First Confession

[CMcLaurin]

I’m enrolled in the RCIA, beginning this August, and because I’ve yet to be confirmed, I was wondering If I could receive the sacrament.
I know I have made some terrible and sinful mistakes, and because of my weakness to sin, it is hard for me not make an act of Perfect Contrition. I’d like to receive my First Confession soon.
My question is thus; If I am not confirmed, and I haven’t begun RCIA yet, may I attend Confession and receive absolution? If not, what would you recommend I do to receive forgiveness of my sins?
I, of course, do not doubt the power of Our Lord to directly forgive me, but I realize I have, by my sins, placed a rift in our relationship.

 

[space_ghost]

yes you can go to confession… speak to the priest first and let him know your situation… and welcome to the healing waters of the sacrament of penance… Come on in…the water is fine…

 

[larryo]

space ghost:

yes you can go to confession… speak to the priest first and let him know your situation… and welcome to the healing waters of the sacrament of penance… Come on in…the water is fine…

I second that! By all means, get to Confession and be rid of your anxiety.

 

[JimG]

First Confession is normally given as part of the RCIA process, toward the end. But ask your priest about it. It may be different at your parish.

JimG

 

[whit]

JimG:

First Confession is normally given as part of the RCIA process, toward the end. But ask your priest about it. It may be different at your parish.

JimG

I have some difficulty with all these answers. Confession is a Sacrament. The Catholic Church does not just go about handing out it’s Sacraments willy nilly to non Catholics. They are meant only for those who know and believeand accept all the tenets and dogma of the Church and are members of the Church.

JMcLaurin hasn’t even started RCIA yet. I don’t have problems with his wanting to receive the Sacrament of Confession/Reconcilition/Penance as he seems to really believe that it does cleanse his soul which is wonderful. But there is a lot more to being Catholic than that.

He, in the meantime can say a “Perfect” Act of Contrition, ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness, say the Rosary and/or the Divine Mercy just as added things to do to help to quell his anxiety(but NOT as penances). But I do not think that he can go to confession quite yet.

I am a cradle Catholic so have not gone thru RCIA but I think that they have to request entry into the Church in one way or another, possibly with a signed letter of Intent. Again, I don’t know , but I think it is doubtful he can do it just yet.

JMcLaurin, God bless you and if you are reallly sorry for your sins and tell that to God I feel confident that He will have mercy on you. And yes, go see a priest and talk to him about your anxieties in this regard. But make sure you go to a priest you know to be orthodox in his views. You might also look into this aspect as far as the parish and i’ts RCIA program too. You want to make sure you are being taught correctly.

Welcome on your journey to the Truth. It is a wonderful journey. It’s sometimes difficult but always worth it. And it is just so good to know that you are finally home.

Whit
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, misere nobis.

 

[JimG]

whit:

I have some difficulty with all these answers. Confession is a Sacrament. The Catholic Church does not just go about handing out it’s Sacraments willy nilly to non Catholics. They are meant only for those who know and believeand accept all the tenets and dogma of the Church and are members of the Church.You are right. After re-reading the original post, it’s not even clear whether or not CMcLaurin is baptised. The “not Confirmed yet” part led me to believe that he was.

In any case, those who have already been baptized generally received the Sacrament of Reconciliation as one of the final steps in the RCIA process before being Confirmed and Receiving the Eucharist.

JimG

 

[CMcLaurin]

Yes, I, CMcLaurin, have been Baptized.
I did indeed receive my First Confession today, my Priest is very orthodox and was helpful. He had no problem with me receiving confession and did inquire as to whether or not I was Baptized before hand. I accept ALL Catholic dogma, that I know of and that I don’t-- the Church is the Church.
Worry not, I do understand the importance of the Sacraments, and do intend to enter into the Church this Spring.

 

[whit]

CMcLaurin:

Yes, I, CMcLaurin, have been Baptized.
I did indeed receive my First Confession today, my Priest is very orthodox and was helpful. He had no problem with me receiving confession and did inquire as to whether or not I was Baptized before hand. I accept ALL Catholic dogma, that I know of and that I don’t-- the Church is the Church.
Worry not, I do understand the importance of the Sacraments, and do intend to enter into the Church this Spring.

CMcLaurin,

Sorry for the mess up on your name. And Kewl. Glad you were able to get it done. Congratulations. I know how good it feels.
God bless.
Whit

 

[SOGFPP]

CMcLaurin,

Having been confirmed this past Holy Saturday, this is something that I had to deal with myself…

Being too late to this thread (I see you already went to confession) I will just post what I was instructed.

