P
persevere71
Guest
It has been so long since I have gone , I don’t remember what to do! What am I supposed to say when I first walk in ? I hesitated going for so long because of this but I know it would be good for me
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B
Bookcat
Guest
One would need to confess all the mortal sins one can recall (in number and kind -adultery 4x).
If you do not know the number after you examine your conscience - which can the case if one has been away a while - one can approximate according to what one knows. If one remembers a forgotten mortal sin later - one simply mentions it in the next confession. No worries.
Venial sins are good to confess but one does not need to confess them…and if one has been away for awhile one can be rather more general about them…an no numbers needed for venial sins.
If you do not know the number after you examine your conscience - which can the case if one has been away a while - one can approximate according to what one knows. If one remembers a forgotten mortal sin later - one simply mentions it in the next confession. No worries.
Venial sins are good to confess but one does not need to confess them…and if one has been away for awhile one can be rather more general about them…an no numbers needed for venial sins.
B
Bookcat
Guest
Let us remember Jesus of Nazareth is The Lamb and the Good Shepherd (and let us think of such even daily…)
"Jesus is called the Lamb: He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Someone might think: but how can a lamb, which is so weak, a weak little lamb, how can it take away so many sins, so much wickedness? With Love. With his meekness. Jesus never ceased being a lamb: meek, good, full of love, close to the little ones, close to the poor. He was there, among the people, healing everyone, teaching, praying. Jesus, so weak, like a lamb. However, he had the strength to take all our sins upon himself, all of them.
“But, Father, you don’t know my life: I have a sin that…, I can’t even carry it with a truck…”.
Many times, when we examine our conscience, we find some there that are truly bad! But he carries them. He came for this: to forgive, to make peace in the world, but first in the heart. Perhaps each one of us feels troubled in his heart, perhaps he experiences darkness in his heart, perhaps he feels a little sad over a fault… He has come to take away all of this, He gives us peace, he forgives everything. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin”: he takes away sin, it’s root and all! This is salvation Jesus brings about by his love and his meekness. And in listening to what John the Baptist says, who bears witness to Jesus as the Saviour, our confidence in Jesus should grow. Many times we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! “Lord, look at my life: I’m in the dark, I have this struggle, I have this sin…”; everything we have: “Look at this: I trust in you!”. And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints."
~Pope Francis
vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140119_omelia-parrocchia-sacro-cuore-gesu_en.html
"Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who goes in search of lost sheep, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7; Jn 10:2-4, 11-18). He is the way, the right path that leads us to life (cf. Jn 14:6), the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears (cf. Jn 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).
He is the generous host who welcomes us and rescues us from our enemies, preparing for us the table of his body and his blood (cf. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25); Lk 22:19-20) and the definitive table of the messianic banquet in Heaven (cf. Lk 14:15ff; Rev 3:20; 19:9). He is the Royal Shepherd, king in docility and in forgiveness, enthroned on the glorious wood of the cross (cf. Jn 3:13-15; 12:32; 17:4-5)."
~Pope Benedict XVI
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20111005_en.html
"Jesus is called the Lamb: He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Someone might think: but how can a lamb, which is so weak, a weak little lamb, how can it take away so many sins, so much wickedness? With Love. With his meekness. Jesus never ceased being a lamb: meek, good, full of love, close to the little ones, close to the poor. He was there, among the people, healing everyone, teaching, praying. Jesus, so weak, like a lamb. However, he had the strength to take all our sins upon himself, all of them.
“But, Father, you don’t know my life: I have a sin that…, I can’t even carry it with a truck…”.
Many times, when we examine our conscience, we find some there that are truly bad! But he carries them. He came for this: to forgive, to make peace in the world, but first in the heart. Perhaps each one of us feels troubled in his heart, perhaps he experiences darkness in his heart, perhaps he feels a little sad over a fault… He has come to take away all of this, He gives us peace, he forgives everything. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin”: he takes away sin, it’s root and all! This is salvation Jesus brings about by his love and his meekness. And in listening to what John the Baptist says, who bears witness to Jesus as the Saviour, our confidence in Jesus should grow. Many times we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! “Lord, look at my life: I’m in the dark, I have this struggle, I have this sin…”; everything we have: “Look at this: I trust in you!”. And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints."
