First confession in 20 years

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Renegade8408 said:
Needing some encouragement. I have an appointment for my first confession in nearly 20yrs tomorrow. I’m so nervous and scared. I want to go and need to go but worry about messing it up. I was a proselytizing satanist for 16 years and I know that is not something most priest have dealt with. Honestly it would be easier to confess to murder than to what I have done. Ive been going through an examination of conscience using the 10 commandments and am guilty of nearly every sin on the list more times than I can count. I have started writing them down but trying to put a number to it is beyond what I can remember. I could go in with a short book and still leave things out. Do I put it off until I can remember more? Is the Priest going to freak out? How do they handle it when some/many of the sins have caused excommunication (and were done aware of this fact)?

Somebody please give me some encouragement. I’m scared!
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That’s so wonderful you are going to Confession. Think of how happy Jesus is about that. Don’t worry about the priest because he will only be happy you came back! It will be a time of mercy, and our human weakness and the devil can frighten us but keep praying when you’re afraid. Say “Jesus I trust in You”.

When I became Catholic my Confession was super long. Regarding number of times for sins… If you remember a number, you can say it… If you can’t at all, because it was frequent, I think its permissible to say something like “a few times a week for x number of years” or another approximation of a number. Maybe you can ask the priest about that… Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Our Lord is only looking for honesty and repentance. If you.don’t know how to say it and are trying your best to.explain and to say how many times, God accepts that. He is not harsh. Just be honest to what you remember and frequency.

Its totally normal to forget things. If you remember things after your Confession, they’re already forgiven, but you need to say them in your next Confession.

As for the excommunicable offenses, if its something reserved to the Bishop or Rome, ask the priest about that right at the beginning. Then he would make sure its lifted in the way they do this and then you can confess. It would need to be lifted first. Some faculties he might have and if there’s something he doesn’t, he would obtain the lifting of the excommunication. Its all done in a way protecting anonymity from what I remember reading. This can sound overwhelming but its something I think the priest just does himself.

This must be so overwhelming for you… Don’t be afraid. After my first Confession in the Church I felt so clean inside I couldn’t even believe it. It brings such peace. Then you can receive Our Lord who desires to come to you. Even if the priest hasn’t heard some of these things, he is there to bring pardon from God and he will approach it with mercy… God looks on us with infinite compassion and mercy in the confessional… God bless you
 
You can’t mess it up! Your confessor will help. In fact he’ll probably enjoy just having you back in the fold as it were! Good luck.

I skipped for abot 50 years!
 
Do not fear the cleansing from sin. Rather, fear dying in a state of mortal sin. Have you repented? Are you contrite for those sins? Then, there is nothing to worry about. God has a burning desire to forgive you. Make a short list, as others in line also need to confess. “Too many times to remember” is a valid listing.

As our Lord said: **“I say to you that, even so, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just who have no need of repentance.” ** You confess for yourself, but your confession will cause the angels in heaven to sing praises!

The Sacrament of reconciliation: Priceless.
 
There’s no messing up…you’re there to get the mess cleaned up! 🙂

I will be praying for you at that hour.
 
Renegade

Welcome home!

Remember. The Sacrament of Reconcilliation is not about putting the penitent on some type of legalistic trial paradigm these days. That was pre Vat 11. And then for a while later. The Sacrament is today more about the Love, Mercy and Forgiveness of God compared with a type of trial ( list of sins), absolution and penance.

God loves us far more then we can reciprocate as weakly creatures. The Sacrament of Reconcilliation is where we bring ourselves back into the Love of God, we remember how much God does Love us, and we are moved to an inner acceptance of God’s Love for us. As we acknowledge our sinfulness. And are absolved and forgiven.

Sacraments are celebrations. You are about to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconcilliation. How wonderful!
Christ is right there with the Priest. This celebration is about what Jesus does for us.

(All taken from a recent reading on what the Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconcilliation is all about today. Thanks be to The Holy Spirit for continuing to guide and teach the Holy See. )
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Edited to add, you don’t have to remember how many times for each of the sins. Just say “many times” or “a few times”. Just get through the list as quick as you can. The priest isn’t going to want or need a big explanation.

If you forget anything, that’s fine too as long as you didn’t leave stuff out on purpose. Anything you forgot and happen to remember later, you can go again next week and mention it then.
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I just thought I’d add… My understanding is that for grave sins we should say more of an exact term… Something at least to indicate a number… Such as “a few times a month for two years”. Just the best we can do. Sometimes its really hard to find a number… The length of time and generally how often can help to indicate it…
 
Roseeurekacross said:
Renegade

Welcome home!

