Confessing venial sins w/o it being a "laundry list"

[odile53]

It seems to me that the problem of recurrent venial sins is a really good reason to find one confessor, and stick with him. What I’ve done with my recurrent venial sins is in addition to expressing my contrition and asking for absolution is asking for advice on how to stop the process that leads to the sin. I’ve been referred to reading and meditating on particular passages of Scripture, I’ve been instructed to do other reading, and to make other spiritual exercises in addition to a more standard penance of a few prayers. Some of the advice (most of it, in fact,) has been really useful. I’m in no great danger of sainthood here, LOL, but at least I’m getting in addition to the assurance of absolution, some nudges as to how to get out of some of the spiritual ruts I’ve dug myself into over the years.

Just putting it out there in case anyone can use it.

 

[Love_Divine]

I just finished up my rough draft of my examination of conscience, and if it’s not a laundry list, it’s some what rambly. I will edit it in the morning when I’m not so tired.

 

[mariegh]

I am laughing about the laundy list. I know many people who call it that. Now to answer a question. You, you should go to confession for mortal sin okay but you should go to confession for venial sins as well. Why, bwell confession is a sacrement an a sacrement usually confers a blessing n special graces. Why confession for vienil sins you obtain grace. Which helps you overcome those. But as we all know new ones will come (lol). No that is not what happens, what’s happens is with the grace that we receive from confession, we are able to overcome ours sins in Gods grace. Now the more you mater yourself and try not offend God with the sins anymore, this also can start to enlighten you on other things. Like cleaning house. Well believe it or not the closer you come to God the more you need confession. Why because we realize like the Saints, that we are impurfect. Pope John Paul(soon to be blessed) went to confession everday, like a lot of Saints.
I hope this helps you understand confession a bit better.

PS: Venial sins are not deadly and grace robbing like mortal sin is, but venial sin still robs the soul from some grace, mortal robs the soul of all grace. So go to confession for those venial sins, an get the grace.

 

[MHC17]

I’ve really enjoyed reading all these posts! From my personal experience, I’ve only taken a list once, and it was to ensure that I did not forget anything because I hate the feeling of leaving the Confessional and realizing you left something out. I take a small Examination of Conscience booklet with me and do so while in line, so that everything in fresh in my mind. I try to go regularly because I know and have experienced the special graces from doing so, even if I’m only confessing venial sins. When it comes down to it, this practice has really shown me that I have certain bad habits that are the root of all my sins, and it has also given me the strength and encouragement to erase these habits!

Take a list when necessary, but above all, be sincerely sorry for your sins and make the commitment to amend your life.

 

[The_Reginator]

While we’re on the subject of Confession, I’d like to share part of a paragraph in my ‘Marian Missal’ for the Tridentine Mass.

Under Devotions for Confession the second paragraph entitled “Before Confession” begins with this:

Whoever you are, Christian reader, that designs to approach to the holy Sacrament of Penance, remember that you are going to undertake a work upon the good performance of which, more than any other duty, your eternal welfare depends.

It goes on to encourage the ‘Christian reader’ to examine his/her conscience in a quiet place away from distractions.

This goes beyond the simple ‘accepting Jesus into your heart’ idea I was exposed to for many years.

 

[Love_Divine]

Today we got a strongly worded sermon on sincere repentance and making a sincere confession. Now I’m scared of Confession again because I don’t sound sincere when I confess. Not because I’m not sincere, but because it just comes out that way. Oh well, at least the priest hasn’t mistaken me for a man…yet. Stupid manly voice.

 

[Tigertame4]

I would not worry about how you sound. It is like all those court cases where a person does or does not seem contrite, or those people who have killed their kids crying on TV claiming they were “kidnapped.” Demeanor does not always match truth. . As long as you know you are sincere that is all that matters.

 

[Love_Divine]

I would not worry about how you sound. It is like all those court cases where a person does or does not seem contrite, or those people who have killed their kids crying on TV claiming they were “kidnapped.” Demeanor does not always match truth. . As long as you know you are sincere that is all that matters.

Actually, a lot of those people aren’t contrite, as they don’t have the ability to feel remorse for what they did. That’s the problem with sociopaths and trying to rehabiltate them.

