Frequent Confession, Examination of Conscience, and Focusing on the Positive

[Mary_Ellen]

I go to Confession weekly so the two priests in my parish act as my confessors every other week.

Today Priest B, who usually asks, if he asks anything at all, which of these sins weigh most heavily on you this week/which of these do you want to work on the most? Today he asked what good have you done this week? I was a bit surprised but after just a moment I came up with an appropriate response.

He was glad I could name something and explained that he wanted to make sure that while doing a thorough examination of conscience each week I did not always focus on the negative but acknowledged the good that I have done, as well. I was uplifted to know that he cared so much to give me this advice. I explained to him that I am very conscious of the danger of becoming scrupulous and deliberately keep my confession lists (written) short, that I trust in the Mercy of God, and that I know that the graces received in the Sacrament are helping me overcome my faults, slowly.

There was no one else in line for Confession today and we had a very good, fruitful. albeit short discussion about the value of frequent confession for me. Praise God for holy, wise, and patient priests. Pray for them.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I go to Confession weekly so the two priests in my parish act as my confessors every other week.

Today Priest B, who usually asks, if he asks anything at all, which of these sins weigh most heavily on you this week/which of these do you want to work on the most? Today he asked what good have you done this week? I was a bit surprised but after just a moment I came up with an appropriate response.

He was glad I could name something and explained that he wanted to make sure that while doing a thorough examination of conscience each week I did not always focus on the negative but acknowledged the good that I have done, as well. I was uplifted to know that he cared so much to give me this advice. I explained to him that I am very conscious of the danger of becoming scrupulous and deliberately keep my confession lists (written) short, that I trust in the Mercy of God, and that I know that the graces received in the Sacrament are helping me overcome my faults, slowly.

There was no one else in line for Confession today and we had a very good, fruitful. albeit short discussion about the value of frequent confession for me. Praise God for holy, wise, and patient priests. Pray for them.

What a perfectly lovely post! And what a wonderful experience to have had and also to then share with the readers of this forum.

The Lord’s blessing be upon you and on your vocation as a Lay Carmelite.

 

[TK421]

I go to Confession weekly so the two priests in my parish act as my confessors every other week.

Today Priest B, who usually asks, if he asks anything at all, which of these sins weigh most heavily on you this week/which of these do you want to work on the most? Today he asked what good have you done this week? I was a bit surprised but after just a moment I came up with an appropriate response.

He was glad I could name something and explained that he wanted to make sure that while doing a thorough examination of conscience each week I did not always focus on the negative but acknowledged the good that I have done, as well. I was uplifted to know that he cared so much to give me this advice. I explained to him that I am very conscious of the danger of becoming scrupulous and deliberately keep my confession lists (written) short, that I trust in the Mercy of God, and that I know that the graces received in the Sacrament are helping me overcome my faults, slowly.

There was no one else in line for Confession today and we had a very good, fruitful. albeit short discussion about the value of frequent confession for me. Praise God for holy, wise, and patient priests. Pray for them.

That’s very encouraging.

I haven’t gotten past the stage where I’m always uncomfortable before Reconciliation, but always feel great afterwards. It’s kind of like going to the gym. I haven’t had a bad experience yet, but I still don’t have complete trust in the priest. Trust is hard.

 

[odhiambo]

I go to Confession weekly so the two priests in my parish act as my confessors every other week.

Today Priest B, who usually asks, if he asks anything at all, which of these sins weigh most heavily on you this week/which of these do you want to work on the most? Today he asked what good have you done this week? I was a bit surprised but after just a moment I came up with an appropriate response.

He was glad I could name something and explained that he wanted to make sure that while doing a thorough examination of conscience each week I did not always focus on the negative but acknowledged the good that I have done, as well. I was uplifted to know that he cared so much to give me this advice. I explained to him that I am very conscious of the danger of becoming scrupulous and deliberately keep my confession lists (written) short, that I trust in the Mercy of God, and that I know that the graces received in the Sacrament are helping me overcome my faults, slowly.

There was no one else in line for Confession today and we had a very good, fruitful. albeit short discussion about the value of frequent confession for me. Praise God for holy, wise, and patient priests. Pray for them.

Thank you Mary_Ellen for sharing this with us.
How I would love to go to Cofession weekly, but alas, it is not the case. I often dither; dilly dally, etc and before I know it weeks or even months have passed!
My main problem is examination of concience. Some tell me, use the Ten Commandements to help you in your examination of consience; other say use the Beatitudes. I have used them both at one time or another. I still find it difficult to examine my consience.
This is especially so when there are no huge glaring mortal sins and I tend to forget the small, small sins we commit daily
Would appreciate some help here.

 

[brad90956]

Great post!

I explained to him that I am very conscious of the danger of becoming scrupulous and deliberately keep my confession lists (written) short, that I trust in the Mercy of God, and that I know that the graces received in the Sacrament are helping me overcome my faults, slowly.

This is so true, especially with myself. It’s truly amazing that every time I think I’ve figured every thing out and become filled with pride, God shows me in little ways that I can still do a lot more. He quietly and tenderly humbles me and reminds me to keep moving forward and not to become lazy in my prayer life or works of mercy. He gives me that little “kick in the pants” when I need it most.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Thank you Mary_Ellen for sharing this with us.
How I would love to go to Cofession weekly, but alas, it is not the case. I often dither; dilly dally, etc and before I know it weeks or even months have passed!
My main problem is examination of concience. Some tell me, use the Ten Commandements to help you in your examination of consience; other say use the Beatitudes. I have used them both at one time or another. I still find it difficult to examine my consience.
This is especially so when there are no huge glaring mortal sins and I tend to forget the small, small sins we commit daily
Would appreciate some help here.