~Pope Francis
vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140119_omelia-parrocchia-sacro-cuore-gesu_en.html
"Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who goes in search of lost sheep, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7; Jn 10:2-4, 11-18). He is the way, the right path that leads us to life (cf. Jn 14:6), the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears (cf. Jn 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).
He is the generous host who welcomes us and rescues us from our enemies, preparing for us the table of his body and his blood (cf. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25); Lk 22:19-20) and the definitive table of the messianic banquet in Heaven (cf. Lk 14:15ff; Rev 3:20; 19:9). He is the Royal Shepherd, king in docility and in forgiveness, enthroned on the glorious wood of the cross (cf. Jn 3:13-15; 12:32; 17:4-5)."
~Pope Benedict XVI
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20111005_en.html
D
Don_Ruggero
Guest
First, a word of warmest welcome. Please …DON’T HESITATE. Do not allow not remembering what to do or what to say to hold you back from coming to confession. All of that is really not as important as simply approaching the sacrament. You’ll acquire that part quickly enough, as you frequent the sacrament.It has been so long since I have gone , I don’t remember what to do! What am I supposed to say when I first walk in ? I hesitated going for so long because of this but I know it would be good for me
Your church should have the option provided of going behind a screen, so the priest does not see you nor you him, or of going face to face. This latter is sometimes marked as “reconciliation room” – this is less formal in the ritual and can be a bit more relaxed, although you will see the priest and he will see you.
Whether you go behind the screen or face to face, if you are nervous and do not remember, at the beginning simply tell the priest how long it has been since you have been to confession and that you do not remember what to do and that you need his help. Mention, too, if you are nervous so that the priest can reassure you. We are quite prepared for all this to happen and we guide you through the process!
It is most helpful for you to have made what is called an examination of conscience and made note of what you need to confess…but if for some reason you find yourself unable to do so or feel what preparation you have made is not adequate, mention that to the priest and ask him to help you. This is also normal.
If it has been many years, you might be more comfortable calling the rectory and asking for an appointment to make a private confession – this removes any time constraint, but that is your choice.
The important thing is for you to come home to the sacrament and to experience the mercy of the Lord in and through it.
Here is a beautiful reflection that Pope Francis gave to the confessors of Rome on the occasion of a recent meeting organized to help priests and seminarians to better pastorally minister this sacrament. As His Holiness said, ““How beautiful it is to welcome these repentant brothers and sisters with the blessing embrace of the merciful Father” – and I pray the Lord guides you to just such a confessor. God bless you!
catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/03/13/confession-should-not-be-a-form-of-torture-says-pope-francis/
P
persevere71
Guest
Thank You , I still have yet to go ! I feel like I am dragging my feet . This helped !First, a word of warmest welcome. Please …DON’T HESITATE. Do not allow not remembering what to do or what to say to hold you back from coming to confession. All of that is really not as important as simply approaching the sacrament. You’ll acquire that part quickly enough, as you frequent the sacrament.
Your church should have the option provided of going behind a screen, so the priest does not see you nor you him, or of going face to face. This latter is sometimes marked as “reconciliation room” – this is less formal in the ritual and can be a bit more relaxed, although you will see the priest and he will see you.
Whether you go behind the screen or face to face, if you are nervous and do not remember, at the beginning simply tell the priest how long it has been since you have been to confession and that you do not remember what to do and that you need his help. Mention, too, if you are nervous so that the priest can reassure you. We are quite prepared for all this to happen and we guide you through the process!
It is most helpful for you to have made what is called an examination of conscience and made note of what you need to confess…but if for some reason you find yourself unable to do so or feel what preparation you have made is not adequate, mention that to the priest and ask him to help you. This is also normal.
If it has been many years, you might be more comfortable calling the rectory and asking for an appointment to make a private confession – this removes any time constraint, but that is your choice.
The important thing is for you to come home to the sacrament and to experience the mercy of the Lord in and through it.
Here is a beautiful reflection that Pope Francis gave to the confessors of Rome on the occasion of a recent meeting organized to help priests and seminarians to better pastorally minister this sacrament. As His Holiness said, ““How beautiful it is to welcome these repentant brothers and sisters with the blessing embrace of the merciful Father” – and I pray the Lord guides you to just such a confessor. God bless you!
catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/03/13/confession-should-not-be-a-form-of-torture-says-pope-francis/
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