Making your first confession as an adult

[confusedgirl]

Hi there

I just converted on Saturday and now I feel the need to make a good confession. The last time I learned how to make a good confession was in grade 3 religion class and I am 22 years old so I don’t really remember the paper at all. If anyone has any resources or advice for me I would greatly appreciate it

God Bless

 

[GladTidings]

Hi there

I just converted on Saturday and now I feel the need to make a good confession. The last time I learned how to make a good confession was in grade 3 religion class and I am 22 years old so I don’t really remember the paper at all. If anyone has any resources or advice for me I would greatly appreciate it

God Bless

The priest will help you make a good confession. The key is contrition, which you already have since you have a desire to go to confession.

I’ve gone almost every week the last 4 months and can see the results. It is one of the most beautiful sacraments we have.

I just realized I didn’t answer your question, but my break is over. Peace!

 

[juno24]

Hi there

I just converted on Saturday and now I feel the need to make a good confession. The last time I learned how to make a good confession was in grade 3 religion class and I am 22 years old so I don’t really remember the paper at all. If anyone has any resources or advice for me I would greatly appreciate it

God Bless

Welcome! If I read your past posts correctly, you were not baptised before joining the Church. If that is the case, and you were baptised on Saturday night, then you have no need of making a confession. ALL of your past sins were wiped away in your baptism. Let them go and rejoice in the knowledge that you have a clean slate!
This of course is not to say that you should not learn how to make a good confession, just that you will not need to confess anything from before your baptism. I did a very quick Google search for a guide to confession, and this one popped up.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Search for “Examination of Conscience” and “Guide to Confession” and you will find some good material.

 

[MaryHelp777]

Hi there

I just converted on Saturday and now I feel the need to make a good confession. The last time I learned how to make a good confession was in grade 3 religion class and I am 22 years old so I don’t really remember the paper at all. If anyone has any resources or advice for me I would greatly appreciate it

God Bless

If you haven’t confessed in years and years.
You might be more comfortable organising a private appointment with a priest outside of usual confession times, or by visiting a monastery and asking for a priest there to hear your confession,
(rather than waiting in a queue, if you have a lot to say)

A helpful guide is to Google the Catholic catechism and read each of the chapters for the 10 commandments, (breaking of the commandments is usually grave matter),

A few rules
At confession every mortal sin not confessed since your last confession, must be confessed (that you remember),

Hiding and not telling a mortal sin deliberately (is the sin of sacrilege meaning nothing in the confession will be forgiven and adds another mortal sin to the soul)

Venal sins do not have to be confessed but can be mentioned if you are unsure whether they are venial or not

Mortal sin is grave matter committed deliberately with full freedom and full knowledge. Grave matter examples: not doing the Ash Wednesday or Good Friday fast of three meals and no meat. Not doing some form of penance or abstaining from meat on all Fridays of the year (in honour of Jesus Passion). Not confessing once a year during the Easter season. Receiving communion in a state of mortal sin is a mortal sin. Hiding mortal sins in confession (not saying them deliberately). Not doing some form of penance in Lent. Deliberately not going to Mass on Sundays and holy days.

Other examples of grave matter: masturbation, pornography, fornication, adultery, murder, causing serious harm to someone by word or action, using Gods Name of Holy Names as swear words is grave matter, atheism is grave matter (against the first commandment),
Leading others to sin gravely in any of the above (by encouraging them in words or by your example is grave matter also)

Deliberately not doing good can be grave matter if it causes serious suffering to someone else such as:
Didn’t feed your pet bird and the bird starves to death (so sometimes not doing good can be grave matter also, if the neglect caused serious harm to someone),

The priest will guide you what to say and ask questions to help you identify your sins if you ask.

Just some starting points!

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Hi there

I just converted on Saturday and now I feel the need to make a good confession. The last time I learned how to make a good confession was in grade 3 religion class and I am 22 years old so I don’t really remember the paper at all. If anyone has any resources or advice for me I would greatly appreciate it

God Bless

Well congratulations on Saturday!

A couple of clarifications. First, “conversion” is the term used when a non-baptized person enters the Church. “Joining” or “Being Confirmed” or “Received” is a more precise term for a baptized person who joins.

Second, you mentioned being taught how to do confession in 3rd grade, which leads me to believe you were in Catholic school and may have been baptized already.

Third, often as part of RCIA the priest will have confirmands make a confession prior to Confirmation. I am guessing you may not have done that.

Which leads us too: A: If you had not been baptized already, as has been mentioned, your baptism washed away your sins.

B: If you had been baptized already, as also has been mentioned, look up “examination of conscience” or “how to make a good confession” and you will find instructions.

Whatever the case, congratulations again both on your admittance to the Catholic Church and your desire to go to confession!