Have you ever had an awesome Confession experience?

[kristie_m]

This is terrific! I agree–what an amazing blessing this Sacrament really is…I find, too, that I am much more cognizant of what my ‘near occasions of sin’ are. It’s almost like going to the dentist regularly before you end up needing a root canal.

Great analogy!

 

[Deborah_Kloos]

The priest at my new parish, takes the time to listen to me and does not judge me. It takes a huge burden from my heart to confess my sins. I went to mass and the scripture of the day was about Jesus taking our yokes upon His shoulders. My eyes just filled up with tears because He takes our sin away through the cross and gave us this beautiful sacrament where we can lay out all our sins to the priest. I had to go to Reconciliation because I felt so much guilt for sinning. It helps to get feedback from a person and a lot of the time the priest just listens.

I was crying during my confession and the priest gave me the most beautiful penance. I work on a postpartum unit in an inner city hospital. The priest told me as part of my pennance to choose one of the most neediest babies on the unit and bless the baby’s forehead with the sign of the cross. I do this often now and I treasure the gift he gave me.

 

[Deborah_Kloos]

There was an experience at my other parish, where the priest hurt me. I was very apprehensive. It was the 2nd time going to confession in 20 years. I was so nervous, I wrote down all my sins with a prayer on a piece of paper. I felt so guilty and sad that I felt like kneeling for the confession, so I knelt on the floor in front of the priest and began reading my piece of paper. I was crying and very depressed, as there was a history of sexual abuse by a priest when I was a teenager, and I had a mistrust of priests. The priest accused me of being manipulative and told me to leave the confessional. I left the church crying, without going to 6 pm mass. I pulled my son out of the 1st communion classes because I did not want him around the priest.

Another time with this same priest, he degraded me. He made me go to confession at the altar, without a room enclosing us for privacy. People were kneeling in the pews. I told him I was not going to go through with it and he should repent for his sins. There were other times where this same priest was very kind in the confessional, but I have left the parish since.

 

[LilyM]

There was an experience at my other parish, where the priest hurt me. I was very apprehensive. It was the 2nd time going to confession in 20 years. I was so nervous, I wrote down all my sins with a prayer on a piece of paper. I felt so guilty and sad that I felt like kneeling for the confession, so I knelt on the floor in front of the priest and began reading my piece of paper. I was crying and very depressed, as there was a history of sexual abuse by a priest when I was a teenager, and I had a mistrust of priests. The priest accused me of being manipulative and told me to leave the confessional. I left the church crying, without going to 6 pm mass. I pulled my son out of the 1st communion classes because I did not want him around the priest.

Another time with this same priest, he degraded me. He made me go to confession at the altar, without a room enclosing us for privacy. People were kneeling in the pews. I told him I was not going to go through with it and he should repent for his sins. There were other times where this same priest was very kind in the confessional, but I have left the parish since.

:hug3: I’m sorry you had bad experiences with this priest. Some priests are going to have a lot to answer for one day. And glad that you’ve since found a better confessor (possibly God gave you a taste of a not-so-good one first to make you appreciate the second by the comparison!)

 

[Deborah_Kloos]

:hug3: I’m sorry you had bad experiences with this priest. Some priests are going to have a lot to answer for one day. And glad that you’ve since found a better confessor (possibly God gave you a taste of a not-so-good one first to make you appreciate the second by the comparison!)

I really believe that my bad experiences are a test of my faith to see how strong it was. My Catholic faith means so much to me, that I would not trade my bad experiences for anything, because I feel like coming back to the Catholic faith, is like finding a precious treasure that was once lost. Our faith is more than bad experiences with people in the church. It is so meaningful, beautiful, and such a way of life for me, that it does not matter if someone hurts me anymore. I will never leave my faith again. I think these bad experiences, although very painful, enhanced my faith, because they made me really take the time to examine it more than others who have not been hurt. I just feel very blessed.

 

[whatevergirl]

There was an experience at my other parish, where the priest hurt me. I was very apprehensive. It was the 2nd time going to confession in 20 years. I was so nervous, I wrote down all my sins with a prayer on a piece of paper. I felt so guilty and sad that I felt like kneeling for the confession, so I knelt on the floor in front of the priest and began reading my piece of paper. I was crying and very depressed, as there was a history of sexual abuse by a priest when I was a teenager, and I had a mistrust of priests. The priest accused me of being manipulative and told me to leave the confessional. I left the church crying, without going to 6 pm mass. I pulled my son out of the 1st communion classes because I did not want him around the priest.

Another time with this same priest, he degraded me. He made me go to confession at the altar, without a room enclosing us for privacy. People were kneeling in the pews. I told him I was not going to go through with it and he should repent for his sins. There were other times where this same priest was very kind in the confessional, but I have left the parish since.

