Do you ever feel drawn to go to Confession?

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Typically, most Catholics roll their eyes when the priest announces a penance service with Confessions following or when he announces that more people need to go to Confession (which is rare, but…) So, does anyone ever feel the need to go? I actually kind of do right now. I am going tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m so relieved afterwards, and I won’t really feel “hypocritical” when I receive Holy Communion.

Does anyone else ever feel this way?
 
Yes. I have a love-hate relationship with Confession. Hate everything leading up to it. Love the freedom and other gifts that come from the sacrament.
 
Yes and I’m not yet Catholic. I really would like to go but I can’t. I pray in our local parish on Adoration nights. One night I went to our local parish. (They always keep it unlocked) I went with a heavy heart to pray. I was all alone (very late at night). I’d always wanted to see what the room was like (Confession) so I walked in and turned the light on to see. The pull to confess was strong. I sat in the chair there and noticed the Act of Contrition laminated there. I really didn’t do anything…just wanted to see the room and then left. The last priest here said when he left that he wished he could have convinced more of his parish to go. He said so few went. Do most Catholics feel you don’t go unless you’ve committed a mortal sin? I’m sure it would be so good for everyone given the world we live in mortal or not?

But yes, I feel drawn.

mlz
 
Yes! I can usually tell when I am due, even though I don’t mark the calendar. I feel the need to go every month or so, and feel a little guilty if I wait longer.:o
 
I’d love to go to Confession more than once every six months; I’d go every couple of weeks if I didn’t find the whole process so. . . . awkward and uncomfortable. I love the Sacrament of Reconciliation and my last confession was literally life-changing. . . it’s fantastic, but I’m just too stubborn to get myself to go as much as I want! I think it has to do with my mental condition and my issues with expressing my feelings to people, so since I’m getting better at it, I bet I’ll find it easier to go to confession whenever I want. For the past few weeks I’ve really felt a strong pull to go as well. Pray that I finally make it! 😃
 
I feel a drawing to go to Confession when I am aware that I have fallen yet again short of loving God and neighbor. I am blessed that my confessor will allow me to confess as often as I need to. I usually go once a week, maybe more depending on what the circumstances are. I find out that if I go without going to Confession for one week, I am pretty much lost and am struggling greatly. It is a great help to go to Confession and confess one’s venial sins, the graces from this Sacrament are priceless. I cannot imagine not going to Confession at least once a week. I think on the time I used to go maybe once a year, and well I am thankful that God has changed me.

God bless.
 
Absolutely! I feel drawn every time I believe I am in mortal sin. Even when it has been a week or so and I know that my venial sins have piled up I feel the need to confess. To me there is nothing more healing than the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
 
When I was young I was very poorly catechized about many things, the Sacrament of Reconciliation being among them. As a result I picked up a very Protestant view of the sacrament which only got more negative when I eventually became estranged from the Church for a number of years. When I finally came back to the faith it was a gradual process of rediscovery, learning, and acceptance of the Church’s teachings. Coming to understand the need and the greatness of the Sacrament of Reconciliation took time, but once I finally understood it I was “hooked”. I began to recognize my own sinfulness more easily and fell in love with this sacrament of healing that our Lord gave us. I now go to confession as often as I need to, which is typically weekly or bi-weekly.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an amazing gift.
 
Definitely. I feel the longer time between confession, the more I find it easier to slip into sin.

I wish my Priests were available more. They’re always telling me that I am “too harsh” on myself for confessing more than once a year. If I could, I would go once a week on a Friday. As it is, I try go once every 2-3 months or when I am aware I have committed a mortal sin.
 
I am absolutely drawn to confession, mostly due to the fact that I am also drawn to sin. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is, after the Eucharist, the best thing the Church has going in my view. Its such a powerful sacrament and so clearly illustrates God’s mercy and the redemption that Jesus Christ came to achieve for us.

I was scared to death before I went to my first confession. Now, it is one of my favorite things. I don’t particularly enjoy the act of telling my darkest sins to another person or even penance for that matter, but I sure enjoy God’s love and the grace that comes with it.

As it stands, I go once a week on average sometimes it is a bit longer in between but usually it is right at a week or so.

My parish is one that many traditionalists would probably have some concerns with (risen Christ behind the altar, lots of Marty Haugen music in the 10 AM Mass, not a particularly beautiful building, etc.) however, the priests and deacons preach the Gospel truthfully, the catechists teach straight from the catechism, and there is a LONG line for confessions every Sat afternoon. Our’s start at 3:30 PM and on most days, they are not able to get them all in before the 5:00 PM vigil Mass. In fact, my wife and I were there two weeks ago and there were probably 15 people that could not get through before Mass started. On more than one occasion, I have seen our other priest get called in for Sat afternoon confession due to the number of people waiting. I see this as a VERY positive thing.

