Confession

[scapularkid8]

This is a great insight. And you are right: only God can really say if my Confession was invalid or not. Still, I don’t think telling me that it wasn’t means that you are Pharisaical. I would count it better so that next time I won’t make the same error!

you don’t even have to count. you just say “one time” “a couple times” or “multiple times”. He just needs to know if this sin is a vice for you or not basically.

Glad I could help. I was in your shoes a few years ago so I know what it’s like to worry about Confession

 

[Image_of_God]

you don’t even have to count. you just say “one time” “a couple times” or “multiple times”. He just needs to know if this sin is a vice for you or not basically.

Glad I could help. I was in your shoes a few years ago so I know what it’s like to worry about Confession

Thanks. I will use what you told me when I go.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I DID IT!!! I met with my pastor today at 11AM. I started out by explaining my fear of confession through tears. He then asked if I would like him to open up the sacrament of confession to which I said yes & then I said the things I have been carrying around with me for soooo long now. I know the words will not do it justice but God was there in that room with me! I felt a rush move through my body, this power, this movement & the weight of all of it was GONE.
To the people out there who are in the same boat as myself I advise you to go! Find someone you are comfortable with & make your confession.
I am a new person…thank you all again for your support & suggestions.

That’s so wonderful to hear. I’m happy for you and happy for those you will influence through your experience. Many blessings.

 

[promethius]

no! that’s the beauty of Confession, he doesn’t need to know any details at all. Just what happened and how many times. That is IT. He may ask questions to assess your personal situation, but he’ll only ask for the information he needs and the rest is irrelevant. You can just say “impure thoughts/lust, multiple times”. The end!

Actually, some detail may be required as to characteristics about the person involved. Say this fantasy is about your own brother’s wife or otherwise could or has caused some scandal… certainly involved there is some greater degree of culpability. It ultimately depends on the situation.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Actually, some detail may be required as to characteristics about the person involved. Say this fantasy is about your own brother’s wife or otherwise could or has caused some scandal… certainly involved there is some greater degree of culpability. It ultimately depends on the situation.

In that case you could say a relative. I would omit any detail that would identify other parties. You are to confess your sins; not theirs.

 

[scapularkid8]

Actually, some detail may be required as to characteristics about the person involved. Say this fantasy is about your own brother’s wife or otherwise could or has caused some scandal… certainly involved there is some greater degree of culpability. It ultimately depends on the situation.

I politely disagree. The sin to be confessed for then would be scandal or adultery along with lust. You don’t have to mention anything else…at least this is my experience with Confession and I’ve never been told “you’re not being specific enough”

I could be wrong though.

 

[Shin]

About numbers and details:

We are required to confess the number of our grave sins, and if we do not know the number then the duration and general frequency, and if we do not know that we give our best honest idea to the Confessor.

The most important thing is to be upfront and honest as to the number of sins and their gravity and the state of our recollection of them – including as any details that change their weight (aggravating mitigating) or species (if one is married or a priest, a sin of lust is worse than for the unmarried for example so one must mention that), but not unnecessary details – this especially applies in regards to sins which can be occasions of sin to recall.

There are a few excuses for incomplete confessions that are acceptable but these are of the emergency and temporary type – i.e. they only put it off. I.e. a person who can only confess poorly because of a language barrier, etc.

See quoted book on Confession here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=316096

 

[jmcrae]

Ok. I won’t overthink it, but I have another question to ask (sorry about the many questions).

If, let’s just say, I fantasized about someone. Am I obligated to state to the priest who I fantasized about or at least what kind of person they are in relation to me or what kind of job they have?

No, and in fact in the case of sexual sins, the less detail, the better - we don’t go to Confession to teach the priest how to sin.

If it were me, I would just say, “I indulged in an impure fantasy about someone I know,” and then move on.

 

[mhuff1]

I DID IT!!! I met with my pastor today at 11AM. I started out by explaining my fear of confession through tears. He then asked if I would like him to open up the sacrament of confession to which I said yes & then I said the things I have been carrying around with me for soooo long now. I know the words will not do it justice but God was there in that room with me! I felt a rush move through my body, this power, this movement & the weight of all of it was GONE.
To the people out there who are in the same boat as myself I advise you to go! Find someone you are comfortable with & make your confession.
I am a new person…thank you all again for your support & suggestions.

This is WONDERFUL! :extrahappy:

If it makes you feel any better, I cry when I’m confessing too. I went to my first confession after 10 years about two months ago. The minute I sat down, the tears started. Then again on my 2nd visit (1st saturday of Lent) I started crying again. My friend says that it’s good to cry because it cleanses the soul. So I like to think that I’m cleansing my soul as I’m confessing my sins.