Oh my gosh, that’s terrible. Not the experience anyone should have with a priest. I could see if the one time, he was having an off day, but this seemed to be a pattern. I’m so sorry. I think that the gift through ordination for priests, of serving their parishes in the persona of Christ, is one that perhaps not all priests embrace fully. Perhaps, like this one, they see it more as power over another…never to be that. I hope that you will not be discouraged to go to Confession again. ((hugs)) to you!!

 

[whatevergirl]

I noticed something in your post…that you knelt during confession…that is the only way I have ever confessed? Are the parishes I have attended unique in that there are kneelers present in the confessional?

 

[SwizzleStick]

I noticed something in your post…that you knelt during confession…that is the only way I have ever confessed? Are the parishes I have attended unique in that there are kneelers present in the confessional?

I have never gone to confession without kneeling either, but I have never gone face-to-face either. At our church, (and at any other church I’ve gone to confession, my church while growing up, my MIL’s church), the screen for anonymous confession has a kneeler in front of it. I’ve noticed that if one chooses to go face-to-face in the chair, a kneeler is not used. I have no way of knowing, but I would think that going face-to-face would change the experience profoundly.

 

[SwizzleStick]

There was an experience at my other parish, where the priest hurt me. I was very apprehensive. It was the 2nd time going to confession in 20 years. I was so nervous, I wrote down all my sins with a prayer on a piece of paper. I felt so guilty and sad that I felt like kneeling for the confession, so I knelt on the floor in front of the priest and began reading my piece of paper. I was crying and very depressed, as there was a history of sexual abuse by a priest when I was a teenager, and I had a mistrust of priests. The priest accused me of being manipulative and told me to leave the confessional. I left the church crying, without going to 6 pm mass. I pulled my son out of the 1st communion classes because I did not want him around the priest.

Another time with this same priest, he degraded me. He made me go to confession at the altar, without a room enclosing us for privacy. People were kneeling in the pews. I told him I was not going to go through with it and he should repent for his sins. There were other times where this same priest was very kind in the confessional, but I have left the parish since.

I’m so sorry for you to have had this experience. I cannot imagine being robbed of the joy of being reconciled with out Lord and having that joy replaced by negative feelings caused by such ill treatment by the priest. I am so sorry.

 

[SwizzleStick]

I really believe that my bad experiences are a test of my faith to see how strong it was. My Catholic faith means so much to me, that I would not trade my bad experiences for anything, because I feel like coming back to the Catholic faith, is like finding a precious treasure that was once lost. Our faith is more than bad experiences with people in the church. It is so meaningful, beautiful, and such a way of life for me, that it does not matter if someone hurts me anymore. I will never leave my faith again. I think these bad experiences, although very painful, enhanced my faith, because they made me really take the time to examine it more than others who have not been hurt. I just feel very blessed.

How wonderful that you recognize that the Church is more than the people in it and the mistakes that they make from time to time! I wish more folks realized that the Catholic Church that Christ founded is perfect, but that the people are not.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

I noticed something in your post…that you knelt during confession…that is the only way I have ever confessed? Are the parishes I have attended unique in that there are kneelers present in the confessional?

I personally like to go behind the screen and kneel.

But, I’ve been in confessionals where you have a choice of sitting in a chair and going face to face…I like having the choice, but I still prefer the screen.

But the last time I went, It was in a room with no choice but to sit in a chair in front of the priest. (the confessional also had a clear glass window, so you could see right in…I didn’t like that part)

For whatever reason, I like the screen and kneeler.

I spent years not going at all…so I still have discomfort at going…but getting absolution is something soooooooo wonderful.

Thank you Lord for this sacrament.

 

[Carolinagirl411]

I’ve mentioned this on other threads before but I’ve never had a good experience with confession. Must be b/c I’m a converted protestant who still clings to the idea that I can ask for forgiveness without a priest. Still weird to me, but the priest always seemed impatient when I tried to discuss the stuff on my heart.

Anyway, I’m in a situation now that I’m not sure what to do. I stopped taking communion but I can’t go to confession either…What’s the point of going to confession when you know you are going to commit the same sin?

My fiance and I were planning to get married and also planning on moving to a different town together. We set up the apartment and paid the lease, etc, but now the wedding was postponed due to something out of our control. I can not financially back out of the apartment b/c at this point I can not afford to live on my own and I have a job in this new town. So we will be living together without marriage. It isn’t what we wanted. So how can I go to confession and be like, I’m living with my fiance, it is a mortal sin, but I can’t possibly move out. I feel really really bad about it but see no other choice. We have two bedrooms but I was told that didn’t matter since it would lead to an occasion for sin…

sigh

 

[Carolinagirl411]

One more thing

I wanted to thank all of you for your very positive stories about confession. I really really enjoyed reading them and it gave me hope that maybe one day I will also be able to have an experience like that. I’ll keep trying Hopefully when I move to the new town I can find a different priest!!

