How to express my sins in confession

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kristy222

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Hi everyone.

I don’t think I’ve ever given a whole hearted confession since I was maybe 10 years old and I really feel it’s time to. The problem is I’m not quite sure how to word my sins and I don’t want to say anything inappropriate in front of the priest. When I say inappropriate, I am talking about sexual acts and masturbation. I just have no clue how to word it, it just feels a bit strange to say “I masturbated”, “I had sex” etc etc. It makes me cringe just to write those things! Could anyone please advise me on how to express these sins in acceptable manner?

Thank you!
 
kristy222 said:
Hi everyone.

I don’t think I’ve ever given a whole hearted confession since I was maybe 10 years old and I really feel it’s time to. The problem is I’m not quite sure how to word my sins and I don’t want to say anything inappropriate in front of the priest. When I say inappropriate, I am talking about sexual acts and masturbation. I just have no clue how to word it, it just feels a bit strange to say “I masturbated”, “I had sex” etc etc. It makes me cringe just to write those things! Could anyone please advise me on how to express these sins in acceptable manner?

Thank you!
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Having sex outside of marriage is called fornication, and the verb is fornicated. You can say that to the priest and he’ll know what you’re talking about. If you don’t think you can spit that out, you can also say, you “engaged in conjugal relations X number of times” and the priest will know what you’re talking about.

As for other impure acts, you can simply say that.

Ie: you “engaged in an impure act with yourself X number of times” etc.

You need to be specific and blunt, but not crude. Don’t give the priest too many details. Number, kind and circumstance if necessary.
 
The terms “acts of impurity with myself,” “acts of impurity with others,” or “serious acts of impurity” could be appropriate too.

Or, “I have sinned against purity in thought, word and deed,” and give the amount of times.
 
triumphguy said:
The terms “acts of impurity with myself,” “acts of impurity with others,” or “serious acts of impurity” could be appropriate too.

Or, “I have sinned against purity in thought, word and deed,” and give the amount of times.
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With mortal sins one needs to confess more specifically (though does not need to be the technical names) …adultery, masturbation (or the circumlocution you used above), fornication…it needs to get down to the specific sin…
(not general like “acts of impurity” such could be anything…even adultery!)
 
kristy222 said:
The problem is I’m not quite sure how to word my sins and I don’t want to say anything inappropriate in front of the priest. When I say ina Itsppropriate, I am talking about sexual acts and masturbation. I just have no clue how to word it, it just feels a bit strange to say “I masturbated”, “I had sex” etc etc. It makes me cringe just to write those things!
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If that’s what you did, just say that. Its not easy, but its not supposed to be. Remember, it is impossible to shock a priest in the confessional. They’ve heard it all before. They are there to listen, be a vessel of Christ’s forgiveness, and give you helpful penance. They are not there to judge.
 
kristy222 said:
The problem is I’m not quite sure how to word my sins and I don’t want to say anything inappropriate in front of the priest. When I say ina Itsppropriate, I am talking about sexual acts and masturbation. I just have no clue how to word it, it just feels a bit strange to say “I masturbated”, “I had sex” etc etc. It makes me cringe just to write those things!
Click to expand...
If that’s what you did, just say that. Its not easy, but its not supposed to be. Remember, it is impossible to shock a priest in the confessional. They’ve heard it all before. They are there to listen, be a vessel of Christ’s forgiveness, and give you helpful penance. They are not there to judge.
 
When I first learned that masturbation was a mortal sin was when I was shown a very old book which stated that ‘self pleaseure’ was a mortal sin.

Ever since then I have always said ‘self pleasure’ during confession and the priests have always understand what I have meant.

I am sure though, whatever you tell the priest, he has already heard worse and put in a much worse way.

Just go, you will feel so much better afterwards and receiving Communion after is Heavenly.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies!

I have since been to confession and I took on board all of your suggestions. I told the priest that I fornicated and that I engaged in impure acts with myself. Feeling better now. 🙂
 
Bookcat said:
With mortal sins one needs to confess more specifically (though does not need to be the technical names) …adultery, masturbation (or the circumlocution you used above), fornication…it needs to get down to the specific sin…
(not general like “acts of impurity” such could be anything…even adultery!)
Click to expand...
In my parish one priest is OK with my saying “I engaged in personal impurity X times” but the other one wants it specific, “I engaged in masturbation X times” so it depends on the priest.
 
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