Could I go to confession?

[revoless]

A bit of background before we begin: I was baptized within the Catholic church, but raised outside of it, and was therefore never confirmed. I have, however, been researching extensively for something like two years (I like to make sure I’m terrifyingly informed before I make any life-altering decision), and am therefore fairly knowledgeable about the Church.
One day while reading the CCC I noticed that one must go to confession before one can be confirmed. I never thought too much about it, because previously I had known I was not able to make a proper confession (this is why I haven’t entered RCIA thus far). I always felt I was too attached to my sin to confess it legitimately. But now I’ve started to remedy that, and I have a question.
Would it be possible for me to go to confession even if I don’t know when I’ll be confirmed? I hate the thought of having this much sin on my soul. I know it’s holding me back from any further spiritual development. I hate that I’m offending God so much as I am currently, and wish I could offer some sort of formal atonement beyond my current regrets. Would that be licit, and if so how would I go about it? I fear I’d take up a good amount of time, so it doesn’t seem right to go at the scheduled time, even if I am allowed to partake in the sacrament.
Any advice or knowledge to share about this? It’s hard to find resources for people in my position, and I’m not sure what I should or can do.

 

[surfinpure]

As is my understanding, since you have received the sacrament of baptism within the Church, you are officially a member of the Catholic faith, so it seems there is nothing at all to stop you from now participating in the sacrament of reconciliation. In fact, I think most Catholics would encourage you to do so! Even if you’re not ready for RCIA (although it sounds like you are certainly close), confession can be a powerful experience and a great help to you. I don’t know of any priest who would turn you away.

revoless:

A bit of background before we begin: I was baptized within the Catholic church, but raised outside of it, and was therefore never confirmed. I have, however, been researching extensively for something like two years (I like to make sure I’m terrifyingly informed before I make any life-altering decision), and am therefore fairly knowledgeable about the Church.
One day while reading the CCC I noticed that one must go to confession before one can be confirmed. I never thought too much about it, because previously I had known I was not able to make a proper confession (this is why I haven’t entered RCIA thus far). I always felt I was too attached to my sin to confess it legitimately. But now I’ve started to remedy that, and I have a question.
Would it be possible for me to go to confession even if I don’t know when I’ll be confirmed? I hate the thought of having this much sin on my soul. I know it’s holding me back from any further spiritual development. I hate that I’m offending God so much as I am currently, and wish I could offer some sort of formal atonement beyond my current regrets. Would that be licit, and if so how would I go about it? I fear I’d take up a good amount of time, so it doesn’t seem right to go at the scheduled time, even if I am allowed to partake in the sacrament.
Any advice or knowledge to share about this? It’s hard to find resources for people in my position, and I’m not sure what I should or can do.

 

[Liberian]

revoless:

Would it be possible for me to go to confession even if I don’t know when I’ll be confirmed? I hate the thought of having this much sin on my soul. I know it’s holding me back from any further spiritual development. I hate that I’m offending God so much as I am currently, and wish I could offer some sort of formal atonement beyond my current regrets. Would that be licit, and if so how would I go about it? I fear I’d take up a good amount of time, so it doesn’t seem right to go at the scheduled time, even if I am allowed to partake in the sacrament.
Any advice or knowledge to share about this? It’s hard to find resources for people in my position, and I’m not sure what I should or can do.

revoless,

surf(name removed by moderator)ure is absolutely right; I would encourage you to go to confession, even if you have no idea when–or even if–you are going to get confirmed. It would be entirely licit.

If it’s going to take a lot of time, you can call your local Catholic Church and make an appointment with the priest. I’ve not done this myself, but I see posted in church bulletins regularly “Confessions at (fill in the time) or by appointment.” As for how to do it, the priest can guide you through it. My confessions usually go something like this:

(Me, kneeling in front of a screen) Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
(Priest, from behind the screen) (some words of encouragement to make a good confession)
(Me) It has been (fill in) since my last confession. Here are the sins that are on my conscience: (list) For these, and for all my other sins which I do not now remember, I am truly sorry and I ask God’s pardon.
(Priest) (pronounces the absolution and gives me a penance to do) Now say the Act of Contrition.
(Me) (reads Act of Contrition from a card that is sitting in front of me in the confessional)
(Priest) Go in peace.
(Me) Thank you, Father.

