First Time Confession

[aoh7]

Hello Everyone

I have never been to confession. I was baptized Catholic and received my first communion, but never received the sacrament of Confirmation (something I am looking to do this spring).

Over the last 2-3 years I have had a renewal in my Catholic faith (I’m in my mid-20s) and have slowly been introducing and re-introducing myself to the faith. Attending Mass almost daily, getting involved with scripture reading, involving myself with the local parish, etc…

Unfortunately, a nearly 6 month relationship, with a very devout Catholic woman (who I met at church) has ended and our relationship was absolutely chaste and I have come to appreciate the practice of chastity. I have never been to confession and I have such a draw (I know I should have been going the whole time) to receive the sacrament of reconciliation ASAP (the relationship ended a week ago). Frankly I have been afraid to go in the past.

Since I have never been to confession, I surely have a lot sins to confess. I unfortunately lived the life of lust through my college years and in other relationships, among other sins that people commit through their lives.

Basically I am not sure where to start with the priest when I knee before him. I especially would like to go to confession tomorrow morning because I do feel very vulnerable after this break-up to slip back into the life of Sin of the Flesh.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut on how I should tell the priest this is much appreciated. Thank you and God bless.

 

[EasterJoy]

If I take you correctly, your mortal sins and particularly entrenched venial sins will take more time to confess than a regular confession usually would. It is more than likely that your confessor will elect to talk to you at greater-than-usual length about a) how to allow God to heal your guilt and b) how to contend with such serious and long-standing habits of life, not to mention the new temptations that you foresee in your near future.

Make an appointment for this confession, then. Contact your pastor or the priest you would like to have as a regular confessor directly, either in person or by phone. This may take more than one single act of initiative from you. If you catch him in a chasuble, you probably won’t be catching him with his Palm Pilot in his pocket. If you call, the chances are reasonably high that you’ll get his voice mail.

Tell him, “I want to go to confession, but as far as I know, I have never been to confession. If I have, it has been a very long time.** I won’t go into the reasons now, but I’d like to go soon. Could we make an appointment for this?”

If he asks what your hurry is about–he probably won’t, but there are a few priests out there who might–just tell him the truth: “I think I’m coming up on a time of great temptation, and I don’t want to go through it without that grace.”

Even a priest who is cavalier about how promptly one confesses mortal sins (and there are some who are not in a big hurry about it, at least not once the desire to repent is there) will probably recognize this as a good reason to get you onto his calendar promptly.

If he puts you off, with or without a good reason–enough funerals in one week, and any priest can become hopelessly overbooked very quickly–feel free to call another parish, a local monastery, or a local retreat center, and ask for help in securing an appointment with another priest.

In the meantime, there are some good resources for examination of conscience on the internet, including, if I’m not mistaken, CA. Don’t show up without having done some preparation, first. It will make a huge difference.

God be with you, and praise to Him for drawing you to Himself in this way!

(**Why do I put it this way? Because it recognizes the unfortunately high number of Catholics who did make a First Confession before receiving their First Holy Communion, but have forgotten the experience because it was prepared for too quickly and was never repeated.)

 

[melinda_s]

hi i was in a simular situation last year had completed rcia but no confession i only made my first confession last year i approached our priest about it he gave me a couple of books to read and then i made an appointment confession that’s what i would recommend for you but just go and talk to your priest about it i was so nervous about talking to him about it but now i’m so glad i did