Confession

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alpslapper

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I have not been to confession for possibly 30 years - maybe more. Yesterday, for the first time in as long, I went to a traditional latin mass. Having come down from the high I felt attending such a beautiful and reverential service, I’m now in a state of anxiety.

I know I HAVE to go to confession before I can receive the Eucharist. Someone here kindly pointed to the fact that next Sunday is Mercy Sunday - a good week to go to confession - BUT, and this is a big BUT - I can’t remember the prayers you say in the confessional AND perhaps most worrying of all, I have no real idea of ALL the sins I have committed over the past 30 years.

Outwardly I don’t live too bad a life as such - but yeaterdays experience at church made me realise just how totally off the rails morally I have been over the last 30 years.

I have sinned, and I mean big time. Sometimes deliberately and willfully. But how can I confess ALL my sins - I cant even remember the half of them :eek:

I have no intention to confessing to this board - you’ll be relieved to hear - but last night really opened my eyes to just how truely awful morally I have been.

If I can’t remember all my sins, and I recieve absolution, am I only absolved for what I have confessed? The other mortal sins remaining so I cant receive the Eucharist??

I’ve started a list would you believe, getting all the biggies down, but 30 years worth - :confused: :confused: :confused:

I’ve gone from a spiritual high, to a moral wreck in less than 24 hours - but it’s strangely a relief to have confronted myself and just how awfulI Ive been.

I never intended this to happen either - it just has :o

Any help or guideance would be greatly appreciated.
 
alpslapper said:
I have not been to confession for possibly 30 years - maybe more. Yesterday, for the first time in as long, I went to a traditional latin mass. Having come down from the high I felt attending such a beautiful and reverential service, I’m now in a state of anxiety.

I know I HAVE to go to confession before I can receive the Eucharist. Someone here kindly pointed to the fact that next Sunday is Mercy Sunday - a good week to go to confession - BUT, and this is a big BUT - I can’t remember the prayers you say in the confessional AND perhaps most worrying of all, I have no real idea of ALL the sins I have committed over the past 30 years.

Outwardly I don’t live too bad a life as such - but yeaterdays experience at church made me realise just how totally off the rails morally I have been over the last 30 years.

I have sinned, and I mean big time. Sometimes deliberately and willfully. But how can I confess ALL my sins - I cant even remember the half of them :eek:

I have no intention to confessing to this board - you’ll be relieved to hear - but last night really opened my eyes to just how truely awful morally I have been.

If I can’t remember all my sins, and I recieve absolution, am I only absolved for what I have confessed? The other mortal sins remaining so I cant receive the Eucharist??

I’ve started a list would you believe, getting all the biggies down, but 30 years worth - :confused: :confused: :confused:

I’ve gone from a spiritual high, to a moral wreck in less than 24 hours - but it’s strangely a relief to have confronted myself and just how awfulI Ive been.

I never intended this to happen either - it just has :o

Any help or guideance would be greatly appreciated.
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Take a breath…now relax. Don’t worry about remembering all your sins. Just confess what you remember. As long as you don’t deliberately leave out any serious sins, anything that you have legitimately forgotten is also forgiven. I also wouldn’t worry about the prayers. When you go in say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been X number of years since my last confession”. Then explain that you are not exactly sure how it works and the priest will guide you through it. Just don’t get all worked up about it and you’ll be fine. Take care.

Eric
 
Fuerza said:
Take a breath…now relax. Don’t worry about remembering all your sins. Just confess what you remember. As long as you don’t deliberately leave out any serious sins, anything that you have legitimately forgotten is also forgiven. I also wouldn’t worry about the prayers. When you go in say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been X number of years since my last confession”. Then explain that you are not exactly sure how it works and the priest will guide you through it. Just don’t get all worked up about it and you’ll be fine. Take care.

Eric
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Ditto.

Also, I suggest going to Confession as soon as possible – unless you have to, there is no reason to wait until next Sunday. Strike while the iron is hot.

God BLESS you!
 
alpslapper said:
… I can’t remember the prayers you say in the confessional AND perhaps most worrying of all, I have no real idea of ALL the sins I have committed over the past 30 years.
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Go here to get the prayers and the outline of how to do it. I also have a short and painless Examination of Conscience attached to that via a link - it’s actually intended for teenagers, but it will get you started until you find one more suited to adults.

Welcome back. 🙂
I have sinned, and I mean big time. Sometimes deliberately and willfully. But how can I confess ALL my sins - I cant even remember the half of them :eek:
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Confess as many as you can remember. Also, you don’t have to go into a great deal of detail - you can say something like, “During the period between age 17 and age 21 I did this and this and the other thing nearly every weekend.”
If I can’t remember all my sins, and I recieve absolution, am I only absolved for what I have confessed?
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The Absolution covers all of your sins, including those that you have either temporarily or completely forgotten. When you remember them, just come back and confess them then, but in the meantime, don’t worry - if you intended to make a good Confession, then they are covered, and you will be reunited into full communion with the Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI. 🙂
 
Welcome back!

The only two ‘Form Responses’ you’ll have to know are:

Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been 30 years since my last confession.

and an act of contrition:

ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/contrit.htm

I’d also look into a ‘general confession’ - it’s a confession for which you must make an appointment with a priest (I’d call your diocesan office for a recommendation of a good general confessor) and he’ll walk you through a good, long, therapeutic confession. A friend of mine who went to a general confession after a life of ‘living like a heathen’ had his life changed - and it’s still changed years later.

