Going to Confession

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Willdecided

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Hello Everyone:

Tomorrow (Saturday March 4th) I will be going to confession for the first time in five years. I am a little nervous right now and I am sure I will be very nervous on my way to Mass and walking into the confessional. I know I should not be nervous and there really isn’t anything for me to be nervous about.

I was just wondering if you, the reader could pray for me. I have been serious about going to back to confession now since the beginning of the year, but kept making excuses. Tomorrow, I am determined to go and I will go and I know I will feel a lot better once all of my sins have been forgiven.

I just finished writing up a sheet of all the sins that I have committed during the past five years and I have to say that there is a lot of them. I will probably bring the sheet into the confessional with me so I know what to confess. I have a hard time remembering some stuff, but I want to make sure I get it all.

Does anyone else do this?

Your prayers would be appreciated.

Thank you,

William
 
I’ve been in your shoes. Consider yourself prayed in.
 
Willdecided:

The angels and saints in Heaven rejoice more for the one who returns to the father than the 100 good ones.

I will pray for you…would you pray for my nephew that faith in the Eucharist be granted to him by God before he takes First Communion.

Just a tip…say the most difficult ones first lest fear of embarrasment overcome you at the last instant.

God bless Will.

in XT.
 
Yes, dear William, I will pray for you tomorrow and, yes, I have been known to make a list of my sins so I wouldn’t forget any. I went back to Confession for the first time in about 20 years a couple years ago. I cannot even begin to explain what a wondrous gift this sacrament has been to me. I try to go every 2 weeks, although when I go tomorrow, it will be about 3 weeks since my last confession. (Many times I go to St. Agnes here in St. Paul, to Fr. Altier, the priest who as been silenced this week by our archbishop. In his class on the sacraments which I attended a couple years ago, he explained how he loves it when people come back to Confession after years of being away.) Another thing that has brought me tremendous blessings is attending daily Mass and receiving Our Lord. As you may or may not know, our venial sins are forgiven during Mass. Still, I think it is a good discipline to go to Confession regularly even if one is not in a state of mortal sin. It forces me to examine my conscience frequently. (By the way, I use Fr. Altier’s Examination of Conscience booklet, found at : catholicparents.org/oxcart/examination.html) It gives us grace to fight the temptations of sin. There are many benefits in going to Confession. May God bless you!
 
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AquinasXVI:
Willdecided:

The angels and saints in Heaven rejoice more for the one who returns to the father than the 100 good ones.

I will pray for you…would you pray for my nephew that faith in the Eucharist be granted to him by God before he takes First Communion.

Just a tip…say the most difficult ones first lest fear of embarrasment overcome you at the last instant.

God bless Will.

in XT.
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:amen: :tiphat:

difficult ones first is definitely the way to go, and it is very useful to write your sins down - possibly an Act of Contrition as well. And please don’t be put off if the priest asks you a few questions - they’re not judging you, simply trying to figure out your situation (and the appropriate response for them to make to it) a little better.

:blessyou:
 
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Willdecided:
Hello Everyone:

Tomorrow (Saturday March 4th) I will be going to confession for the first time in five years. I am a little nervous right now and I am sure I will be very nervous on my way to Mass and walking into the confessional. I know I should not be nervous and there really isn’t anything for me to be nervous about.
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As I write this, you have made your confession. I hope you feel the grace of God with you.

Five years is nothing when you consider a 65 year old man in my RCIA class who was baptized in the Lutheran Church at age two. Before Palm Sunday, he has to confess 63 years of misdeeds. :eek:
 
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LeahInancsi:
As I Five years is nothing when you consider a 65 year old man in my RCIA class who was baptized in the Lutheran Church at age two. Before Palm Sunday, he has to confess 63 years of misdeeds. :eek:
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surely only 58 years, as the Church considers 7 to be the age of reason, when a child is able to know right from wrong, but either way, that is a lot to remember. However for anyone, convert or not, the contemplation of the sins of one’s past life, contrition for those sins, and general confession is a worthy practice for Lent, the season of Penance.
 
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puzzleannie:
surely only 58 years, as the Church considers 7 to be the age of reason, when a child is able to know right from wrong, but either way, that is a lot to remember. However for anyone, convert or not, the contemplation of the sins of one’s past life, contrition for those sins, and general confession is a worthy practice for Lent, the season of Penance.
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I understand what you’re saying. This guy has been the class clown. He asked the instructor if he needed to list his sins in alphabetical order when telling then to the priest. He’s a smart guy and his age of reason may have been much younger than you or me. Also, he was most likely never at a loss for things to get into.