I could send you my examen, if you like. The bulk of it is based on the 10 commandments, then the 7 deadly sins, then the Beatitudes, and then a few others. I try to concentrate on just one each week but usually I end up with the 10C’s and Pride/Anger questions. There are more that 700 questions in the whole thing…it’s a work in progress so there are some duplicate questions and some spelling/grammar errors I’ve got to work on but it’s quite thorough.

 

[Anne1964]

Thank you Mary_Ellen for sharing this with us.
How I would love to go to Cofession weekly, but alas, it is not the case. I often dither; dilly dally, etc and before I know it weeks or even months have passed!
My main problem is examination of concience. Some tell me, use the Ten Commandements to help you in your examination of consience; other say use the Beatitudes. I have used them both at one time or another. I still find it difficult to examine my consience.
This is especially so when there are no huge glaring mortal sins and I tend to forget the small, small sins we commit daily
Would appreciate some help here.

I either go to an Adoration Chapel or pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and ask Jesus to show me myself as He sees me and not as I see myself. I was nervous about asking Him that the first few times but it has proven to be very fruitful. I have learned a lot about myself and not just my sins, but also about the good things I do.

 

[odhiambo]

I could send you my examen, if you like. The bulk of it is based on the 10 commandments, then the 7 deadly sins, then the Beatitudes, and then a few others. I try to concentrate on just one each week but usually I end up with the 10C’s and Pride/Anger questions. There are more that 700 questions in the whole thing…it’s a work in progress so there are some duplicate questions and some spelling/grammar errors I’ve got to work on but it’s quite thorough.

Thank you Mary Ellen!
I would have loved for you to send me your “examen” as you call it but more than 700 questions seems rather long. Thank you for the offer all the same.
When I do go to Confession, I tend to do the examination of conscience Sunday mornings in the Adoration Chapel during the one hour allocated to me.

 

[odhiambo]

I either go to an Adoration Chapel or pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and ask Jesus to show me myself as He sees me and not as I see myself. I was nervous about asking Him that the first few times but it has proven to be very fruitful. I have learned a lot about myself and not just my sins, but also about the good things I do.

Hi Anne.
I also do my Examination of Conscience before the Blessed Sacrament but I feel dissatisfied with it and I am still not confessing as frequently as I would like to.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

I often perform my examination of conscience before the Blessed Sacrament, too. I wonder how common that is?

 

[MissRose73]

I often perform my examination of conscience before the Blessed Sacrament, too. I wonder how common that is?

I’ve never done that, but that does not sound like a bad idea at all - doing the examination during adoration.

For the people mentioning issues with examinations of conscience, you can get the Laudate app for free on your mobile or tablet and it gives a good way to examine your conscience plus take you thru the sacrament. I find using that or iConfess helps me, and the few times I used the app in a face to face confession, the priest had no issue with me using it.

 

[puzzledtoo]

Mary_Ellen: Thank you for sharing the encouragement of the priest to also focus on the good you may have done. I quit going to confession right after first communion. I was afraid the priest would tell my folks what I had said(8years old)and then as I go older I was afraid to say the sins out loud.
Now I feel that confession is a good thing but am no longer Catholic or Christian for that matter so it is no longer available to me unless I wish to commit a mortal sin in the eyes of your church. Sometimes I feel like just going in a making a good confession (?) and doing the penance but that wouldn’t bode well for the soul. Again Thank you for sharing.

 

[brad90956]

I quit going to confession right after first communion. I was afraid the priest would tell my folks what I had said(8years old)and then as I go older I was afraid to say the sins out loud.
Now I feel that confession is a good thing but am no longer Catholic or Christian for that matter so it is no longer available to me unless I wish to commit a mortal sin in the eyes of your church. Sometimes I feel like just going in a making a good confession (?) and doing the penance but that wouldn’t bode well for the soul. Again Thank you for sharing.

Why not go back to confession? What is stopping you? Feel free not to share it with us because I know this is a personal issue but I was just curious why you would not go to confession since you feel like going back.

God Bless

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Mary_Ellen: Thank you for sharing the encouragement of the priest to also focus on the good you may have done. I quit going to confession right after first communion. I was afraid the priest would tell my folks what I had said(8years old)and then as I go older I was afraid to say the sins out loud.
Now I feel that confession is a good thing but am no longer Catholic or Christian for that matter so it is no longer available to me unless I wish to commit a mortal sin in the eyes of your church. Sometimes I feel like just going in a making a good confession (?) and doing the penance but that wouldn’t bode well for the soul. Again Thank you for sharing.

Puzzledtoo,

I will pray for you on your faith journey. Please know that you will always be welcomed back to the Catholic Church should you turn back this way.

 

[puzzledtoo]

What I feel like doing is to make a good confession. To say the sins out loud as it were. I believe this can be quite liberating and healing. However there is no desire at least no conscious desire to return to the Catholic church or any Christian church for that matter.
I’m currently trying to read the catechism of the catholic church again and trying to be open minded about what it states. I’m only into it a couple of chapters and already find a few things that I don’t believe. I don’t know really why I bother because I always get to the part with the creeds and stop. I cannot recite them with any semblance of honesty. The creeds seem like basic Christianity 101 and if I can’t believe in them there is no sense becoming a member of any Christian community. So that is why I won’t go to confession-there is no intention to return to the church and therefore wouldn’t be valid anyway. Thank you for your concern and prayers. Yes I know that I’d be welcomed if I did return but it was nice to read anyway. Be well-stay safe.