Can I have two confessions?

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Light_And_Love

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I am thinking of going to confession. However, I do not plan on confessing some of my mortal sins at one confession session. I just do not think I would be emotionally ready to confess ALL of my sins in just one session. I have not confessed since I was 10 or 12!!!

So what I plan on doing is going to confession and confessing some of my sins knowing that I left out some other sins intentionally. Then I’ll go to confession the other time around to confess what I have left out. The reason is I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to confess all of my sins at a time. Is this valid? Will I be forgiven?
 
Go to confession, tell the priest you have been away from the church for a long time, and then follow his instructions.
 
Light_And_Love said:
I am thinking of going to confession. However, I do not plan on confessing some of my mortal sins at one confession session. I just do not think I would be emotionally ready to confess ALL of my sins in just one session. I have not confessed since I was 10 or 12!!!

So what I plan on doing is going to confession and confessing some of my sins knowing that I left out some other sins intentionally. Then I’ll go to confession the other time around to confess what I have left out. The reason is I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to confess all of my sins at a time. Is this valid? Will I be forgiven?
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You must confess all grave sins that you remember, unless it is morally impossible, or you cannot receive absolution.
 
Light_And_Love said:
I am thinking of going to confession. However, I do not plan on confessing some of my mortal sins at one confession session. I just do not think I would be emotionally ready to confess ALL of my sins in just one session. I have not confessed since I was 10 or 12!!!

So what I plan on doing is going to confession and confessing some of my sins knowing that I left out some other sins intentionally. Then I’ll go to confession the other time around to confess what I have left out. The reason is I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to confess all of my sins at a time. Is this valid? Will I be forgiven?
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No you cannot do that. That is a sacrilege and not only will any of your sins be forgiven, you incur a new mortal sin.

Just tell the priest your difficulty and he will help you. But you can leave no mortal sin out.
 
I can understand how you feel. I’ve been in that situation and my best advice is this: go to a priest that you don’t know personally for confession, pray for courage to receive this sacrament, remember that the priest hearing your confession has probably heard a lot more than you have to confess, confess everything that may be grave if you can, and if it makes you comfortable, confess in anonymity (all of the confessionals I’ve been in have at least a kneeler with a screen). It’s tough to make a good confession after being away from the church for a long time, but I can assure you that the priest who will hear your confession is probably longing for you and everyone else to seek sacramental grace.

p.s. Speaking from experience, withholding any sins is not only sacrilege, but it also makes it so much harder to give a good confession the next time you go
 
Light_And_Love said:
I am thinking of going to confession. However, I do not plan on confessing some of my mortal sins at one confession session. I just do not think I would be emotionally ready to confess ALL of my sins in just one session. I have not confessed since I was 10 or 12!!!

So what I plan on doing is going to confession and confessing some of my sins knowing that I left out some other sins intentionally. Then I’ll go to confession the other time around to confess what I have left out. The reason is I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to confess all of my sins at a time. Is this valid? Will I be forgiven?
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I think you would be obligated to say all your sins… because the first absolution would be invalid if you knowingly leave things out.

I think it’s better if you speak to the priest to get help to say the things that you are worried about saying. Try to just get ready to make a full Confession 🙂 the priest can help with this

Many people have been in this situation! I’m a convert and my first Confession in the Church was very long and very difficult. But I had amazing peace afterwards that I’ll always remember. It was worth it. It’s better to go through the awkwardness and then be in a state of grace, than risk eternal salvation.
 
CCC 1456 Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: “All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly.”

When Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, “for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know.”
 
As others have said: confess to everything.

Start out “Father forgive me for I have sinned, it has been 10/20/30 (whatever) years since my last confession”.

Assuming he has an ounce of holiness, pastoral sense, or just human decency he will be very kind and reassuring to you.

Besides, after confession you will feel great to have everything forgiven. Clinging to some of the burden of sin with a “2-stage confession” would likely weigh down heavy upon you.
 
Light_And_Love said:
I am thinking of going to confession. However, I do not plan on confessing some of my mortal sins at one confession session. I just do not think I would be emotionally ready to confess ALL of my sins in just one session. I have not confessed since I was 10 or 12!!!

So what I plan on doing is going to confession and confessing some of my sins knowing that I left out some other sins intentionally. Then I’ll go to confession the other time around to confess what I have left out. The reason is I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to confess all of my sins at a time. Is this valid? Will I be forgiven?
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Hi!
…it seems that you are window shopping till you get the “right” discounted price…

Confession is a Sacrament; we do not need to measure ourselves or to create a list of “higher/lesser” priority; Confession is not about the Priest or the parish; Confession is not about our “feelings;” Confession is not about our gilt.

