Confession help!

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Humble_Lady

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Hello

I came back to the church in January after a very long absence.

Amongst other things, confession is a total confusion to me. The first time I went I had something to confess, so this was not so difficult.

But having been again recently for the Sacrament of Reconcilliation, I sincerely could not think of any sin to report.

It’s not that I think I am without sin, I do not. But the concept of sin is a difficult one.

The priest told me that I should try to think of times that I was less than perfect. Wheer I could have been more like Jesus.

Can anyone help me shed some light on this?

Thank you and God bless.

HL
 
To get the grace of the sacrament, you just tell the priest you have no sins & he will most likely give you absolution for any past sins you may have forgotten. :highprayer:

I wish I didn’t have any sins to confess, …I can sin on the way home from church when I get into traffic. 😊
 
But that is the point. It cannot be true that I don’t have any sins to confess.
I am just not sure what they are!
 
JM3 said:
newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm
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I clicked on that web address but it’s useless. It never gives a real example of sins.

Mortal sins …breaking one of the 10 Commandments. For example : using God’s name in vain, stealing, lies that hurt people, sexual sins…etc.

Venial sins…dirty words, slight anger ( can be mortal if intense ) saying uncharitable things, gossip etc.
 
Well, unless you are a saint (and even saints had their bad moments) I doubt you cannot think of a single one. You see, you may be just thinking of major sins which a lot of us don’t do a lot. Think of your more minor sins. Perhaps you gossiped a little about someone, told a white lie to someone. Maybe you were gluttonous and ate too much or shirked a responsibility for a minor diversion. Even thoughts can become sins if they are entertained by us. Have you become irritated with someone and thought some uncharitable thoughts? The point though is not to focus too much on the sins themselves but on the power of God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (lest more people think that Catholics are too focused on sin).
 
I’m lucky to get through Mass without some kind of venial sin! My mind usually wanders and entertains an uncharitable thought or starts wallowing in pride.
 
Polycarp1 said:
I’m lucky to get through Mass without some kind of venial sin! My mind usually wanders and entertains an uncharitable thought or starts wallowing in pride.
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AMEN, brother! Same problem…😃

I’m tempted to say …the way young people are living now-a-days ( drunken spring breaks, living together & having kids w/o marriage, etc. etc.) the church may say everything you do is forgiven, no need to go to confession, anymore. 😛
 
Pride is a sin. Believing we are not prone to sin in the first place…all of us are tempted to the uncharitable. Part of the human condition. yes, we can and many do fight it, but it’s a constant struggle fro some people.
Seek out a good examination of conscience. Maybe one geared towards children or teens. Everyday actions examined.

This is a good one:
bereconciledtogod.com/pdfs/teensexaminationofconscience.pdf
 
Hi Humble Lady,

I find that using some type of “Examination of Conscience” leaflet or booklet is really helpful for me. It usually helps refresh my memory about things that I can sometimes forget.

You can find them on-line, or even get a booklet at a Catholic bookstore in your area, or buy one on-line, too.

Sometimes a church that is offering confession will even have an Examination of Conscience booklet or leaflet in the church at confession time, so that those who want to do an examination, can do one before going to confession. I have seen this done in different parishes, too.
 
Humble_Lady said:
But that is the point. It cannot be true that I don’t have any sins to confess.
I am just not sure what they are!
Click to expand...
I find it helpful to meditate on the Sermon on the Mount, found in the New Testament, Matthew chapters 5 through 7. This is the passage that reminds us that it is our attitude which causes us to be sinful and not necessarily the things we do - swearing at someone is certainly a sin; so is thinking to ourselves that he is a fool. Adultery is certainly a sin; so is thinking about someone lustfully. Killing someone is certainly a sin; so is using angry words toward them. And so on.
 
Welcome back!

Here is a good examination of conscience: saintaquinas.com/mortal_sin.html

Other than that, simply try to make the best Confession you can and enjoy the peace that comes from knowing you’re in the state of grace.
 
Hello Humble Lady. Welcome back to the Church.:tiphat:

I agree with other posters on getting a good Examination of Conscience. I would like to add the importance of praying to the Holy Spirit to help you to know yourself, your sins and to make a good Confession. This has always helped me over the years. I also recommend praying to the Saints as they also had to go to Confession. I always get help from Saint Therese of Lisieux and Saint Jude and my patrons Saints Peter and Paul. God bless.
 
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