Is it ever right to delay Confession?

[Monica4316]

I know that it’s dangerous to delay Confession, but is it a sin, or wrong to do so, if you just don’t feel ready and don’t think you’d make a good enough Confession that day? I was going to go to Confession today, but I just spent a while working on my computer and I need a bit of time to go over what i plan to confess… yet I don’t really have time, cause unless I leave in around 10 minutes, I won’t make it in time.

any thoughts? I feel kind of disappointed cause I was really going to go… the next day I can go is Saturday, I guess, or, I can make an appointment with the priest.

Do a lot of people make appointments? I always feel awkward about it…

 

[formerlysure]

Sorry I don’t have an answer but wanted to piggy back on your question n- hope that’s acceptable. In my area, confession is offered on Saturday mornings when I am rarely able to go due to other commitments over which I have no authority. I do consider confession more important of course, but the other commitments are essential, too.

I am a little concerned about going to a regular scheduled reconciliation time as well because, though I’m not an unusually horrible and sinful person, I have some difficult issues which are involved in my planned confession and hope to have time to get some advice from the priest as well as forgiveness. Is it appropriate to ask for that guidance in confession? Would it be appropriate for me to ask for a private appointment for this purpose during the week?

 

[PerfectTiming]

"Monica4316:

I know that it’s dangerous to delay Confession, but is it a sin, or wrong to do so, if you just don’t feel ready and don’t think you’d make a good enough Confession that day? I was going to go to Confession today, but I just spent a while working on my computer and I need a bit of time to go over what i plan to confess… yet I don’t really have time, cause unless I leave in around 10 minutes, I won’t make it in time.

any thoughts? I feel kind of disappointed cause I was really going to go… the next day I can go is Saturday, I guess, or, I can make an appointment with the priest.

Do a lot of people make appointments? I always feel awkward about it…

I struggle a lot with this. I have a tendency to feel like I haven’t prepared enough and that therefore my repentance isn’t ‘good enough’. Part of the sacrament is however the examination of conscience and if you have not prepared then perhaps it is best to do that first before you attend confession.

I know what you mean about feeling awkward, I never make appointments because I feel strange doing so. But many people do make private appointments if they have the need. My way around it has been to ask the priest to hear my confession after Mass - I work during the confession times of the parish I am visiting. But there is no reason you cannot make a private appointment if you want to have your confession before Saturday.

Sorry I don’t have an answer but wanted to piggy back on your question n- hope that’s acceptable. In my area, confession is offered on Saturday mornings when I am rarely able to go due to other commitments over which I have no authority. I do consider confession more important of course, but the other commitments are essential, too.

I am a little concerned about going to a regular scheduled reconciliation time as well because, though I’m not an unusually horrible and sinful person, I have some difficult issues which are involved in my planned confession and hope to have time to get some advice from the priest as well as forgiveness. Is it appropriate to ask for that guidance in confession? Would it be appropriate for me to ask for a private appointment for this purpose during the week?

I cannot attend confession at the scheduled time at the parish I am visiting because I work so instead after Mass I spoke to the priest and he heard my confession then. You are perfectly free to do as I did, or make a private appointment. And of course you can ask for guidance as part of your confession. Even if it is not necessarily part of the sacrament you could still use the time to ask for guidance in addition to having your confession.

 

[Monica4316]

Sorry I don’t have an answer but wanted to piggy back on your question n- hope that’s acceptable. In my area, confession is offered on Saturday mornings when I am rarely able to go due to other commitments over which I have no authority. I do consider confession more important of course, but the other commitments are essential, too.

I am a little concerned about going to a regular scheduled reconciliation time as well because, though I’m not an unusually horrible and sinful person, I have some difficult issues which are involved in my planned confession and hope to have time to get some advice from the priest as well as forgiveness. Is it appropriate to ask for that guidance in confession? Would it be appropriate for me to ask for a private appointment for this purpose during the week?

I have a similar problem, I have some difficult issues that I often need to discuss at Confession. I think it’s okay to ask for advice in the confessional… I do, in addition to confessing my sins. But if you know it’s sort of a big question, it would be better to maybe make an appointment and ask the priest outside of Confession

I struggle a lot with this. I have a tendency to feel like I haven’t prepared enough and that therefore my repentance isn’t ‘good enough’. Part of the sacrament is however the examination of conscience and if you have not prepared then perhaps it is best to do that first before you attend confession.

