Confession

[figaro845]

OK, to clear things up, I’ve done nothing illegal that would needed to be reported to anyone!!! I guess I have the run of the mill sins most people have. I have a history of trust …in what you say will come back to be used against you. Priests are human too ,despite people reminding me they are acting in the person of Christ.I live in a small town and it’s hard to find a priest to really trust. I could always drive to a large town and find some priest I’ll probably never see again or one who doesn’t speak English well!!

 

[Pacbox]

I live in a small town and it’s hard to find a priest to really trust. I could always drive to a large town and find some priest I’ll probably never see again or one who doesn’t speak English well!!

If you have to drive to another town to see another priest for confession, do so. Just because you have a local priest available doesn’t mean it’s the best option. I live in a small town as well and the parish here only has the one priest. I had been going to this priest but after some serious issues with the priest and the parish, decided to go to another parish for confession. There is nothing wrong is searching for a good confessor outside your own parish.

 

[jpjd]

Just to give you an example of how priests forget what they’ve heard…I recently went to confession to my regular priest who knows me very well. During the confession, I referred to something I had told him in a previous confession, and he couldn’t remember what it was I had told him then! At first I was a little put out that he had forgotten about it, but then I realized, not only is that what a good priest does, but on a practical level, priests hear many, many confessions every week. It just is not possible to remember it all.

So, truly, don’t feel like the priest will remember what you say, much less use it against you. Your confession is just one grain of sand on the beach.

 

[myers]

Welcome to the Church!
I too used to have a problem with confession even though I was raised a Catholic all my life. After a conversion experience in which I met Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a personal way my fear went away. I started to see confession as the great gift to the Church that it is. It is an opportunity to receive not only forgiveness in a very tangible way, but also to receive grace to avoid those sins in the future. I can honestly say that there have been many times where I have sensed the presense of Jesus very strongly, so much so that the priest just seemed to disappear. I think what helped was the realization too that the priest stands in persona Christi ( in the place of Christ). It does say in the bible as well James 5 :16 “Confess your sins to one another so that you may find healing.” I pray that the Lord shows you the great gift of this sacrament and that you go often. Our Lady in various apparations speaks of monthly confession. It certainly helps to keep you on the right spiritual track. God Bless!!

 

[Catholig]

Concerning with holding information about mortal sins that one has commited I found a biblical verse that fits the situation pretty accurately.

Acts 5:1-10

But a certain man named Ananias, with Saphira his wife, sold a piece of land, 2And by fraud kept back part of the price of the land, his wife being privy thereunto: and bringing a certain part of it, laid it at the feet of the apostles. 3But Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan tempted thy heart, that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and by fraud keep part of the price of the land? 4Whilst it remained, did it not remain to thee? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied to men, but to God. 5And Ananias hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost. And there came great fear upon all that heard it. 6And the young men rising up, removed him, and carrying him out, buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8And Peter said to her: Tell me, woman, whether you sold the land for so much? And she said: Yea, for so much.** 9***And Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10Immediately she fell down before his feet, and gave up the ghost. And the young men coming in, found her dead: and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.

Catholig