Seriously, he’s a great guy. He’s retired and is dedicating his retirement to making up for lost time and setting things right. His wife of 35 years is Catholic, but because of his previous marriage, she can’t receive communion. He is in the process of having the first marriage annulled and plans to renew his marriage vows in the Catholic church.
 
What a wonderful story - he sounds like a great guy! I am preparing to make a Confession after about 25 years - and I am definitely going to look for Father Altier’s booklet. He’s terrific- listen to him on the radio frequently and I just love him. He has inspired me to go to Confession after a long absence. It is a bit intimidating to think back to all that I have done, but I know that I will feel healed after doing this.
 
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KatieD:
What a wonderful story - he sounds like a great guy! I am preparing to make a Confession after about 25 years - and I am definitely going to look for Father Altier’s booklet. He’s terrific- listen to him on the radio frequently and I just love him. He has inspired me to go to Confession after a long absence. It is a bit intimidating to think back to all that I have done, but I know that I will feel healed after doing this.
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As I mentioned, I’m in RCIA and will be baptized at Easter Vigil, therefore I’m not required to confess 43 years of misdeeds, but I’m very concerned about what will I need to confess and what I won’t in the future.

The leaflet you mentioned might be available from Leaflet Missal Company (www.leafletonline.com)).

BTW, I Googled Fr. Altier and found a disturbing article in yesterday’s St. Paul Pioneer Press. Seems the Bishop isn’t happy with Fr. Altier’s radio messages.

twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/14004224.htm
 
I’ll pray for you and I too have been in that position so don’t worry, you can do it. Mary really helped me when I was in your shoes. I just asked her to beg her Son with tears in her eyes that I would have the courage to Confess. I know she helped me and I know she can help you.
 
Hey Willdecided, how did your confession go? I’m sure we’re all hanging out to know 🙂
 
Hope it went really well! 👍

This past Thursday, I went to Confession. It was about 10 months since my last confession–but I was still really nervous because a lot has happened since then, and it was only my 2nd confession in about 12 years! :eek:

So, I was definitely feeling anxious! Confession wasn’t until evening, and that whole day at work I could hardly stop thinking about it. I finally got to church and had to wait in line for quite a while… I was shaking all over! Slowly the fear turned to adrenaline, and eventually a strange thrill of excitement.

I was so tongue-tied when I finally got into the confessional. But the priest was so kind and patient. I had made a list earlier in the day, and I was going to take it out, but I was afraid I might come across as sounding insincere if I read it. So… I just took my time and spoke from the heart. I knew that everything was in my mind and heart even if I didn’t say it exactly as I had planned, so I felt confident that everything would be wiped away.

The first thing the priest did after I finished confessing was thank me–he thanked me!–for coming to Confession and for being honest about what’s been going on. He gave me a very heartfelt and reassuring “pep talk,” along with a gentle but very meaningful penance. Then he said the Prayer of Absolution (which I now consider the most beautiful thing on Earth!), and sent me to “Go in peace.”

And I did! 😃 And I can still feel that awesome post-Confession “buzz”!

Anyway, I just thought I’d share that experience. I keep thinking to myself, “Now why was I so scared?” :o

It also made me feel really good to see so many of my fellow parishioners going to Confession. There were long lines! I know our priests must be so happy and proud of all of us—how much happier and more proud must the Lord be?! 🙂
 
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Willdecided:
Hello Everyone:

Tomorrow (Saturday March 4th) I will be going to confession for the first time in five years. I am a little nervous right now and I am sure I will be very nervous on my way to Mass and walking into the confessional. I know I should not be nervous and there really isn’t anything for me to be nervous about.

I was just wondering if you, the reader could pray for me. I have been serious about going to back to confession now since the beginning of the year, but kept making excuses. Tomorrow, I am determined to go and I will go and I know I will feel a lot better once all of my sins have been forgiven.

I just finished writing up a sheet of all the sins that I have committed during the past five years and I have to say that there is a lot of them. I will probably bring the sheet into the confessional with me so I know what to confess. I have a hard time remembering some stuff, but I want to make sure I get it all.

Does anyone else do this?

Your prayers would be appreciated.

Thank you,

William
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I was away from the church and reconciliation for about 25 years. I know the fear but I also know the joy, relief and thanksgiving when I came out of the confessional, like a hugh weight had been lifted (it had). I will pray for you
maggiec
 
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