If you’re anywhere near the panhandle of Texas I can refer you to a priest who has an amazing gift of healing confessions.
 
Lhhs said:
Bring in a piece of paper, a cheat sheet. That’s okay 👍
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Word. I bring a “cheat sheet” all the time, because I always examine my conscience with pen and paper in hand – writing helps me think, reflect, remember, etc.

Just don’t be surprised if your priest tells you to “burn that” after the confession. 😉
 
I went to confession on Good Friday for the first time in 8 years. I thought I waited a long time, but 30 years? The TLM also inspired me to go to confession. I cried through most of my confession. I was so ashamed of my sins and I was eager to be reunited with God. I also forgot what to do and the priest guided me through it. I was so relieved afterwards. I was still crying but I was so happy to be reunited with God.

I definitely will not wait another 8 years until my next confession. It’s just too painful. Frequent confession is in my schedule from now on.

👍
 
misterbee said:
I’d also look into a ‘general confession’ - it’s a confession for which you must make an appointment with a priest (I’d call your diocesan office for a recommendation of a good general confessor) and he’ll walk you through a good, long, therapeutic confession. A friend of mine who went to a general confession after a life of ‘living like a heathen’ had his life changed - and it’s still changed years later.

If you’re anywhere near the panhandle of Texas I can refer you to a priest who has an amazing gift of healing confessions.
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This is a very good way to do it if you can…I hadn’t been to confession for 12 years and doing it that way really helped me get back into the church. Plus the priest will walk you through the entire thing, and if he is a good priest he can even walk you through the different types of sins if your having a hard time remembering. Plus you don’t have to worry about anybody waiting behind you.🙂
 
I really can’t add much, but just wish to post to say that I was moved by your post and will keep your intentions in my prayers.
 
Just wanted to say that after 30 years …

WELCOME HOME!! :grouphug:
 
Thank you all for your advice, support and prayers.

Well the deed is done - I’ve just returned from confession after all these years.

It was short, simple and painless.

The priest listened attentively, sympathised, spoke some words of counselling, and said he was delighted I had come to confession. No rebukes, no judgements, no gasps of horror 😃

I said I’d examined my conscience as best I could all week leading up to today, but there was bound to be stuff I neglected.

He was totally chilled - saying so long as I truely meant to seek forgiveness for all my sins he could absolve me.

And he did. 😃 😃 😃

What I thought was a bit odd afterwards, was as I was about to say an act of contrition, he told be to go in peace, and say an act of contrition and some other prayers.
I took this to mean outside, so I blesed myself and left the confessional to pray in the church. I hope I didnt do anything wrong there. :eek:

What do I feel like now - well I felt a bit tearful in church afterwards but nothing too dramatic. Now, back home, I feel like Ive had a great weight lifted from me - like Ive had a right good scrub in the bath 😃 Lighter somehow, and more energised.

I’m going back to the church I went to last week for the latin Mass. I can never remember a time in my life, ever, when I actually looked forward to going to Mass. It’s an extrodinary feeling for me.

Thank you all so very much for your kind words, your encouragement, and your friendliness.

God Bless you all.
 
Just wanted to say welcome back! The TLM made me return to confession after several years, too. There is something about this form of the mass that has helped me open my eyes to my sinfulness. Deo Gratias!
 
alpslapper said:
Thank you all for your advice, support and prayers.

Well the deed is done - I’ve just returned from confession after all these years.

It was short, simple and painless.

The priest listened attentively, sympathised, spoke some words of counselling, and said he was delighted I had come to confession. No rebukes, no judgements, no gasps of horror 😃

I said I’d examined my conscience as best I could all week leading up to today, but there was bound to be stuff I neglected.

He was totally chilled - saying so long as I truely meant to seek forgiveness for all my sins he could absolve me.

And he did. 😃 😃 😃

What I thought was a bit odd afterwards, was as I was about to say an act of contrition, he told be to go in peace, and say an act of contrition and some other prayers.
I took this to mean outside, so I blesed myself and left the confessional to pray in the church. I hope I didnt do anything wrong there. :eek:

What do I feel like now - well I felt a bit tearful in church afterwards but nothing too dramatic. Now, back home, I feel like Ive had a great weight lifted from me - like Ive had a right good scrub in the bath 😃 Lighter somehow, and more energised.

I’m going back to the church I went to last week for the latin Mass. I can never remember a time in my life, ever, when I actually looked forward to going to Mass. It’s an extrodinary feeling for me.

Thank you all so very much for your kind words, your encouragement, and your friendliness.

God Bless you all.
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Reading your post made my day. I’m so happy for you.

I have one piece of advise: Try to make weekly confession a habit. It will be very good for your soul.
 
What an absolutely wonderful thing that you have returned to a state of grace! It brought tears to my eyes. This is proof positive of the good fruits of the Traditional Latin Mass - Deo Gratias!

I would like to add that if you recall any mortal sins which you forgot to confess, you must confess them at your next opportunity. And be sure to keep yourself in the habit of confession, at least once a month.
 
What a blessing week for you! and you are right; tomorrow is the Divine Mercy Sunday. Thanks be to God that graces have been poured on you.

I am sure folks who love TLM would be very joyful hearing your great blessings!!!
 
Reading about your experiencing the sacrament of reconciliation after so many years has brought a smile to my face. Welcome back! I am so happy for you!
 
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