Thanks again

 

[whatevergirl]

I have never gone to confession without kneeling either, but I have never gone face-to-face either. At our church, (and at any other church I’ve gone to confession, my church while growing up, my MIL’s church), the screen for anonymous confession has a kneeler in front of it. I’ve noticed that if one chooses to go face-to-face in the chair, a kneeler is not used. I have no way of knowing, but I would think that going face-to-face would change the experience profoundly.

I have gone face to face one time…it was…hmmm…ok. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, but I dunno…It changes the experience to be quite personal, as talking over the phone to a friend is not as personal as seeing that friend, face to face.

I could go either way with it, really.

 

[GemmaRose]

I have never gone to confession without kneeling either, but I have never gone face-to-face either. At our church, (and at any other church I’ve gone to confession, my church while growing up, my MIL’s church), the screen for anonymous confession has a kneeler in front of it. I’ve noticed that if one chooses to go face-to-face in the chair, a kneeler is not used. I have no way of knowing, but I would think that going face-to-face would change the experience profoundly.

I go face to face.

Even though I’m old enough to have been brought up before there was any face to face, now, there’s no other way for me.

With face to face, it’s so much easier to feel that you’re talking directly to Jesus. After all, if Jesus was there physically in the confessional, would we stay behind the screen, or kneel at His feet?

And especially when you have a good confessor, to see the compassion in his eyes, especially when you’re really upset and crying… Wow! It’s just the best feeling.

AND when you go face to face, many priests, while they’re absolving you, they’ll put their hand on your head… Jesus is using the priest’s hands so that you not only hear the words of forgiveness, but feel it also – well, it’s like I’ve died and gone to heaven!

Yep! Face to face is the way to go for me! :yup:

 

[tessi]

I don’t remember having any special good confession. As a matter of fact, confession is always difficult for me, I guess because I am too proud, but it’s not generally a nice experience.

 

[AHapka]

I’ve mentioned this on other threads before but I’ve never had a good experience with confession. Must be b/c I’m a converted protestant who still clings to the idea that I can ask for forgiveness without a priest. Still weird to me, but the priest always seemed impatient when I tried to discuss the stuff on my heart.

Anyway, I’m in a situation now that I’m not sure what to do. I stopped taking communion but I can’t go to confession either…What’s the point of going to confession when you know you are going to commit the same sin?

My fiance and I were planning to get married and also planning on moving to a different town together. We set up the apartment and paid the lease, etc, but now the wedding was postponed due to something out of our control. I can not financially back out of the apartment b/c at this point I can not afford to live on my own and I have a job in this new town. So we will be living together without marriage. It isn’t what we wanted. So how can I go to confession and be like, I’m living with my fiance, it is a mortal sin, but I can’t possibly move out. I feel really really bad about it but see no other choice. We have two bedrooms but I was told that didn’t matter since it would lead to an occasion for sin…

sigh

An occasion of sin is not the same as sin. As long as you live together as brother and sister, you are not sinning and could receive communion (barring any mortal sins on your soul, not properly disposed…). Yours is not like you were planning on moving in before the wedding, if something happened to postpone the wedding beyond your control (of course, the particular reason could be an issue…that’s why you will need to talk to a priest). That being said, is there any way you can get married at another church or in a small wedding ceremony right after a Mass? How long did it get postponed?

Also when you deal with habitual sin, even though you may fear that you will commit it again, a firm resolve not to commit the sin again is all that is required. So fight hard, but don’t fall into the sin of despair.

 

[distracted]

Yes… many.

I had this one confession where the priest was very compassionate, a good listener… really seemed to care…

When i left, i felt not only much better, but like i was in Heaven… It was SO strange… I felt that way for over an hour…

I was at a monestary at the time… wonder if that had anything to do with it…

 

[AHapka]

But the last time I went, It was in a room with no choice but to sit in a chair in front of the priest. (the confessional also had a clear glass window, so you could see right in…I didn’t like that part)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought cannon law required the screen or other anonymous option (like those really old fashioned ones where it was two small rooms you squeezed into where the priest was in another one and you talked through an opaque window)? I also think that a clear window might violate the anonymous requirement as well, but we’ll need someone more versed on cannon law to weigh in for us.

 

[AHapka]

To the subject of the original post now

I had committed a mortal sin, and prayed to Saint Pio to help me make a good confession. After confession, I went into the pews to pray and it became like there was a cloud around everything and it was only me and the Crucifix above the altar. I’m not saying like a real cloud, but that’s all I saw and visually registered.

This continued for about 10 minutes, and there was only a deep peace in my soul and I was awestruck and didn’t know what to say, but I could only soak in the experience.

I’m thinking that’s how St. Pio answered my request