How to give a Confession

[fajkus]

I am a new Catholic, I went through the RCIA process in my parish and received the Sacraments of Confirmation & Eucharist in Nov '04.
In preparation for the Sacraments, I made my first Confession. The directors of the RCIA program said that all we needed to do was simply go in and talk (the Church no longer had a specific outline for the Sacrament). The Father that I went to seemed irritated that I did not know the proper formula and did not offer any advice. If there is a “form”, where would one find the information? I’d like to give a proper confession using the appropriate procedure.

 

[puzzleannie]

While you were waiting, you examined your conscience by comparing your behavior with the commandments and beatitudes and noting your failings and sins.go in sit in the chair facing the priest, or if you prefer kneel in front of the screen.
Say: bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (so long—) since my last confession (or, this is my first confession).
My sins are: tell the sins you committed, the obligations or opportunities for doing good you failed to do, how often or how many times–just the facts, it is a news bulletin not a mini-series.
If there is a problem you have identified as a major stumbling block, mention it now: Father, I am struggling with a habit of telling lies, (or spending money carelessly, or with pornography, gossip or whatever).
Father may offers some advice or counsel, and will give you a penance to say or do. He will say the words of absolution and tell you to make a good act of contrition. Memorize one from a Catholic prayer book, use psalm 51, or simply say:
O my God I am heartily sorry for all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, to do penance, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

 

[Tyler_Smedley]

Little amendment to the post before, the absolution comes after you say your act of contrition…but the rest is great!

 

[JustSomeGuy]

the post that gives a run down of the common method that catholics use is good. it will get you in and out without irritating anyone and making a good confession at the same time.

as a new Catholic, you might get a lot out of reading the Rite of Penance, the Church’s official text. it not only has the complete rites for each scenario (individual, communal, and general,) but also has a great introduction that is meant for both the priest and the faithful. as a caviat, don’t accidently get hooked on the idea of general absolution by reading and then misinterpreting the Rite. (general absolution is never an option unless a really lot of people are about to die within the next few minutes, and even then, if any of them survive, they have to go to confession in order for the absolution to be valid.) anyhow, the point is that there is much more to the Sacrament than is usually done in the average confession. ask the priest to borrow his copy so that you can learn. it will probably cheer him up to find out that you care. this Sacrament is difficult for priests because a lot of people don’t give it the respect it deserves, which i am sure makes some of them irritable. if you show up and say “hey let’s do this like it is written in the book,” if i were him i might be surprised, but delighted. (bring the book with you just in case.)

formation is a lifelong task of all disciples. you can learn to just get in and out, or you can learn to do more. you take a sip of the Living Water, or drink to your heart’s delight. Christ is willing to give a lot, if you make yourself ready to receive it.

 

[Dr.Bombay]

The best advice I ever got from a priest about going to confession was, “Try not to sound like you’re bragging.”

He just wants the highlights, not the details. If he needs details, he’ll ask.