Confessing to a Priest

[CRATUS]

Have you ever had a priest be rude to you? Do you ever feel like they are not listening? I want to confess something, but honestly I do not feel bad. There is a stubbornness in me that does not want to change. I know I should. I feel if I tell him, he will think I am petty, mean-spirited and catty. It is more of woman’s issue. I am embarrassed. What are the correct intentions to confess? How should you confess?

 

[edward_george]

Have you ever had a priest be rude to you? Do you ever feel like they are not listening? I want to confess something, but honestly I do not feel bad. There is a stubbornness in me that does not want to change. I know I should. I feel if I tell him, he will think I am petty, mean-spirited and catty. It is more of woman’s issue. I am embarrassed. What are the correct intentions to confess? How should you confess?

I have had priests be rude to me sometimes. They’re human, they have bad days too. Just pray for them and move on–it happens sometimes.

I do feel like they’re not listening sometimes. They’re human, they have bad days too. Just pray for them and move on–it happens sometimes as well.

Not feeling bad is not a reason not to confess–contrition isn’t necessarily an emotional experience. Knowledge that we have sinned ought to lead us to seek repentance, even if there’s not an emotional association necessarily. Would you say that someone who is so mired in sin he is desensitized to his sins ought not to seek healing until he can muster up some feelings about them?

If you’re worried about what the priest will think, don’t be. Most priests will be very glad you’ve been honest enough before the Lord and with yourself that you can bring your sins to confession. Some priests will not, as they can be rude or not listen or even become angry, because they are human. But regardless, it doesn’t matter what they think–the seal of confession ensures your right to forget about your sins, as the priest cannot ever talk about them, and most priests forget about them afterward anyway.

If you are at least sorry for your sins because you wish to avoid hell and attain heaven, then you’re on the right track. Of course, the goal is contrition–dread at having offended God’s goodness, and we ought to pray for that grace. But we have to realize too that we’re all works in progress, and that sin hinders that progress, and that healing is necessary. Go to confession. You seem to have a lot of doubts about confession–confession is where you find God’s healing and mercy. Do you think God himself would fill you with doubt about the place where you can find his healing and mercy, which he so desires to give you? It is not God who tries to lead us away from this intimate and healing encounter, but the enemy. Go to confession and rejoice at having put your sins away.

-ACEGC

 

[CRATUS]

I have had priests be rude to me sometimes. They’re human, they have bad days too. Just pray for them and move on–it happens sometimes.

I do feel like they’re not listening sometimes. They’re human, they have bad days too. Just pray for them and move on–it happens sometimes as well.

Not feeling bad is not a reason not to confess–contrition isn’t necessarily an emotional experience. Knowledge that we have sinned ought to lead us to seek repentance, even if there’s not an emotional association necessarily. Would you say that someone who is so mired in sin he is desensitized to his sins ought not to seek healing until he can muster up some feelings about them?

If you’re worried about what the priest will think, don’t be. Most priests will be very glad you’ve been honest enough before the Lord and with yourself that you can bring your sins to confession. Some priests will not, as they can be rude or not listen or even become angry, because they are human. But regardless, it doesn’t matter what they think–the seal of confession ensures your right to forget about your sins, as the priest cannot ever talk about them, and most priests forget about them afterward anyway.

If you are at least sorry for your sins because you wish to avoid hell and attain heaven, then you’re on the right track. Of course, the goal is contrition–dread at having offended God’s goodness, and we ought to pray for that grace. But we have to realize too that we’re all works in progress, and that sin hinders that progress, and that healing is necessary. Go to confession. You seem to have a lot of doubts about confession–confession is where you find God’s healing and mercy. Do you think God himself would fill you with doubt about the place where you can find his healing and mercy, which he so desires to give you? It is not God who tries to lead us away from this intimate and healing encounter, but the enemy. Go to confession and rejoice at having put your sins away.

-ACEGC

Were they rude to you during confession? Yelled? Got Angry? I am scared.

 

[edward_george]

Were they rude to you during confession? Yelled? Got Angry? I am scared.

I’ve had priests be crabby. Nothing to be scared of. Just remember that they’re human too, and that they have to go to confession. Confession, even if done by the worst priest in the world, is still a beautiful, healing encounter with God’s mercy. God would not fill you with fear at encountering his mercy. Trust in him and his mercy, and just go to confession. And again, most priests are very happy to help bring that mercy to people.

-ACEGC

 

[pianistclare]

I’ve never heard of a priest yelling in the confessional.
My pastor said they tell them in seminary to be a lion in the pulpit and a lamb in the confessional.
Be at peace.

 

[JamalChristophr]

I’ve never heard of a priest yelling in the confessional.
My pastor said they tell them in seminary to be a lion in the pulpit and a lamb in the confessional.
Be at peace.

Padre Pio comes close, Clare.

Basta!!

 

[Isca]

As a new Catholic, my limited experience of this Sacrament has been very positive - it’s very informal with my priest, we just sit and chat and he offers wise advice about the weaknesses I have which I want to overcome. He remembers what we’ve discussed before, too, which I really like.

I can’t imagine him being rude or angry, although he is very clear about what is right and what’s wrong. Having never had this sort of relationship with a member of the clergy in the Anglican church, it’s a revelation for me.

 

[MaryT777]

I join in with my experience that I’ve never had a priest yell at me in the confessional or something as such. Of course there are priests that seem short at times or tired in my opinion. If you need advice outside the normal time of the confessional make an appointment. I think priests really appreciate that instead of a 20-30 minute confession on a Saturday morning or some time when there is a line for confession.

Always worth hearing… ‘I absolve you’

Mary.

 

[rainman10]

I would, also, like to add, that if you are in mortal sin, satan has a hold on you and doesn’t want to let you go. So he could be putting these thoughts in your head to keep you away from confession. Think about it. Is it worth taking that chance?