I have written down all my sins, on Sunday, but I wanted to pray for deeper repentance and also I need to somehow organize them or the confession would take an hour lol… it’s been a month so my memory isn’t very good. btw, I am scrupulous and that is kind of a big problem that I have. I’m supposed to only confess mortal sins for now. So, I also need to go over my list and pick out what I think was a mortal sin… I only had 10 minutes to prepare AND get ready, and I don’t think that is possible, I mean it would probably take me 8 minutes to get ready, leaving only 2 so to make this long story short, I didn’t go… it’s too late, now. I’m thinking of just making an appointment, or going on Saturday.

I know what you mean about feeling awkward, I never make appointments because I feel strange doing so. But many people do make private appointments if they have the need. My way around it has been to ask the priest to hear my confession after Mass - I work during the confession times of the parish I am visiting. But there is no reason you cannot make a private appointment if you want to have your confession before Saturday.

I have made appointments before, but yes I always feel awkward/guilty for taking up the priest’s time etc.

I cannot attend confession at the scheduled time at the parish I am visiting because I work so instead after Mass I spoke to the priest and he heard my confession then. You are perfectly free to do as I did, or make a private appointment. And of course you can ask for guidance as part of your confession. Even if it is not necessarily part of the sacrament you could still use the time to ask for guidance in addition to having your confession.

that is an option too, thanks

God bless

 

[paul11b]

I think it’s OK if you’re just trying to gather your thoughts so you can make a good confession. As long as you’re not in a state of mortal sin and receiving the Eucharist then I think it’s OK. I’ve scheduled confession before and it was fine, the Priest didn’t seem to mind.

 

[Enceladus]

I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one who struggles with these kinds of things. Quite encouraging

 

[jmj1984]

I know that it’s dangerous to delay Confession, but is it a sin, or wrong to do so, if you just don’t feel ready and don’t think you’d make a good enough Confession that day? I was going to go to Confession today, but I just spent a while working on my computer and I need a bit of time to go over what i plan to confess… yet I don’t really have time, cause unless I leave in around 10 minutes, I won’t make it in time.

any thoughts? I feel kind of disappointed cause I was really going to go… the next day I can go is Saturday, I guess, or, I can make an appointment with the priest.

Do a lot of people make appointments? I always feel awkward about it…

No, theres no obligation to go to confession unless one is in a state of mortal sin therefore one can never sin in delaying or not going to confession if it is merely a matter of venial sins. It is of course highly recommended to go frequently and without frequent confession one cannot progress in ones spiritual life.

It certainly isn’t wrong to properly prepare for confession, indeed it would be wrong not to! However you must be careful not to fall into the trap of ‘scruples’ whereby the Devil will greately exagerrate your sins and delay your going to confession for as long as possible in order to increase his chances of entrapping your soul.

In the UK generally theres set times for confession but if you know you’re going to need a lot of time or want spiritual direction or can’t make the normal times, I would feel free making an appointment. It might be awkward but after all whats worse feeling awkward or endangering ones salvation?

I hope thats of some help and apologise if I’m being blunt, I don’t mean to be rude or critical.

 

[Newsy]

There is nothing wrong with scheduling a confession. The priest should be more than happy to fit your time into his schedule. I would recommend scheduling a time if you think it could take a while. If your parish has limited times for confession, sometimes the line outside the confessional gets pretty long.

I like to schedule confession and spiritual direction together, from time to time. I find that guidance in confession goes well with spiritual direction.

 

[TMD60]

when I was growing up I found that going to confession was a very frighting experience which has been with me all my adult life.All the priest I have gone to never make me really feel that this is a sacrement of Gods love and mercy.I pray that someday I will be ok with going to confession but I know that I really need help with this.pray for me thank you.

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks for the replies!

well I tried making an appointment with a priest but he is booked this week, and away next week. I guess it’s a busy time.

Soo… I will try to go as soon as possible for a scheduled Confession… if all else fails, I’ll ask a priest after Mass.