Making A Good Confession

[LindaD]

I am a cradle Catholic who is returning to the Catholic church affter 45 years as a Protestant. I understand everything about the sacrament of penance except…what do I confess since I was always told that my confession to Jesus was accepted and I was forgiven? Do I need to dredge up everything, knowing that I won’t remember everything? I want to make a good/correct confession.

 

[Dr.Colossus]

The Church teaches that a good confession simply requires you to try to remember to tell the priest every mortal sin in kind and number. If it helps, make a list and take it to the confessional with you. But in the event that you forget to mention a sin that you are sincerely sorry for, it is still forgiven.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

Congratulations on coming back to the Church.

The first thing you should do is make an examination of conscience. An easy way to do this is to go through the commandments and try to remember as best you can.

When you go to confession, tell the priest your situation, 45 years as a Protestant, etc. Ask him to help you make a good confession, and he will lead you the rest of the way.

If you truly can’t remember everything, don’t worry. My memory is not that good either. When the priest absolves of your sins, every single sin is completely forgiven.

“Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

 

[First_of_9]

Don’t worry, the priest will help you through.

You should have seen the smile on the hospital chaplain when I said “Bless me Father, it has been 35-40 years since my last Confession…”

 

[Ruthie]

Well, I’m 53, and just made my first confession…

I took this examination of conscience:

catholic.org/frz/examen/mortal_main.htm

It is very detailed, and I needed that. It may go overboard in some places…

I wrote everything down. I didn’t trust my memory to remember everything. I took it with me to Rconciliation, then took it home and put it in the shredder. A symbolic act that increased my joy!

I’d say you probably need to dredge up everything since the last time you were in a state of grace.