First confession.....interrupted..[question]

[esieffe]

Hi all.

I am a convert. I have been Catholic for a while now.

I think my first confession might have been a bit stressful for the priest I was with… or… maybe he thought I was taking a little too long? I am not sure. But what I am sure of was the priest cut me off mid-sentence, and told me to say the act of contrition, and absolved me.

I told all of this to my RCIA Director. It puzzled him. I told him I really wasn’t finished and I was pretty sure the priest knew that. My Director then told me that everything I had on my list has been absolved. I had a five page or so list. So I tore the list up in tiny pieces and threw it in the trash.

Question 1 . I am pretty sure the list was complete but not a 100% Is the Director correct? Was everything on that list absolved?

Question 2.The first confession is supposed to be complete. Did that have any weight or effect on the Rites that followed including first communion etc.?

Thanks everyone.

 

[otjm]

Hi all.

I am a convert. I have been Catholic for a while now.

I think my first confession might have been a bit stressful for the priest I was with… or… maybe he thought I was taking a little too long? I am not sure. But what I am sure of was the priest cut me off mid-sentence, and told me to say the act of contrition, and absolved me.

I told all of this to my RCIA Director. It puzzled him. I told him I really wasn’t finished and I was pretty sure the priest knew that. My Director then told me that everything I had on my list has been absolved. I had a five page or so list. So I tore the list up in tiny pieces and threw it in the trash.

Question 1 . I am pretty sure the list was complete but not a 100% Is the Director correct? Was everything on that list absolved?

Question 2.The first confession is supposed to be complete. Did that have any weight or effect on the Rites that followed including first communion etc.?

Thanks everyone.

This is a question which is best answered by your confessor. I don’t know what was on your list - nor do I want to know. Thus I can only speculate (as well as anyone else who answers in this thread). It may be that you wrote down individual sins - let’s take theft for an example.

The seriousness of a theft is best left to a longer discussion - with your pastor or Director - but suffice it to say not all thefts are serious (mortal) sins. The only ones you must confess are mortal sins. And many, if not most priests do not want a blow-by-blow account of each and every one of them. It would normally suffice to say “I have stolen money from my employer in amounts over (pick a figure - $20? $50? $100?) 3 times.” If you had added each time you walked out with one of your employer’s pens in your pocket, there would be good reason to cut you short - although an explanation might have helped.

Your list may have included matters which were wrong, but not morally wrong. Or it may have included matters which are minor - referred to as venial sins.

There are 10 commandments and 7 precepts of the Church (some of which parallel the 10 Commandments). 5 pages would seem to be over the top.

You are to be commended for your desire to reconcile with Christ. Fine tuning may be in order, and you would do well to ask ask your Director, or better, your pastor, for some guidance.

Keep in mind that priests are people - just like everyone else. They have their good points and like all others, their faults; their bad days, their better days. He might have been a bit more helpful to you in shortening your time, but I suspect that he had his reasons.

 

[otjm]

This is a question which is best answered by your confessor. I don’t know what was on your list - nor do I want to know. Thus I can only speculate (as well as anyone else who answers in this thread). It may be that you wrote down individual sins - let’s take theft for an example.

The seriousness of a theft is best left to a longer discussion - with your pastor or Director - but suffice it to say not all thefts are serious (mortal) sins. The only ones you must confess are mortal sins. And many, if not most priests do not want a blow-by-blow account of each and every one of them. It would normally suffice to say “I have stolen money from my employer in amounts over (pick a figure - $20? $50? $100?) 3 times.” If you had added each time you walked out with one of your employer’s pens in your pocket, there would be good reason to cut you short - although an explanation might have helped.

Your list may have included matters which were wrong, but not morally wrong. Or it may have included matters which are minor - referred to as venial sins.

There are 10 commandments and 7 precepts of the Church (some of which parallel the 10 Commandments). 5 pages would seem to be over the top.

You are to be commended for your desire to reconcile with Christ. Fine tuning may be in order, and you would do well to ask ask your Director, or better, your pastor, for some guidance.

Keep in mind that priests are people - just like everyone else. They have their good points and like all others, their faults; their bad days, their better days. He might have been a bit more helpful to you in shortening your time, but I suspect that he had his reasons.

And by the way, welcome home!

 

[truetofaith]

I believe in not omitting any mortal sins…but a 5 page list???

No wonder the priest interrupted you.

 

[esieffe]

Thanks everyone.

I am sure it was double spaced! It was hand written. Add to that 40, years of sins? Five pages doesn’t seem too large to me for a first confession. Clearly what I was doing before I became Catholic wasn’t working out too well, or I wouldn’t have become Catholic.

I have a good long term memory. [Short term memory is pretty shot!]

 

[brad90956]

All your sins were forgiven. If you still had mortal sins on your list that you did not confess, bring them up at your next confession. If it’s the same priest (or even if it is a different priest), explain the situation to him before you start your confession.

Peace be with you.

 

[truetofaith]

The priest should have told you to summarize your Confession.

 

[exnihilo]

I believe in not omitting any mortal sins…but a 5 page list???

No wonder the priest interrupted you.

You can and should confess venial sins as well. I converted and for my first confession I also had probably a four or five page single spaced list. My wife did as well.

All your sins were forgiven. If you still had mortal sins on your list that you did not confess, bring them up at your next confession. If it’s the same priest (or even if it is a different priest), explain the situation to him before you start your confession.

Peace be with you.

 

[felsguy]

All your sins were forgiven. If you still had mortal sins on your list that you did not confess, bring them up at your next confession. If it’s the same priest (or even if it is a different priest), explain the situation to him before you start your confession.

Peace be with you.

For the benefit of the OP, I agree with this. And please do not be troubled by the general comments I make below.

You** can** and should confess venial sins as well. I converted and for my first confession I also had probably a four or five page single spaced list. My wife did as well.

For the benefit of those in RCIA or otherwise who will be making their first confession sometime in the future, I wish to point out that this is quite contrary to the advice given to to those preparing to make their first confession by our pastor and I suspect by most confessors.

Venial sins can be confessed at during the reception of the sacrament, first or otherwise. Should however implies an obligation and there is no such obligation. Furthermore the time and effort to compile and confess such an extensive list, in my opinion, is not only impractical but also suggests a misunderstanding of sin and the sacrament and would likely be “interrupted” by many if not most confessors.

---

And just to clarify, because there must be a confession of sin for the valid reception of the sacrament, in the absence of mortal sin then venial sin(s) would “have” to be confessed.