First confession

[asd72]

A question, especially for Priests on the forum.

When I do my first confession would my Priest think it strange if I wanted to go to another Parish to do it?

My Parish has just the one Priest, and I meet with him each week for RCIA. I just don’t think I could handle the embarrassment and shame of what I have to confess.

Also when does first confession usually take place for someone being confirmed at Easter Vigil?

 

[jmcrae]

Also when does first confession usually take place for someone being confirmed at Easter Vigil?

At some point during Lent. Normally it takes place during an RCIA Retreat; if not, then it would take place shortly after you receive instruction on this Sacrament. Sometimes the Candidates are advised to make their First Confession at the parish Service of Reconciliation for Lent, if it takes place close enough to the date when you are being received into the Church.

 

[NCatholic]

Hi - I converted a few years ago and felt the same way you do. My situation was a little different because I didn’t have to go before hand (I hadn’t been baptized). However, I did end up going to my parish priest for my first confession a short time later and it was fine. I was really nervous and embarrassed, too, but I have never regretted it. After all, he knew me and it was easy to talk to him, even about how scared and embarrassed I was. I had thought he might act differently towards me afterwards, but he didn’t. As far as whether you can go somewhere else, I think you could, but I don’t think you should. That’s just my opinion. Also, in my parish, those that are required to go to confession before confirmation go on Holy Saturday. Hope this helps. Peace.

 

[YoungTradCath]

A question, especially for Priests on the forum.

When I do my first confession would my Priest think it strange if I wanted to go to another Parish to do it?

My Parish has just the one Priest, and I meet with him each week for RCIA. I just don’t think I could handle the embarrassment and shame of what I have to confess.

Also when does first confession usually take place for someone being confirmed at Easter Vigil?

You can confess to any priest you please.

When does confession first take place? Well if you’re already baptized, you could go confess today if you want to. Or you can confess whenever they start telling you to do so. If you have any mortal sins, you need to confess as soon as possible anyways.

 

[KenChute]

You can confess to any priest you please.

When does confession first take place? Well if you’re already baptized, you could go confess today if you want to. Or you can confess whenever they start telling you to do so. If you have any mortal sins, you need to confess as soon as possible anyways.

I wish this was true, but unfortunately not. Depends what the mortal sin may be. A Priest may deny confession.

 

[triumphguy]

Follow the RCIA process, and maybe ask to talk to your priest about your request. Tell him you will feel embarrassed.

It’s amazing how that feeling goes once you’ve been through confession with a priest, even one you know.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

At some point during Lent. Normally it takes place during an RCIA Retreat; if not, then it would take place shortly after you receive instruction on this Sacrament. Sometimes the Candidates are advised to make their First Confession at the parish Service of Reconciliation for Lent, if it takes place close enough to the date when you are being received into the Church.

I recommended that my RCIA people attend the penitential service, but go to confession at another time. Confessions at the service tend to be hurried. You need unpressured time to discuss matters with your confessor.

You are always free to go to any priest of your choice. First priority is that you feel at ease with the priest, so can freely discuss anything with him. While I have usually gone to priests I know, many of our office staff grab at the opportunity to confess to a visiting priest or go to another parish [parishes here are only a couple of miles apart.]

 

[jmcrae]

I recommended that my RCIA people attend the penitential service, but go to confession at another time. Confessions at the service tend to be hurried. You need unpressured time to discuss matters with your confessor.

I agree with this, and actually in my opinion, it makes the best sense to organize a Retreat for the Candidates and their sponsors in which they can be encouraged to go to Confession, and to have enough priests so that no one notices if anyone is taking “a long time.”

 

[CatholicZ09]

I like the advice above about going to a different confession from the penitential service. I went to the Advent penitential service about three weeks ago, and it was kind of “hurried” to get everyone done like Joe said. I went to Saturday confession three weeks before that service, and there was no one there, so the priests weren’t rushing things. I also just went again this past Saturday, and there was no one there either.

