Confession advice?

[brad90956]

I was in the EXACT same situation as you when I returned to the church this year after a 30 year absence.

I did a really through examination of my conscious and I wrote down every sin that I could remember. My list contained 30+ sins and probably around 9-10 mortal sins. I took my piece of paper with me to confession. When I got into the confessional, I told my priest it has been over 30 years since my last confession. I asked him if it was alright if I read my sins from the piece of paper? He said, “yes” so I just went down my list and told him EVERYTHING.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was so nervous and so embarrassed to tell the priest all of my sins and dark secrets. And to be totally honest with you, I broke down and cried through the whole thing.

When I was finished I let out a huge sigh. My priest said, “Doesn’t that feel good to get rid of all that junk?” He also told me I made a great confession and said he was so happy that I returned to the church. I’m telling you, I will never forget that confession as long as I live, It changed my life. I was so thankful to God for forgiving all of my sins. I left that confessional a new person and it literally felt like a 20 pound block had been lifted off of my chest.

 

[adamhovey1988]

So I’ve been confessing like usual for the last few months (after being away from the church for years), but then last week i went online and looked up every possible sin you could commit, like a detailed set of sins deriving from the 10 commandments, and it made me think back to my past and i ended up having a list of over 50 sins!!! At the time i didn’t know they were sins because i was ignorant, going through some tough things, and “left” the church, but now i want to confess all of them but don’t know if i should, and also i don’t know what the priest would say?? will he listen to me? Im thinking of going to a different church to confess because im so embarrassed. I did terrible things that hurt other people/myself and i regret them so much now and yearn for Gods mercy. I don’t know what to do? How do i even tell the priest that i have a huge list of sins?? Any advice is appreciated.Thank you all and God bless!

My advice to you mate is ask the priest about it. if you would you didn’t believe or did not know that it was wrong I’m not sure how you could be culpable. I have been in similar situations so like I said the best thing for you to do would be to talk to him

 

[Adonia]

Confess the big ones and then say that that I have a multitude of other minor ones too many to mention and ask forgiveness for them. I really don’t think that one has to be totally specific on every sin or to mention every last one. God knows you did them, you know you did them and are sorry for them, and I am sure the priest is able to read thru the lines of what you say even if they are not detailed.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Confess the big ones and then say that that I have a multitude of other minor ones too many to mention and ask forgiveness for them. I really don’t think that one has to be totally specific on every sin or to mention every last one. God knows you did them, you know you did them and are sorry for them, and I am sure the priest is able to read thru the lines of what you say even if they are not detailed.

This is absolutely true. The thing that always got me is confessing how many times I have don’t something. If it’s a high frequency and I have not been keeping track (such is my falling nature), I will say “I don’t know”.

 

[Trident_H]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I confessed yesterday and proudly and happily received holy communion today I took my list to the priest and immediately started sobbing haha but he completely understood and it was amazing, he said that my confession was a beautiful one because he knew how much i wanted to receive the lord, regardless of my past sins. Just an amazing amazing beautiful experience. and to Trident, I know you may be doubting, but please consider going through with confession, it is one of the most beautiful sacraments that we Catholics have, through Christ you WILL be HEALED. God bless you all!

Well I am really glad you got that done. And I will really think about it too. I’m working towards it. I’m getting closer every day. Take care man.

Peace.

-Trident

 

[AKDee]

One thought I have- take your worst sin and confess it first. Just do it, get it over with. I usually do that at confession, not as an attempt to cover it up by listing other sins behind it, but more because I list my sins in order of gravity. So worst sins first, less horrid sins last. It keeps me from getting tempted to not say it.

No matter how bad it is, the priest has assuredly heard it before, and worse.

And you will feel SO much better once you confess it. You will feel like you are are walking on the moon (very light in the step) after you get your penance done, knowing you are reconciled with God.