Confession question

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New Catholic here…it seems like when I go to Confession, it’s usually one thing at a time. Then there’s a silence, and it feels like there should be more (God forbid-that would be more sin), but it’s only ever one thing when I go. What do I say when I’m finished to let the priest know I’m done?
 
Simply say: “These are the sins I can remember Father” or “For these sins and all my sins I am truly sorry.”
 
For venial sins one is free to choose even “one thing” one is contrite for and intending to work on to do better.

And of one has only one mortal sin - that is all one is* obliged *to confess. (one is only obliged to confess mortal sins - and they are confessed “all at once in one confession” and in number and kind).

You may benefit from a little longer examination of conscience (maybe even use a written guide (see CA shop.catholic.com/tag/product/list/tagId/56/ or Sc scepterpublishers.org/collections/free-pdf-booklets/products/making-the-most-of-confession)
 
At the end, to let the priest know I’m finished (and to cover any venial sins or sins I’ve forgotten) I say “for these sins and all my sins I am sorry.”

When you say “one thing at a time” do you mean you are confessing only one sin? Just say “for this sin and all my sins I am sorry.”

If you mean that you are saying one sin and then waiting for the priest to respond before saying the next sin — just say all your sins at once, like a list, and end with the above phrase.

Hope that helps!
 
New Catholic here too! I usually only have one or two things to confess - I’m far too boring to get into any mortal sins, but I have had times where venial sins get habitual and hard to break, and that’s what I take to Confession. The priests who have heard my confession have been very helpful in that they address each sin as I confess it, and then ask “anything else?”

I think, especially as a new Catholic, one of the things I struggle with is the idea that there must be a “right” way to confess. When I was attending WYD, I went to Confession and before anything else said “I’m sorry, I’m a new Catholic and I’m not very good at this.” The priest hearing my Confession said, “Nobody is good at this, and that’s okay. The point isn’t to be good at it.” It was one of the most beautiful and reassuring things I’ve ever heard.
 
I feel you.

It’s really awkward for me, because I’ll end off with “um…yeah” and there’ll be 3 seconds of awkward silence before he starts talking :o
 
I say…
“And those are my sins. I am sorry for these and all of my sins.”

Then the priest knows I’ve finished my confession.
 
“For these and all my sins, including those I may have forgotten, I am truly sorry. Please give me your counsel, penance and absolution, Father.”
 
casslean said:
I’m far too boring to get into any mortal sins,
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I know you are joking, however I would still encourage you to not think that way. Satan wants us to think that committing a mortal sin is “exciting”. Nothing could be further from the truth!
 
I say, “I am sorry for these sins and all the sins of my past life.”
 
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