Confession is about turning back to God. Giving Him all of our garbage/dirt/disobedience. Opening our heart, mind, and soul to His Mercy. It is about coming clean–not cleansing ourselves but allowing God to Cleanse us:
if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18b)
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Do not negotiate. Give God the chance to Cleanse you–be not double minded.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Okay…let me give you a plan from my own personal experience.

I was outside the church for over 35 years and I can tell you right now that that confession that brought me home was exactly what I needed and made a huge difference in my life.

First, quit worrying about it. Tell the priest right up front what the score is and he will understand and work with you.

In my case I said “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been over 35 years since my last confession.” He smiled and let out a soft whistle and I just laughed and said “Yeah…me too” and then went on to tell him that in that time I was sure I had broken every commandment multiple times and more than I can remember." He said he wasn’t so sure about that but I just said, “believe me Father, I was there.” Then I simply said , “For these and all my sins I am heartily sorry.” He gave me my penance and absolved me and I walked out of there a new creation in Christ…and it continues to this day.

Am I perfect? Are you kidding? But my life changed in that instant and I will never be the same nor will I ever go back to that life…ever.

Do it my friend. You will be changed in an instant and you will be better than you have been since you were a kid.

I’ve already got your back in prayer. 👍:gopray2:
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
 
I was in your exact situation a few years ago. I had been away from the Church for over 30 years and I knew I had to go to confession before receiving communion. I examined my conscience for a couple weeks before going to confession. I was really nervous and scared. I was afraid the priest would scold me for my long absence and the amount of mortal sins I was going to confess. As I sat outside the confessional, I literally started sweating. When I saw the priest coming I said to myself, “Oh boy, here we go”. I wrote down all my sins beforehand and told the priest at the beginning it had been over 30 years since my last confession. I barely started into my list when I just broke down in tears. I fought my way through it and ended my confession by saying, “For these and all my sins that I cannot remember, I am truly sorry”. Then I let out a HUGE sigh.

The priest said to me, “Doesn’t it feel good to rid of all that junk?” I agreed and he said to me, “That was a great confession” and welcomed me back to the Church.

That confession changed my life.

The point is…the priest (and the Church) are not going to be angry that you have been away for so long. They will be happy and joyful.

The Holy Spirit is moving through you by the fact that you are going back to confession, to the Church and to God after a long absence.

Be not afraid. Accept and have confidence in the grace that God has given you.

Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep:
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
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God Bless You
 
Light_And_Love said:
I am thinking of going to confession. However, I do not plan on confessing some of my mortal sins at one confession session. I just do not think I would be emotionally ready to confess ALL of my sins in just one session. I have not confessed since I was 10 or 12!!!

So what I plan on doing is going to confession and confessing some of my sins knowing that I left out some other sins intentionally. Then I’ll go to confession the other time around to confess what I have left out. The reason is I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to confess all of my sins at a time. Is this valid? Will I be forgiven?
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Oh my gosh! I’m SOOOOOO HAPPPY for you! You are about to experience one of the greatest experiences of your life, if you let it. I’m so happy happy happy for you! And imagine, with the joy I’m feeling, imagine the JOY God is feeling at having you return to the sacrament of Confession. It’s such a wonderful healing sacrament.

As others have said, do NOT withhold anything. We are required to confess ALL our mortal sins in our confession, not over two or three. Now that might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. See, I hadn’t been to confession for almost 20 years, and had been away from the Church/God for a long time. I’d been once 20 years ago, and then not for 10 years or more before that.

For me, I found somewhere I’d be comfortable going to Confession, and went on a weekday evening. I then made sure I was last in line, so as not to take up too much of anyone else’s time. If there are two or more priests, it’s not as big of deal. I went on the weekday evening so we wouldn’t be rushed before Mass.

Explain to the priest (you can go behind the screen if you like) that you haven’t been in xxxx many years. Ask him if you can go through the 10 commandments, or you can use a wonderful app called Laudate for iPhone and Android that has the confession app, and is a great examination of conscience. Make sure to give your best estimate of how many times you committed a mortal sin. I couldn’t give an exact number, sadly. 😦 😦 😦 However, the priest was very helpful. He will be so glad you are there as well!

God bless you!!
I find having my Rosary in hand reminds me that not only is Jesus there for me, but so is Mama Mary as an advocate. <3
 
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