I was told by a Vice-Chancellor of in Diocese that I was FORBIDDEN to go to confession.

The reason:

1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

To go to confession before confirmation would violate the teaching above the the “unity must be safeguarded”…

I am glad, however, that you got to go and seem happy about it. I am very happy for you and I will pray for you as you come closer to the Eucharist. My first communion changed my life and It fills me with such joy that others can experience the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ! What grace awaits you!!

Your friend in Christ,
Scott

 

[guse]

I entered the Church at this past Easter Vigil. Those of us who were baptized, received confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. We, RCIA, went to confession during Holy Week. How could we have received communion without having gone to confession first. Also, don’t Catholic children receive First Communion before confirmation. A few months ago at confession there were a few young children who needed to go to confession because they were making their first Communion that weekend.

 

[Shari]

guse:

I entered the Church at this past Easter Vigil. Those of us who were baptized, received confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. We, RCIA, went to confession during Holy Week. How could we have received communion without having gone to confession first. Also, don’t Catholic children receive First Communion before confirmation. A few months ago at confession there were a few young children who needed to go to confession because they were making their first Communion that weekend.

I am being confirmed on August 8th, and I wanted to have my confession heard a long time ago, but I had to wait. My priest heard my first confession a month before my first communion and confirmation. In the RCIA program it is generally done the week before your confirmation/ first communion. As far as Catholic children receiving communion before confirmation, this would be correct and they are supposed to go for first confession before first communion. However in some diocease they are going back to the older ways and having first communion and confirmation together.

 

[Melonie]

SOGFPP:

1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the “sacraments of Christian initiation,” whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For “by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

This is only for people coming into the Church who have never been baptized. CMcLaurin has been baptized and is enrolled in RCIA so that he can join the Church during next Easter vigil – as a Christian from another denomination would, not as you did.

The unity that must be safeguarded is that all three of these must be present in order for one to fully belong to the Church – it does not mean they all must occur at the same time.

 

[mercygate]

whit:

I have some difficulty with all these answers. Confession is a Sacrament. The Catholic Church does not just go about handing out it’s Sacraments willy nilly to non Catholics. They are meant only for those who know and believeand accept all the tenets and dogma of the Church and are members of the Church.
Welcome on your journey to the Truth. It is a wonderful journey. It’s sometimes difficult but always worth it. And it is just so good to know that you are finally home.
.

Dear C: Indeed. One is admitted to the Sacraments only after one is prepared. How do you know: you are “prepared” when the Priest responsible for your formation (even if you are being formed by a lay person) deems you to be ready. I urge you to accept this period of waiting as a gift. Take this opportunity to review your conscience – first in light of what you KNOW you have done wrong, then against the standard of the Commandments, then against the stadard of the Beatitudes. Taken in small bites – perhaps 30 minutes a day over a period of weeks or months, you will come to a profound relationship with the God who loves you and calls you to himself. Do not be hasty with this. St. Ignatius of Loyola and John Henry Newman both found general confession a deep centerpoint in their overall conversion. You are working with the sin & grace of a lifetime. Don’t rush it. And don’t be surprised if you find your whole life – grace history as well as sin history – taking a new shape as you prepare yourself under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit.

You might wish to consider making your general confession at a place where people specialize in this: I hear Passionists have a particular ministry. Ask around.

I did mine during a week of silence and solitude with the Desert Father at The Hermits of Bethlehem in the Heart of Jesus in Chester, NJ. Best day of my life!

God bless you, my friend.

 

[mercygate]

SOGFPP:

CMcLaurin,

To go to confession before confirmation would violate the teaching above the the “unity must be safeguarded”…

So, at a confirmation in your parish, do they take the already-baptized who are completing their initiation out for confession after they have been confirmed and before the Consecration?

What about all those 9-year-olds in white dresses? They’re not confirmed. Presumably, because they are Catholics, they are exempt from the Confirmation-before-Communion rule?

 

[SOGFPP]

Hi all,

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.

For the record, I don’t agree with not having been able to go to confession first.

I just posted the explaination I was given.

I called 13 different parish priests before I found one that was willing to hear my confession.

Most responded with " confession is for Catholics, and you’re not Catholic yet."

Oh well, I am happy that most of you out there did not have to go through this. I was in tears thinking about taking the Eucharist with YEARS of sin under my belt ( I am 33) … it just seemed so wrong to me.

Looks like I was right after all… thanks everyone!

Peace,
Scott