience.
 
At my parish, when you enter the confessional the priest will immediately begin with the sign of the cross, and then wait. You can either launch right into the list of your sins, or use the “bless me” formula.
 
I thought the priest always wanted at least the interval since your last confession so he could judge how frequent a particular sin in in you life–so the phrase:
“Bless me Father, for I have sinned, my last confession was (/mm/dd/yy)”
 
Our priest is great. He helps with that awkward start of face-to-face confession by saying ‘what would you like to confess today’?
 
With the fabulous Opus Dei priest I’ve been going to for more than 15 years, it’s, “Hi, Father, it’s Betsy.” And he greets me and asks how I am, etc. Then I tell him how long it’s been and go on to the sins. With everyone else, it’s “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been ___ weeks since my last confession.”

Betsy
 
Thank you for your replies, I guess I’m doing o.k. I was just making sure that I wasn’t suppposed to be saying that and was making myself look like I didn’t know what I was doing or something, lol. I wish my priest would sort of start off like some off you said yours do. Mine just kinda sits there until you start talking, and even then he doesn’t say very much. (Don’t get me wrong though, he’s a great guy.) I guess I just feel awkward in the confessional. A lot of it may be nervousness as well, but I’m trying to go more often to get over this fear. :yup:
 
Hi!

I don’t think it matters how you go to confession as long as you go!

Myself, I still go the “old” way with “Bless me father for I have
sinned”. But when I go face to face, it depends on the priest.

You can’t do it wrong so don’t worry!

😉
 
Of course I still say that - why else did that Nun drill it into me in third grade 😃
 
I don’t think its a gross error, not to say Bless me father at the beginning of a confession, but it is an unusual variation not to.

If I were a priest, and a pentinent started a confession in a different way, I’d ask them if they were Catholic before they got too far.
 
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mgy100:
I’m surprised no one whipped out their Code of Cannon Law on this 😉
Click to expand...
The Code of Canon Law gives no instruction as to the specifics of how the sacraments are to be celebrated. We would turn to the Rite of Penance instead.
 
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