Peace,
 
jwinch2 said:
I am absolutely drawn to confession, mostly due to the fact that I am also drawn to sin. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is, after the Eucharist, the best thing the Church has going in my view. Its such a powerful sacrament and so clearly illustrates God’s mercy and the redemption that Jesus Christ came to achieve for us.

I was scared to death before I went to my first confession. Now, it is one of my favorite things. I don’t particularly enjoy the act of telling my darkest sins to another person or even penance for that matter, but I sure enjoy God’s love and the grace that comes with it.

As it stands, I go once a week on average sometimes it is a bit longer in between but usually it is right at a week or so.

My parish is one that many traditionalists would probably have some concerns with (risen Christ behind the altar, lots of Marty Haugen music in the 10 AM Mass, not a particularly beautiful building, etc.) however, the priests and deacons preach the Gospel truthfully, the catechists teach straight from the catechism, and there is a LONG line for confessions every Sat afternoon. Our’s start at 3:30 PM and on most days, they are not able to get them all in before the 5:00 PM vigil Mass. In fact, my wife and I were there two weeks ago and there were probably 15 people that could not get through before Mass started. On more than one occasion, I have seen our other priest get called in for Sat afternoon confession due to the number of people waiting. I see this as a VERY positive thing.

Peace,
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I think that once you get into the habit of it, you realize that it’s not as bad as it seems.

The only part about it that I don’t like is when there is a bunch of awkward silences whenever I can’t think of something. Sometimes my mind just goes blank after the “Bless me Father, for I have sinned” part. :o
 
CatholicZ09 said:
The only part about it that I don’t like is when there is a bunch of awkward silences whenever I can’t think of something. Sometimes my mind just goes blank after the “Bless me Father, for I have sinned” part. :o
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You must be living a holier life than I am! I don’t seem to have that problem… 😉
 
trmyjs said:
Yes. I have a love-hate relationship with Confession. Hate everything leading up to it. Love the freedom and other gifts that come from the sacrament.
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Oh my gosh, my sentiments exactly.

Hate it—everything leading up to kneeling at the screen.

Love----my lighter heart, knowing I am loved, and getting another chance to do right.
 
There’s no eye rolling at my parish, there’s a crowd at the penance services. During the school year my pastor hears confessions during the religious education time on Sunday mornings as well as on Saturday afternoon. And he was in the confessional on the Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week from 7pm until there were no more people waiting. The first night he was there until 10pm.

I think a lot depends on the priest and how much he can motivate the people in the parish.

A couple years ago I volunteered in New Orleans after Katrina. I visited a town across Lake Ponchartrain where the parish had confessions every day! I think St. Mary’s church in Annapolis, MD has confessions before daily mass too.

Sometimes I do feel drawn to go to confession but I don’t really like actually doing it.
 
Drawn like a magnet. I go to confession once a week.

Someone else put it well. If I weren’t so drawn to sin, perhaps I’d be less drawn to confession.

Our rector doesn’t do penance services. He thinks they are a waste of time. He’s told me that while leading such a service, he thought after 20 minutes, “I could’ve heard 5 or 6 confessions already.” I told him that I thought the same thing…after 30 minutes into the service, I’m thinking “I could have been absolved and be done by now.”

He did significantly increase the available confession times during Lent and especially Holy Week. In fact, he’s added as a regular thing, confession for 45 minutes, during adoration and before benediction, on Thursday evenings (added to our regular Saturday afternoon time). Word is getting out and the lines are long 👍

He also does confessions for us at retreats, and once a month for confirmation classes, scheduled at the same time as class.
 
I go once a week. More if needed.

My parish also has confessions every day for about 45 minutes, and also on Saturday afternoon, and before one of the Sunday Masses (the EF Mass :D). And it get’s bumped up before easter and christmas to twice a day every weekday. 👍👍👍
 
I love everything about confession. From being drawn to it, to being relieved of the weight of my sins. I love the feeling of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me when I’m in confession.

Jesus g
 
It is Our Father Who brings us to His Son in confession. On His Mighty left arm He bears our sins, and with His Right brings our salvation (Jesus). This Holy urge is from The Holy Mighty One.

peace
 
So, I went tonight, and I feel SO much better. I felt really “alive” so to speak whenever I received Our Lord in the Eucharist. I got pretty emotional.

The event that I went to tonight was a World Youth Day sending-forth Mass for those going to Spain in August. This band had a “praise” concert before Mass, and the priests were in the back in empty pews waiting for confessions. So, I’m sitting there giving a confession while the loud praise music is blaring. When it came time for the Act of Contrition, I went brain dead because of the music.

Luckily I had my sins written down. If not, I would have lost my train of thought numerous times. :o
 
trmyjs said:
Yes. I have a love-hate relationship with Confession. Hate everything leading up to it. Love the freedom and other gifts that come from the sacrament.
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I totally agree!! I notice that I start getting the draw to go after a few weeks and then I normally go… Oh it’s time to go to confession. I always notice that the priest I get is the one who has the words I need to hear.
 
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