If you would feel comfortable with a certain priest, request that you go to that priest. It is important that you can confide in your confessor. I know that if I wasn’t comfortable with my confessor, I probably wouldn’t confess the sins that needed to be confessed. Just also remember that even though the person to whom you confess is different, the person that the priest is representing is always the same - Jesus Christ.

Also, RCIA candidates will usually confess sometime in Lent. I think at my parish they set aside a special date for RCIA confessions so that everyone is “in the same boat.”

Good luck on your journey home!

 

[BigDave31]

Hi, take it easy and try to relax. When I had to go to my first confession they had a special night to go. There were 15 of us that had been baptized already and the church had 4 different priest to confess to. I watched to where each priest had gone and had the chance to go to a priest I felt comfortable with. He was an older priest ans weas a great choice. He made me feel so comfortable. Now it is just so great to go to my regular parish priest. He gives good advice and I feel so good upon doing my confession.

 

[asd72]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I think I will just wait till my Priest brings up my first confession, and tell him I prefer to confess elsewhere and hope that he is OK with that. I can’t see there being a retreat or anything like that, I am the only one in RCIA at my Parish.

 

[deayalas]

What are some of the possible reasons that a priest would deny a first confession?

Thank you.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

What are some of the possible reasons that a priest would deny a first confession?

Thank you.

The only one I can think of is that he thinks you have not had enough instruction yet to have a good understanding of the sacrament.

 

[deayalas]

Thank you Joe. I have not experienced this but was curious anyway.

The only one I can think of is that he thinks you have not had enough instruction yet to have a good understanding of the sacrament.

 

[TrueLight]

I asked my priest if I could go to confession anywhere and he said, “Sure. You don’t have to confess to me” and he sort of grinned.

So I did confess elsewhere. No way was I going to confess years of sin to this priest who had been instructing me and no doubt saw me as a very holy woman.

 

[TrueLight]

What are some of the possible reasons that a priest would deny a first confession?

Thank you.

When I was being instructed I wanted to confess early on, having already been baptized, but my priest wanted to finish this book on Catholic morality he had me reading. I guess he wanted to make sure I had that down before doing my first confession.

 

[puzzleannie]

A
My Parish has just the one Priest, and I meet with him each week for RCIA. I just don’t think I could handle the embarrassment and shame of what I have to confess.

Also when does first confession usually take place for someone being confirmed at Easter Vigil?

For someone being confirmed at the Easter Vigil (already baptized) first confession should be whenever you are ready, but before that celebration. YOu may for instance confess now, and then probably again at least once during Lent. YOu must be in the state of grace to receive confirmation and first communion.

Shame and embarassment are healthy, normal and appropriate emotions to have when approaching confession, and lead to compunction and contrition so don’t apologize. It would be very strange if our sins did not cause us to feel that way. But yes you may confess to any Catholic priest in any church.

 

[asd72]

For someone being confirmed at the Easter Vigil (already baptized) first confession should be whenever you are ready, but before that celebration. YOu may for instance confess now, and then probably again at least once during Lent. YOu must be in the state of grace to receive confirmation and first communion.

Shame and embarassment are healthy, normal and appropriate emotions to have when approaching confession, and lead to compunction and contrition so don’t apologize. It would be very strange if our sins did not cause us to feel that way. But yes you may confess to any Catholic priest in any church.

I didn’t realize I could confess now. I think I am going to do some further study in this area, speak to my Priest, and get on with it.

Just to be sure, I wasn’t baptized Catholic, is that still OK.

 

[puzzleannie]

I didn’t realize I could confess now. I think I am going to do some further study in this area, speak to my Priest, and get on with it.

Just to be sure, I wasn’t baptized Catholic, is that still OK.

if you have been baptized yes you confess before your confirmation and first communion for the reasons I said. If you have been instructed in the sacrament of confession and Christian morality, and feel ready to examine your conscience and confess, you are ready, but you should ask the priest and RCIA director, they may also be planning a penance service for you and your group, probably in Lent.

 

[asd72]

What was the name of the book on Christian morality your Priest had you read Truelight? Was it particularly good/ helpful?