Is that it?

[turtle18]

What does a priest mean when he says this to you in confession? I’ve had that happen multiple times by different priests and don’t know how to interpret it. If I came to only confess one or two sins, should I assume Christ is speaking through him and Christ is reminding me I have more sins to confess? Or when they say “is that it?” do they mean what you confessed to isn’t so bad?

 

[SMHW]

I think you are just going to have to go by the context of the situation.

It could be the Lord encouraging you to examine yourself more closely. But it likely just means the priest is trying to make sure you don’t have more to say before he absolves you and gives you an appropriate penance.

Perhaps he’s used to people not bothering to confess unless they have something very serious to mention.

 

[stbruno]

Maybe you are forgetting to use the proper form of confession…
by responding…these are all the sins I can remember Father, for these and all the sins of my past life, I ask for penance and absolution.

By using some words in this vein, it will clearly indicate to the confessor that you have confessed all your sins. I don’t think he is judging you at all…just clarifying that you are finished.
Congratulations, that you are regularly reconciling with the Lord. You receive so many graces.

 

[Fergal]

Usually the Priest will say this if you have not been clear that you have finished confessing your sins. In this case just answer “Yes, Father” and await your penance and absolution. No big deal.

I remember hearing, however, that when Padre Pio asked this question to a penitent, he usually followed it with “Are you sure?” In this case the dear Saint could see the state of the penitnets soul and knew that the penitent had not confessed everything. He was even able to go so far as to describe the time, place and conditions under which a mortal sin had been committed.

I would have been terrified to go to him and yet we see that he had queues of penitents to deal with every day. Wow.

 

[Father_Chris]

As a priest, I can tell you that when I ask “is that it?” it’s becuase I’m not sure if the penitent is done confessing. I can remember one time, however, a person who hadn’t been to confession in two years saying “I missed Mass one time,” and my response was, “is that it?” meaning, after two years of not going to confession, all you could come up with was missing Mass once? Either the person was very holy, or very ignorant!

 

[jmcrae]

What does a priest mean when he says this to you in confession? I’ve had that happen multiple times by different priests and don’t know how to interpret it. If I came to only confess one or two sins, should I assume Christ is speaking through him and Christ is reminding me I have more sins to confess? Or when they say “is that it?” do they mean what you confessed to isn’t so bad?

No, he’s just asking whether you are finished. It’s a good idea at the end of your Confession to say something like, “For these and for all the sins of my life, I am truly sorry.”

 

[Flopfoot]

As a priest, I can tell you that when I ask “is that it?” it’s becuase I’m not sure if the penitent is done confessing. I can remember one time, however, a person who hadn’t been to confession in two years saying “I missed Mass one time,” and my response was, “is that it?” meaning, after two years of not going to confession, all you could come up with was missing Mass once? Either the person was very holy, or very ignorant!

Pretty sure that when you go to confession you are only required to confess your mortal sins and not necessarily your venial sins (you’d know that better than me). So quite possible it was the only mortal sin they’d committed in two years - mortal sin’s a pretty big deal I’m guessing most people don’t go around doing it every day - and they didn’t bother confessing the venial sins 'cause they didn’t have to.

 

[mark_a]

After I finish my “list” of sins, I say something like “These are all the sins I can think of to confess today, Father.”

It works like a charm.

 

[musicmantg11]

Probably because you didnt make your self clear if you ended confessing your sins to the priest.