Confession?

[TeenageConvert]

So I’m a teenager(14) in the process of converting to catholicism. Would I be allowed to go to confession? And also, out of curiosity, what is confession like? I mean what exactly do you say in it, do they still have those old confessionals like in the movies? What I see in movies is basicly all I know about confession lol.

 

[jmcrae]

So I’m a teenager(14) in the process of converting to catholicism. Would I be allowed to go to confession? And also, out of curiosity, what is confession like? I mean what exactly do you say in it, do they still have those old confessionals like in the movies? What I see in movies is basicly all I know about confession lol.

A lot of churches have the old style of confessionals like what you see in movies, but there are also “Reconciliation Rooms,” where the priest sits in a chair and talks to you. There are also these combo-pak deals where you can choose either to be behind the screen, or else come out and sit with the priest.

After you’ve received instruction on how to go to Confession from your teachers, then it will be time for you to start going - unless you haven’t been baptized yet, in which case, you’ll make your First Confession after you’ve been baptized, and when you have something to confess.

 

[tbcrawford]

Hi Teenage Convert

the process of reconciliation (confession) is a sacrament.To join the Church you will recieve the sacraments in order.Firstly if you have not been baptised you will baptised first.Then you will be preparing (with instruction) upon how to make your First confession.You will be taught about reflecting upon your conscience and how to make a good confession to Our Lord directly.
All of this will be carefully taught to you.
After you have made your first confession you will be able to attend confession regularly which you will grow to love and cherish I am sure. Most parishes have confessional boxes/rooms but some people prefer face to face.I love going to confession.

Next you will prepare for your First Holy Communion.Depending if there are a few of you in a group or just yourself doing this sacrament it will be very special to actually recieve Our Lord body and blood into your soul.The most wonderful gift Our Lord gave us.

At Easter you will usually be confirmed after being prepared along the way on a course of understanding the precepts of the church and other things I don’t want to overwhelm you with.

It is a very exciting time for you congratulations my friend and God has been calling you,you are blessed.

 

[DavidKays]

So I’m a teenager(14) in the process of converting to catholicism. Would I be allowed to go to confession? And also, out of curiosity, what is confession like? I mean what exactly do you say in it, do they still have those old confessionals like in the movies? What I see in movies is basicly all I know about confession lol.

It is an uplifting experience to give your burdens to another so Confession is like that. God takes all your burdens and relives and refreshes you. Remember the Gospel " Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Confession in a nutshell! I will recommend regular confessions and you may have the option to go to a confessional box or to be opened to the priest. In the Greek Orthodox Church confession is done more openly to the priests. We do not have boxes but I think we do the same thing as the Catholics. We still enter a room with the priest but still isolated from the others. In both Churches confession is vitally important and your time with the priest is between him and you and God and no one is allowed to be there listening to your confession except for the priest. But the Orthodox do know their priest and tend to do confession with more openess and with the same priest so that he may get to know you and offer spiritual direction. Catholics have a choice so that the priest may know who it is or may not know who it is. Either way is OK because what is important is the Absolution and only a priest can give that. In confession it is important not only to confess your sins of commission which most of the people do but it is good to confess your sins of ommission. Sins of ommission are harder to find and to confess yet these will enable you to grow higher in the spiritual life when you confess them then let us say if you only confess sins of commission. Congratulations in becoming a Roman Catholic and celebrating and living the Sacraments to the benefit of your spiritual life. Catholicism has much more to offer and can be the greatest time for your deeper knowledge in Christ Jesus and His Holy Mother. Don’t rush it, take your time and permit God through His Church to lead, guide and teach you.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Thankyou, DavidKays, for all this information from the Greek Orthodox perspective on confession. It is very close to the Roman Catholic, and I see no actual theological differences in the minor differences of practice.

Although the Roman Catholic Church permits one to attend reconciliation with a priest who we don’t know, and to not use the same confessor each time, I believe that we are informally encouraged to try to make our regular confessions with the same priest. I am unaware of any church teaching on the matter, but that is the advice I have received over the years, and have personally put into practice.

I have recently had a bitter experience which, I felt, illustrates the importance of having a regular confessor. Just recently I lapsed into an habitual sin, and then was regularly confessing it, to an unknown confessor. After a couple of months I asked myself “What is going on here? Why have I gone back to this?” - and then I realized this couple of months was exactly the period that my regular confessor had been away!

 

[DavidKays]

Hi Edmundus! How are things down under? Thank you also for sharing your story and your experience. I too find it difficult when you are switching confessors and keeping to the same one will be a better grace. The confessor you stick with will get to know you and therefore he is in a better place to help you. Although God can speak at times through different confessors by and large you will still receive a greater grace by sticking to the same one. I remember a story about the late Bishop Fulton Sheen when a person came to him in confession and said to him, " You know Bishop these confessions are not doing me any good because I am not getting any better. The bishop with his great wisdom and understanding promptly said to him, " Well you are not getting any worse! " Holding on to your own can be a great grace as well and confessions will help us at least not to get worse. We can slip at times because of weakness but God even permits these so that you will come to Him. The point I am trying to make is that confession will always be there for you in the good times and the bad times. As long as you will make use of this great sacrament God will always grant you that peace that you will need. It can never be wasted. The time you put into it. That is really what counts.