Do you cry during your confessions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter StJudePray4Me
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

StJudePray4Me

Guest
Am I in the minority? I always become very emotional during confessions. Saying my sins out loud is difficult emotionally, and I find that I often become too overwhelmed to remember everything I wanted to say, lol! My confessor is very gentle, and he is kind to me, but I find that he tends to kind of “wrap it up” for me when I falter or am silent for a few moments. I am usually trying to get myself together and continue, or to remember the other things on my “list.” But I confess (ha!) that I am usually relieved when he intervenes, as I can get out of the hot seat, so to speak.

Anyone got any advice? To clarify, I do not wail or weep uncontrollably, I just tend to cry tears and have a hard time speaking. I do not have a problem with scrupulosity, I just am sensitive. I also tend to cry during certain hymns and at Christmas and Easter Masses.

Thanks, folks!
 
Up until a few years ago I almost never went to confession(maybe 8 times in my life).

Several years ago I had 2 so called confession(s) not being sure what I was doing.

I had the chance to experiance adoration for I beleive for about the third time in my life(The first I had no idea what it was), the priest offered confession afterwards.

That confession was one of the most amazing experinses in my life. And yes I did cry like a little baby.

I am a 34 year old male.
 
StJudePray4Me said:
Am I in the minority? I always become very emotional during confessions. Saying my sins out loud is difficult emotionally, and I find that I often become too overwhelmed to remember everything I wanted to say, lol! My confessor is very gentle, and he is kind to me, but I find that he tends to kind of “wrap it up” for me when I falter or am silent for a few moments. I am usually trying to get myself together and continue, or to remember the other things on my “list.” But I confess (ha!) that I am usually relieved when he intervenes, as I can get out of the hot seat, so to speak.

Anyone got any advice? To clarify, I do not wail or weep uncontrollably, I just tend to cry tears and have a hard time speaking. I do not have a problem with scrupulosity, I just am sensitive. I also tend to cry during certain hymns and at Christmas and Easter Masses.

Thanks, folks!
Click to expand...
I cry sometimes, but most of the time I don’t. I’ve gotten misty-eyed around the time of communion. Only advise I have is to write your sins down and read it off during confession.
 
Make a list with one or two words that will assist your recall, but not disclose your sins if the list is discovered by another. Take it into the confessional and read from it, that will allow you to express all of your concerns.
As for crying, it is always good to cry when you know you are a sinner, but GOD in HIS mercy is restoring your soul to HIS Kingdom. After your confessional, say a prayer for the benefit of HIS priest, whom HE has sent to hear our confession.
 
I cry when I can’t go to confession. Does that count? I am generally subdued during the actual confession, not feeling anything but shame for my deeds or lack of deeds.
 
Many has been the saint who shed holy tears before God over his or her sins. This is definitely not a bad thing!

You may want to do your examination of conscience out loud in private, before you go to confession, maybe even daily. Once you have gotten used to the sound of the words coming out of your mouth, you may be better able to say them without losing it in the confessional. This way, when you can have the experience of shedding your tears where only God can see them, and then repeating the sins soberly for your confessor. In that way, you’ll both have the experience of expressing compunction freely when it is time to do that and the experience of allowing yourself no self-pity as you recite your sins, when it is time to do that. Both have their place in the spiritual life, and both can be had.
 
ZDHayden said:
I cry when I can’t go to confession. Does that count? I am generally subdued during the actual confession, not feeling anything but shame for my deeds or lack of deeds.
Click to expand...
I hope you mean guilt, and not shame. Shame is a form of self-hatred, essentially a version of Pride. As such, it is taught to us by the devil. Guilt, on the other hand, is an awareness that we have chosen to be a prodigal, in spite of our identity as sons and daughters of the Lord. Sometimes it is correct; sometimes it is not.

I mean to say that guilt is a feeling, an emotional awareness. It is not an inerrant moral compass, and it need not be felt in order for contrition or repentance to be true. Indeed, a sociopath, a person who lacks an emotional conscience, is still capable of making sound moral choices and of turning from sin. It is far harder to turn from sin when you can’t feel bad about it, but it is possible. OTOH, we have all felt guilty about doing things that were not only OK, but ethically necessary.

What is important is that the person understand right from wrong, act accordingly, and continually form her conscience by prayer and education concerning what God wills, so as to conform to God’s perfect Will, choosing virtue and rejecting vice to the best of his or her ability.
 