 

[Bayley]

"Angry priests don’t make it any easier… "

That’s a big part of why I have a problem with going to confession. I was taught that, when confessing sins, it was important to say how many times a particular sin was committed. I did this at one church and the priest got angry and impatient with me. He told me I couldn’t possibly know how many times I had done something. I was mortified at how he treated me, and have been reluctant to go to confession ever since, for fear of being embarrassed, again. (This happened forty years ago!) Over the years, I have had some incredibly understanding priests, but that one has stuck with me for all these years.

 

[Bookcat]

"Angry priests don’t make it any easier… "

That’s a big part of why I have a problem with going to confession. I was taught that, when confessing sins, it was important to say how many times a particular sin was committed. I did this at one church and the priest got angry and impatient with me. He told me I couldn’t possibly know how many times I had done something. I was mortified at how he treated me, and have been reluctant to go to confession ever since, for fear of being embarrassed, again. (This happened forty years ago!) Over the years, I have had some incredibly understanding priests, but that one has stuck with me for all these years.

Sorry that happened…

It is important of course to note that one is obliged to give the number for mortal sins…but not venial.

 

[Tigertame4]

Love Divine, yes there are sociopaths but that was not my thread. I was responding to a concern express by someone who worries they do not sound contrite at confession. I was saying that “how you sound” does not matter, God knows the heart of the sinner and forgives us.

Bayley, if you ever go to confession and have a response like that I would contact that priest’s superior. That is badgering and is not acceptable. If the priest wanted to be helpful he might have told you not to be concerned with actual numbers of a particular sin but rather to look into its roots in order to help bring that sin under control.

 

[Bayley]

Bayley, if you ever go to confession and have a response like that I would contact that priest’s superior. That is badgering and is not acceptable. If the priest wanted to be helpful he might have told you not to be concerned with actual numbers of a particular sin but rather to look into its roots in order to help bring that sin under control.

Unfortunately, I was a child when this happened. And, completely unprepared for the way he ranted at me. My only consolation at the time was that the church wasn’t the one my family regularly attended.
On the other hand, I once had the most amazingly comforting experience with a different priest, about fifteen years later, that has also stayed with me. I was feeling very low, very ashamed that I had not attended Mass for some time. He asked if I had returned to regular attendance and, if so, if I was receiving the sacraments. When I said I didn’t feel worthy, he told me that it was then that I needed it the most. I felt so uplifted by the time I left the confessional!

 

[Love_Divine]

He asked if I had returned to regular attendance and, if so, if I was receiving the sacraments. When I said I didn’t feel worthy, he told me that it was then that I needed it the most. I felt so uplifted by the time I left the confessional!

Assuming that was your first time back to Confession after being away for so long, it was correct of you not to receive communion until your went to Confession and received absolution.

 

[Bayley]

Assuming that was your first time back to Confession after being away for so long, it was correct of you not to receive communion until your went to Confession and received absolution.

I said the same thing to the priest. And that’s when he told me that that was when I most needed to receive. That, as long as I truly repented in my heart, I was forgiven. And, that receiving was part of the process. Obviously, going to confession, at that point, was the right thing to do, but I didn’t need to stay separated from the sacraments. He worded it better than I have, here, but it made sense to me.

 

[Love_Divine]

I said the same thing to the priest. And that’s when he told me that that was when I most needed to receive. That, as long as I truly repented in my heart, I was forgiven. And, that receiving was part of the process. Obviously, going to confession, at that point, was the right thing to do, but I didn’t need to stay separated from the sacraments. He worded it better than I have, here, but it made sense to me.

If he meant that you could make a perfect act of contrition and then receive he as correct, but very very very few people can make a perfect act of contrition.

What do you mean by “the sacraments” exactly? Some people simply mean communion. If that’s the case, regardless of what any priest tells you otherwise, it’s a sacrilege to receive communion while in the state of mortal sin. I wouldn’t rely on making a perfect act of contrition to remove mortal sin to recieve communion, as perfect contrition doesn’t grow on trees. Yes, you need to receive the sacraments to receive the graces one needs, but one also can’t receive any graces from the sacraments if they’re in the state of mortal sin, even if they physically receive the sacraments, one doesn’t get the graces.