Is it important to be specific during Confession?

[Hawkeye916]

Hey all! New member here. I’ve heard a lot about Catholic Answers and I just had to check it out! I have a question maybe y’all can shed some light on.

When in the confessional, how important is it to be specific about the things you say to your confessor? Sins, I understand that specificity is important so that the priest can assist in the spiritual health of the penitant, but what about non sin related diolouge? The other day I went to confession and asked a question to the priest in a rather vague manner, as I wanted to keep a level of anonymity (I like to confess from behind the screen).

Upon leaving the confessional, I realized that perhaps I should have been more clear in that I saying to him. He had answered my question regardless, but I felt slight guilt, as my conversation with him regarding my question, and my experience with the situation at hand, was very vauge.

So I ask you, how important is it to be specific and detail oritented when speaking to the priest about non sin related material? (As in advice, counseling, or questions?)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kima]

For Confession the thing is that you need to inform kind and estimated number of times it´s been committed. No other details is nessecary if not the priest asks for it.

Counseling etc. would probably be most fruitful if you share the important aspects of the sins you are having questions about.

 

[Hawkeye916]

@edward_george1 Hello! I saw that you are a Catholic priest! Could you shed some light on my situation please?

 

[edward_george1]

Sure thing. Already did, a long time ago.

Please stop describing your sins in detail! Moral Theology

I’m a priest. I hear confessions. And I can tell you, you don’t even need to go into detail in confession!! It’s better if you don’t. If you just say “I committed X sin Y times,” that suffices. And if I’m not clear on what you mean, I’ll ask! But detail has a danger, that we start explaining things to try to justify them. It’s better for our humility to just admit what we did and accept God’s forgiveness and get out! Be brief, be bold, be gone! -Fr ACEGC

 

[Hawkeye916]

Thank you father!

 

[Hawkeye916]

I guess my situation is more so that when I was asking for clarification on something, I didn’t quite describe my experience as I could have. I wasn’t really describing my sin. Like I said, I wanted to maintain some anonymity so I just phrased my question so that he would interpret my statement in a specific way. Maybe I’m just overthinking it haha.