• Liberian

 

[Mysty101]

Hi,

If you have never received any sacraments after Baptism, I believe you must have instructions before you do anything. It would be best to call the Rectory & get the correct answer.

If you are hesitant to make an appointment, perhaps you could go to Church at the scheduled confession time, and just speak to the Priest and ask your question. If you need preparation before the actual sacramental confession, you could at least receive a blessing, and some factual advice on how to proceed…

God bless you!!

 

[ImperialPhoenix]

revoless:

A bit of background before we begin: I was baptized within the Catholic church, but raised outside of it, and was therefore never confirmed. I have, however, been researching extensively for something like two years (I like to make sure I’m terrifyingly informed before I make any life-altering decision), and am therefore fairly knowledgeable about the Church.

I guess I am not the only one whom was a cradle Catholic but fell out at a young age. Right now I am too researching before making a life time comitmet.

One day while reading the CCC I noticed that one must go to confession before one can be confirmed. I never thought too much about it, because previously I had known I was not able to make a proper confession (this is why I haven’t entered RCIA thus far). I always felt I was too attached to my sin to confess it legitimately.

Well, it is true that you do need to be in a state of grace to be confurmed. I to have not made a confesson yet. largely cause I was never instructed and afraid of what the priest would think of me. Thankfully, the priests in the confessional are also bound to the same confedendiality rules as psychologists have.

But now I’ve started to remedy that, and I have a question.
Would it be possible for me to go to confession even if I don’t know when I’ll be confirmed? I hate the thought of having this much sin on my soul. I know it’s holding me back from any further spiritual development. I hate that I’m offending God so much as I am currently, and wish I could offer some sort of formal atonement beyond my current regrets. Would that be licit, and if so how would I go about it? I fear I’d take up a good amount of time, so it doesn’t seem right to go at the scheduled time, even if I am allowed to partake in the sacrament.
Any advice or knowledge to share about this? It’s hard to find resources for people in my position, and I’m not sure what I should or can do.

Since you are baptized into the Catholic church, as others said in this thread, you are technicly a member of the Catholic church regardless if you fallen to agnostism, protistant, etc and return later in life. So in fact you can go to a confesson eather by the posted date in your local parish or by appointment. My choice would be to scedual an appointment with the priest. Mainly its a personal reason so that the priest himself can aid me in the confessonal since I to never had been instructed in the faith and the sacrements.

I know that both of us would need to make a General confesson of sins of the past since, I myself dont remember all of the sins I have comited after I fell. .

 

[bogeyjlg]

All are welcome to the Sacrement of Confession. When you go into the confessional simply tell the priest your current spiritual situation.

 

[ImperialPhoenix]

bogeyjlg:

All are welcome to the Sacrement of Confession. When you go into the confessional simply tell the priest your current spiritual situation.

Can you elaborate on that? Since what comes to mind is what state of instruction you have or have not recived

 

[Mysty101]

bogeyjlg:

All are welcome to the Sacrement of Confession. When you go into the confessional simply tell the priest your current spiritual situation.

Are you certain about this? as I said before

If you have never received any sacraments after Baptism, I believe you must have instructions before you do anything. It would be best to call the Rectory & get the correct answer.

 

[bogeyjlg]

ImperialPhoenix:

Can you elaborate on that? Since what comes to mind is what state of instruction you have or have not recived

All the Christain faithful are welcome to recieve the sacrement.

Can. 991 Every member of the Christian faithful is free to confess sins to a legitimately approved confessor of his or her choice, even to one of another rite.

One who is not baptized must recieve baptism first (baptism gives all the blessings and graces of confession and more but is only to be recieved once).

As per the meaning of Christian Faithful it technically refer’s to all desireing to be Catholic and Catholics themselves.

I am sorry for the horrible explanation I gave earlier. I was in haste. I have and uncle who is a priest who has instructed me on the matter.