Remember. The Sacrament of Reconcilliation is not about putting the penitent on some type of legalistic trial paradigm these days. That was pre Vat 11. And then for a while later. The Sacrament is today more about the Love, Mercy and Forgiveness of God compared with a type of trial ( list of sins), absolution and penance.
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Sorry not to highjack this thread… But i think the Sacrament was always about God’s love… PreVII too… Just saying this as a traditional Latin Mass going Catholic. 🙂 The confession part, absolution and even the penance is all His mercy 🙂 its always to heal us…
 
Good luck my friend. It’s nothing to worry about, just have a talk with the priest and tell him what’s on your mind. If you were satanist for 16 years (man thats a long time) the priest will be only too happy that you re back!
 
Renegade8408 said:
Thank you everyone! I feel a bit better. My confession is at 2pm EST tomorrow. I guess what I’m most nervous/worried about is that the priest does not have the authority to handle the excommunication (it is reserved for the Apostolic See) and I don’t know if there is much of a point to anything else. Can he even take the rest of my confession?
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Try not to worry about that! Maybe ask him about this to start with if he needs to obtain permission first. Understandably this might be discouraging to have to wait in this case… But you will still confess, and God knows your heart that you are intending to confess. He is already standing before you with open arms. Don’t worry 🙂 just speak to the priest about it.
 
Pray for the Priest before you go, the Holy Spirit appreciates it. 🙂

BTW, I’ve not been so long away from confession as some, but I remember being nervous when I returned to going fairly regularly. After I walked in and was guided by the Priest it was so comforting. It’s been one of my favorite sacraments since.

As Mother Angelica said, “afterwards go get a pizza!” Essentially, you should have a party. The Saints will be, because you are back in the Fold! 🙂

God Bless you, and He Loves You.

Prayers for you Renegade!
 
OP, I am adding you to my Rosary intentions for this evening.

Dear Jesus, please help the OP to make a good confession. Please reach down and let him know you are running to him with open and loving arms and everything will be all right. Give him confidence and drive all evil spirits away. Please also bless your priest who will hear the confession and give him wisdom and understanding to say just the right things. In Jesus’ Name I humbly pray. Amen.

Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. John Vianney, St. John Nepomucene, St Padre Pio, and St. Faustina Kowalska, please pray for the OP as he makes his way back to God’s grace. Thank you. Amen.
 
Monica4316 said:
Sorry not to highjack this thread… But i think the Sacrament was always about God’s love… PreVII too… Just saying this as a traditional Latin Mass going Catholic. 🙂 The confession part, absolution and even the penance is all His mercy 🙂 its always to heal us…
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Indeed, forgiveness and absolution was there but the paradigm shifted after Vat 11. Pre Vat 11 the Sacrament was about the only thing in the Vernacular. Absolution was in latin. And the paradigm was akin to a trial.

This was addressed in Vat 1I, The Holy See under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, shifted the paradigm to the Eucharist. It is th Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconcilliation now.

Anyways I will type more once the forum moves.
 
We are all sinners, but God in his infinite mercy & love always welcomes us back with open arms. No matter what the sin or how long we’ve been away from him. Remember, you are not going to be telling the Priest anything he has probably not heard before & will indeed hear again. God bless you & welcome home. Praying for your intentions.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
Indeed, forgiveness and absolution was there but the paradigm shifted after Vat 11. Pre Vat 11 the Sacrament was about the only thing in the Vernacular. Absolution was in latin. And the paradigm was akin to a trial.

This was addressed in Vat 1I, The Holy See under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, shifted the paradigm to the Eucharist. It is th Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconcilliation now.

Anyways I will type more once the forum moves.
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I receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation according to the pre-VII way in my parish. I say my sins and then I receive the Absolution in Latin. I don’t see anything wrong with Latin, I love it and that’s why I’m at that parish 🙂 anyways I’d rather not debate! I’m just trying to say that some people really like the traditional way and it’s merciful too, it’s just that the absolution is a different language.

Catholic theology does talk about Confession as a trial but it’s a trial TO forgive us. I don’t think that teaching has changed, even if the focus has shifted to another aspect of it. It was never seen only as a trial, and it’s not taught about as something harsh.
 
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone. I went to confession this afternoon. I’ve never meet such a patient priest. It took almost 4 hours and he even walked me through my penance. Boy do I feel better!!! Even the sky looks more blue! Thanks again to all who encouraged me and prayed!
 
renegade8408 said:
just wanted to say thank you to everyone. I went to confession this afternoon. I’ve never meet such a patient priest. It took almost 4 hours and he even walked me through my penance. Boy do i feel better!!! Even the sky looks more blue! Thanks again to all who encouraged me and prayed!
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🙏🕊️…
 
Renegade8408 said:
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone. I went to confession this afternoon. I’ve never meet such a patient priest. It took almost 4 hours and he even walked me through my penance. Boy do I feel better!!! Even the sky looks more blue! Thanks again to all who encouraged me and prayed!
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Four hours! :eek:

That’s crazy! Crazy good, don’t get me wrong. Welcome home!
 
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