Going to confession today - and totally freaked out

[MrsMeganMc]

I wanted to thank you all for your kind and encouraging words yesterday.

On the way home from work yesterday, I stopped at a church which has perpetual adoration. I just needed to spend time with Jesus. It felt very good - but was also very difficult, emotionally. I sat there with tears in my eyes the entire time, but I am very happy that I went.

I have decided to attend an evening mass today with confession following (I will obviously not be receiving communion at mass). It is time for me to rid myself of my past sins, and to move forward.

However, I am completely scared. How do you even approach a confession that hasn’t been made in over 6 years? How do I even begin to articulate all of the sins I have committed during this time? What if I get emotional and start crying? I am just so nervous…

Please pray for me, that I may find the strength to make a good confession - and that I don’t chicken out.

Thank you.

 

[DJgang]

I would probably approach it as if it were my first confession…(you know what I mean)… I would tell father that it has been six years and if he wouldn’t mind walking me through the confession.

Or start out with the really big, may be hard to say sins. I find that if I don’t start with those, I’ll talk myself out of saying anything at all.

God bless you and don’t freak out…imagine the weight that will be lifted off your shoulders after confession…

Dana

Edit: I cry everytime I confess, it’s a normal, very human reaction to have when you have hurt someone…especially God!

 

[nicolep]

You will be in my prayers.

While it hasn’t been six years since my last confession, I face a very difficult confession tomorrow. I called and made an appointment at my parish. I’m freaked out as well.

I just keep reminding myself that Jesus wants me to be forgiven. I don’t want to be disconnected from God. It’s going to be rough, but I’ll muddle through.

As far as where to start, just start at the beginning. Tell the confessor how long it has been since you last confessed and run down the list. Trust me, they have heard everything!

 

[Epistemes]

Hello,

Just a bit of advice:

Be sure to mention that it has been six years, and don’t be timid to mention that you *are *nervous. The priest will then allow you to state those things which most seriously affect your conscience, and he may even coach you along. The greatest part about confession, aside from the absolution, is receiving advice from a priest who is in persona Christi (in the person of Christ). Listen to what he says! The advice which my own confessor relays to me time after time continues to astound me!

 

[stbruno]

Instead of dwelling on how apprehensive you are before making a good confession, dwell instead on how good you will feel afterward. It’s a cleansing and a lifting of all those burdens that you have been harboring in your heart for so long. When you make that confession, God takes those sins that you are sorry for and have confessed…and throws them into the deepest ocean and posts a sign …no fishing! So know that this is the best thing you can do for yourself and when you are able then to receive Jesus wholly in the Holy Eucharist…He not only dwells in you, but you in Him and that’s worth it all! God bless you on this next step of your journey to heaven.

God runs out to meet us when we come to him in confession…every time!

 

[baltobetsy]

MrsMeganMc, as mercygate told you, this will be the best day of your life! The more honest and thorough you are, the happier you will be. Say the hard things first, so you don’t chicken out, and the rest will be much easier in comparison.

And think about this - today will be a great day for the priest, too. You are a “big fish!” It’s a thrill for a priest to bring back someone after a long time. He’ll go back to the rectory and have dinner with a nice glow because of your confession.

God bless you - I’m praying for you!

Betsy

 

[DJgang]

Hello,

The greatest part about confession, aside from the absolution, is receiving advice from a priest who is in persona Christi (in the person of Christ). Listen to what he says! The advice which my own confessor relays to me time after time continues to astound me!

To me, the advice that I receive just makes my belief more real that yes, in fact, the priest is in persona Christi and the Holy Spirit is alive in the Sacrament!

Praise be to God!

 

[IronicCatholic]

I will pray for your peace today. I agree with the others–be honest, and they have heard it all before. If you cry, that’s normal too. Frankly, it means you’re contrite–a good thing!

Have to set an appointment for confession after mass? Or is that typical at your parish? If it isn’t, I would call ahead myself…he may have an appointment directly after Mass, and your stress could just multiply.

Peace, peace, peace. Jesus is walking with you on this.

 

[beckycmarie]

Praying for you, Megan.

I went on New Years Eve 2007 to make the first good Confession of my life - so I had 31 years of sin to tell. I made sure to start off by mentioning that to the priest. I had been to Reconciliation 2 times before - once at age 8 and again at age 16, but both times I deliberately held back grave sins, and therefore both Confessions were invalid.

I find that making a list of sins and taking it to the Confessional (then destroying the list afterwards) is helpful. Here is an examination of conscience I’ve used (if you need help making that list.)
Examination of Conscience

Be not afraid. It will feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders when you’re through, and you will come out of the Confessional squeaky clean. My only regret afterwards was waiting so long to go in the first place.

 

[FickleFreckled]

Being scared is sometimes a good thing, although it doesn’t seem like it. Overcoming that fear is part of what will make you feel cleansed and free after your confession. I went without confession for more than 25 years; the first few confessions after returning to the Church scared me half to death. But I felt so good afterwards! I also use a list, even now, but not quite as long as the 4-pager when I came back…the poor priest! Just remember, he - and Jesus - have heard it all before. If you prefer anonymity, stay behind the screen.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

The priests I know love to hear the confessions of those who have been away from the sacrament for a long time. It makes them feel great to know they helped bring back a “lost sheep.”

Have no fear! Trust in God’s mercy.

God bless you!

 

[Donna_Mc]

The priests I know love to hear the confessions of those who have been away from the sacrament for a long time. It makes them feel great to know they helped bring back a “lost sheep.”

Have no fear! Trust in God’s mercy.

God bless you!

Yes, I have heard the same thing! The priest will help you along and you will feel so great that you have done it! God Bless you!

 

[Jennifer_G]

I wanted to thank you all for your kind and encouraging words yesterday.

On the way home from work yesterday, I stopped at a church which has perpetual adoration. I just needed to spend time with Jesus. It felt very good - but was also very difficult, emotionally. I sat there with tears in my eyes the entire time, but I am very happy that I went.

I have decided to attend an evening mass today with confession following (I will obviously not be receiving communion at mass). It is time for me to rid myself of my past sins, and to move forward.

However, I am completely scared. How do you even approach a confession that hasn’t been made in over 6 years? How do I even begin to articulate all of the sins I have committed during this time? What if I get emotional and start crying? I am just so nervous…

Please pray for me, that I may find the strength to make a good confession - and that I don’t chicken out.

Thank you.

There’s some people with decades of things to confess. I confessed 25 years worth when I converted to Catholicism, and the priest was patient and didn’t care that I stumbled through my first confession. There was someone in our RCIA class who had 60 years worth! Also, ask the Holy Spirit to help you with your confession.