Confession

[ljellybean678]

I don’t feel like I get out of confession what I should. I don’t feel any better after confession, and though I make the utmost attempt to feel sorrow for my sins, I don’t. To me, it feels like a bland recitation of my sins and then it’s over. Do you have any suggestions to help me get more out of confession?

 

[phoenix3212]

I don’t feel like I get out of confession what I should. I don’t feel any better after confession, and though I make the utmost attempt to feel sorrow for my sins, I don’t. To me, it feels like a bland recitation of my sins and then it’s over. Do you have any suggestions to help me get more out of confession?

Don’t worry about it.

Seriously. It really doesn’t matter how much better you feel after confession; if you were actually sorry, your sins were objectively forgiven. When faced with an objective fact, personal feelings do not matter.

You said you made the utmost attempt to feel sorrow for your sins. That’s good enough for a confession. Remorse is not a simple feeling, it’s an act of the will. If you really want to get more out of confession, I’d just advise going more often. You’ll get special graces and strengthen your bond with Christ in a very profound way if you confess on a regular basis.

 

[acadian]

What phoenix said is good advice.

Sometimes when I go, it is almost like a business transaction. I say what I have to say, and he says what he has to say and that’s it. As I have built a “relationship” with my confessor (going every month or two or three for the last couple of years), sometimes I now get advice, and that is always helpful.

Keep at it. The important thing is to acknowlege your sins, ask forgiveness, and receive absolution.

 

[puzzleannie]

I don’t feel like I get out of confession what I should. I don’t feel any better after confession, and though I make the utmost attempt to feel sorrow for my sins, I don’t. To me, it feels like a bland recitation of my sins and then it’s over. Do you have any suggestions to help me get more out of confession?

you don’t have to have any specific feeling as in emotion, what you do need is intellectual assent to all that the church teaches about the sacrament, (and of course about sin and morality) and accept that your sins have been forgiven. You wisely state that feeling sorrow for your sins is part of the problem, so that is where to begin. Again, an emotion is not a required, but an intellectual assent that you know what you did, you know that it is wrong, you know why it was wrong (at least you know why the church teaches it is wrong, even if you don’t fully understand the teaching as yet) and you do not want to offend God in this way.

I have see Fr. Serpa suggest this many times and I think it is sure advice. Meditate before the crucifix upon Christ’s suffering for the sake of freeing us from our sins, and because of our sins.

The daily examen is an excellent way to bring oneself closer to recognizing what is at the root of problems we are having, esp. habitual sins.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

In confession you receive the assurance of God’s forgiveness. After saying your penance, spend some time thanking God for His forgiveness and mercy. Think about what else in your life you can thank God for. I find that prayers of thanks make me more aware that God loves me.