I cry every single time. I usually warn the priest about to hear my confession that I do this! I have never had one of the priests try to hurry me onward. They have just handed me a tissue and waited. I also cry at times during the Consecration and reception of the Holy Eucharist. I cry every Good Friday during nearly the entire service. I cry when I touch the Cross which houses the sliver of Wood from the True Cross. I even cry during a few particular meaningful (to me) songs. Do you get the idea that I cry a lot? lol

I have asked one priest and one sister about this. They both stated I have a “gift of tears” and that it was a holy thing and to not be ashamed of it. 🙂
 
Razz(name removed by moderator) said:
I have asked one priest and one sister about this. They both stated I have a “gift of tears” and that it was a holy thing and to not be ashamed of it. 🙂
Click to expand...
I agree, absolutely. Holy tears are a great consolation. I would go so far as to say this: remember that the day may come when you go through a period of dryness. The tears may evaporate without warning. This could be very distressing, if you are not ready for it. Hold those tears in reflection, like a canteen in preparation for the desert. In this way, if the Lord ever wills to lead you through a dry time with no tears, you will have your shoes on.
 
I typically cry during absolution. The awesome grace of God forgiving me :rolleyes: for being a bonehead sinner always leaves me awestruck.

~Liza
 
Jesus,our Lords peace be whit You.
It is not wrong,stupid,weird or any other things if You cry during confession,I say it is a good sign,whit tears comes the real need to be forgiven.
Blessings,Totterman
 
Yup, I cry every time. First I feel so sad about offending God, but then I feel so overwhelmed by God’s mercy. How could I not cry? But then, I have found that since becoming a mother, I am much more emotionally expressive. This is a good thing however; because I used to repress emotions, and crying releases emotions and allows me to be more authentic and honest.
 
i cry – it saddens me to have sinned. i repent. i fail. i confess and cry. it is true emotion.
i also cry during Mass at the loving forgiving total giving of Himself that we experience and many take for granted and don’t notice at all.
 
Razz(name removed by moderator) said:
I have asked one priest and one sister about this. They both stated I have a “gift of tears” and that it was a holy thing and to not be ashamed of it. 🙂
Click to expand...
I haven’t been “officially” told this, but I’m pretty sure I have the gift of tears too.
EasterJoy said:
I agree, absolutely. Holy tears are a great consolation. I would go so far as to say this: remember that the day may come when you go through a period of dryness. The tears may evaporate without warning. This could be very distressing, if you are not ready for it. Hold those tears in reflection, like a canteen in preparation for the desert. In this way, if the Lord ever wills to lead you through a dry time with no tears, you will have your shoes on.
Click to expand...
This is beautiful. 🙂
mommamaree said:
First I feel so sad about offending God, but then I feel so overwhelmed by God’s mercy. How could I not cry?
Click to expand...
That’s me too. :yup:
 
Thanks, guys! I guess I have the gift of tears, too!

I laughingly told a friend that I boo-hoo during certain hymns, she said it’s the Holy Spirit. 🙂

I also forgot to say that I have NEVER made it through a first-Friday Mass at my children’s school without filling up. SOmething about those little voices raised up in prayer does it to me every time! The one that gets me the most is the May crowning, when they sing Hail Mary, Gentle Woman. OK, I’m getting a little verklempt just thinking about it!
 
Ahh, what a bunch of big wet sooks 😛 😃

I do get kind of emotional sometimes, while waiting to confess or in the confessional itself. And at other times too, often when I least expect it.

I very seldom cry per se, and haven’t ever done in confession, but I’ve noticed most all of the confessionals around here have big boxes of tissues handy, so it would seem it happens a fair bit.
 
i often weep uncontrollably,yet the priest is very gentle and patient with me. After absolution I feel as if a weight has been lifted yet at times satan throws certain sins back in my face trying to make me imagine they are unforgiven

I asked a very pious lady i attend church with about this and she said that is satans nature,a liar.She said the same thing happened to her,it is just a ploy to get you to turn from God. Satan is the accuser and the adversary always on the prowl seeking the destruction of souls.
 
I’ve only been Catholic for 4 years, and Confession is a hard thing for me. In the past I only went once during Lent. And I cried every single time.

I just went last Saturday in preparation of our marriage this Saturday and I finally did not cry. I felt good about it.

But now I don’t feel so bad to see I’m not weird in crying! 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top