Confession--only second time in a year

[AnchoredInHope]

I joined The Church last Easter Vigil after completing RCIA. I didn’t feel adquatley prepared for my first confession and I bungled my way through it and haven’t been to confession since. I no longer attend the church that I completed RCIA at and have been attending both a local church close to my home and traveling to one that offers a Latin Mass.

I am drawn to the more traditional church and saw that they are offering confessions with multiple priests during Good Friday from 7 pm to midnight. I feel more comfortable going to confession when I know a large amount of other people are (don’t know why, just do)and it appears they still have confessional booths which also make me feel better than face-to-face interaction. But I guess my question/concern is…how can I let the priest know that I don’t know what to do etiquette-wise and to help guide me in a manner that is reverant and respectful? I am a little anxious over doing this but I know I that need to learn and make confession part of my practice.

 

[fliesnow]

Those sort of services tend to draw a lot of people who don’t go to confession particularly often, so the fact that you “don’t know what to do etiquette-wise” won’t be much of a problem, or even unusual.

My recommendation is that you just reread what you are supposed to do (plenty of websites have that information) and let the priest tell you if you make a mistake. Or when you sit down you tell him directly that this is your first confession since RCIA and that you may need a reminder here or there.

Trust me, he will be perfectly happy to guide you.

 

[mVitus]

As filesnow saod, the priest will be happy to guide you through the process and all so feel free to ask him. (He won’t bite.) Overall it’s an easy format. You come into the confessional, he asks you how long it’s been since ypur last confession and what your sins are, you list your sins, he gives you a penance, you say an act of contrition*, and he absolves you.

*This prayer can vary depending on where you are. Odds are there’ll be a card you can read off of.)

 

[Le_Bonvivant]

Just tell the priest what you told us here. Nothing can go wrong.

 

[dshix]

An easy way to begin is:

“Forgive me, father, for I have sinned, it’s been X months since my last confession. I’m rather unfamiliar with the structure of how to go to confession so I’d appreciate it if you could guide me.”

Then let the priest take you from there.

 

[FrDavid96]

…But I guess my question/concern is…how can I let the priest know that I don’t know what to do etiquette-wise and to help guide me in a manner that is reverant and respectful? I am a little anxious over doing this but I know I that need to learn and make confession part of my practice.

Take it from a priest: don’t worry about it. Again, DO NOT WORRY about it.

The priest will know exactly what to do.

Having said that, however, you still have a few weeks until Good Friday. I would suggest doing a little studying in the meantime.

There are plenty of written and online resources for “how to go to Confession.” As far as what you need to actually have committed to memory, there isn’t a whole lot. You can also take a printout of the Act of Contrition (or better yet, a printed prayer card if you have one) in with you if you think you might need it.

Confessionals sometimes have the Act of Contrition where a penitent can read them, but that doesn’t always work, especially if they’re setup temporarily.

I’m sure that there will be more than enough responses here where people will cut-and-paste a quick guide to Confession or provide links. Take some time in the next few weeks to “study” them.

Remember though: even if you arrive and have no idea what to do (other than “I have to confess my sins” of course!) DO NOT BE THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED, the priest will be happy to guide you along.

Also, take some comfort in knowing this: I can assure you that there will be a lot of other people that same day who need the same kind of guidance.

The fact that the pastor has scheduled a full five hour block of time for Confessions means that he takes it very seriously. That’s an outright invitation for people in your situation to come to Confession.

 

[katy]

What FrDavid said I once wandered out of the Church and it had been 15 years since my last Confession and I’d no idea what to do. I told the priest that and he absolutely knew what to do. The priest was from another parish and there was no forcing face-to-face thank goodness. You’ll be fine.

 

[AnchoredInHope]

Thank you all for your replies. I feel a little more confident about it!

I’m assuming when you say to “list your sins” I don’t need to provide back stories or anything but rather to say for example, “I have been envious of others, prideful, had a spirt of unforgiveness…” Is that correct?

Thank you again. I’m still nervous but looking forward to developing my faith better by partaking in this sacrament.

 

[felsguy]

Thank you all for your replies. I feel a little more confident about it!

I’m assuming when you say to “list your sins” I don’t need to provide back stories or anything but rather to say for example, “I have been envious of others, prideful, had a spirt of unforgiveness…” Is that correct?

Thank you again. I’m still nervous but looking forward to developing my faith better by partaking in this sacrament.

Your assumption is correct. In the unlikely case that the priest needs more information he will ask for it.

praying for you in the days ahead

 

[AnchoredInHope]

Wanted to pop in and say thank you to all who helped. I made my confession last night and the priest was very kind to me and encouraging. I have made a resolution to go to confession at least once a month from now on. Final question: I listed all my sins with no pause, is that ok or do I say them one by one in case priest wishes to speak?

 

[dshix]

I have made a resolution to go to confession at least once a month from now on.

Fantastic! Keep that resolution, it will be VERY helpful to your spiritual life.

Final question: I listed all my sins with no pause, is that ok or do I say them one by one in case priest wishes to speak?

That’s fine; if the priest needs to say something, he will.

Personally, I usually put a very slight pause in between separate sins I am telling, so that it is clearer where I am beginning each, and that also gives the priest a chance to ask for clarification.