My other problem

[Geckstein]

I have a horrible time whenever I go to confession. I hardly ever can say what is really on my mind. I’m a shy guy who never really opens up unless it is to other teens my age. Do you guys know anything that could help me go to confession besides getting experience from goign alot?

 

[JimG]

I tend to use the 3-B method.
Be Blunt.
Be Brief.
Be Gone.

It doesn’t take a lot of words to tell our sins. That’s the brief part. No need to beat around the bush, just say what it is. That’s the blunt part. If the priest has questions, he’ll ask. After that, listen for the penance, say the act of contrition, listen for the absolution, then be gone.

JimG

 

[James0235]

Also, when you are in the confessional try to mention your worst sin first. Once you sactually ay it out loud you will most likely find that it is much easier to confess the lesser sins.

James

 

[IoA]

1. Use the screen. If you’re not already, try staying behind the screen. It’s easier when you aren’t expected to make eye contact or worry about the priest knowing who you are, or if you’ll ever see him again, etc.
2. Realize that they’ve heard it a thousand times before. This past Saturday, when I walked in to the confessional, an old Franciscan friar asked me if I’d killed somebody or hijacked any planes. They probably haven’t heard that stuff too much, but they’ve heard anything you’re going to confess to so many times that you will bore them with your sins long before you’ll shock them.
3. Practice makes perfect. Go every week if you can, or every couple weeks. Whatever works for your schedule, but make it often. Over time, you’ll find that it’s pretty easy.
4. Feel Forgiven! Leave the confessional knowing that you have a fresh start. God has forgiven you; forgive yourself. And if you fall in to something again, remember that there’s always confession next week.

 

[Dr.Colossus]

When I went to confession once some time ago, I told the priest that I wasn’t sure how to say what I’d done, because it was, in my mind, really bad. It was a mortal sin, the first I’d ever had to confess in fact. The priest said “I see…well, go on”. As soon as I told him, he began to chuckle softly and said “Oh, ok…when you said how bad your sin was, I began to wonder if you were burning Jews on the weekends or something!”. The point is, there are worse sins than most anything we’ve ever done, and even if we manage to commit the worst sin ever conceived, there is still forgiveness for it merited through Christ’s sacrifice.

 

[system]

Well aside from going weekly (or as frequently as possible), try to find a priest and stick with him. It did help me a lot to keep going to the same priest week after week.

As far as what you need to say, Nike says it best: just do it. Just blurt it out. And try to remember you’re speaking to Jesus veiled by the priest and no one loves you more than Him. I still get embarrassed once in a while, but I know the priest well enough that just about the time I walk out of that confessional, he’s forgotten about what I’ve done and he never judges.

JELane

 

[Khoria_Anna]

Just a thought: why not jot it down in writing and bring the paper with you to Confession? I’ve found it’s easier to just blurt it out when it’s there in writing before me (ouch!). Now Father has asked me to hang on to the paper and use it in nightly self-examination – it’s helped me to detect patterns of behavior and thereby begin to break them.

 

[newsjag]

I have a few friends that also use the idea of writing what they want to say down.

ANother suggestion I have is to pray before going into the confessional. Pray to your Guardian Angel, the Holy Spirit, and your Saints for help, guidance, and assurance. Take your time in the cofessional. Dont rush yourself. This is a private matter that you MUST be prepared for. Hope this helps

 

[Jdg164]

I’m happy to hear you are trying to improve your confessions. Being timid in the confessional is normal. Just remember that what you’ve done- God has seen and already knows about it. Telling this priest what you’ve done shouldn’t be that bad because A- God, the one you are really confessing to already knows and B- you aren’t saying a THING this priest hasn’t already heard.

I drive 1/2 an hour to see a priest who has an amazing talent for confessions. What? Don’t all priests confess the same way?! Heck no. I go to a priest who takes me seriously. Who, when he lays his hands on my head (that’s why I never go behind the screen, I would miss this) I feel like Christ himself has put his hands on my head and is healing me. I feel that way because that is what is really happening. And I just can’t go to a priest who doesn’t feel the same way about it.

I once made a “general confession” aka- caught up on all the stuff I’ve left out over years of not going to confession. I wrote down EVERY sin I could think of and informed the priest I would like to make a general confession (for these I recommend making a special appointment as these can get long). We went though my list and at the end he said, "Now I don’t want you to keep this- they’re gone. Rip it up the minute you finish your penance and DO NOT DOUBT God’s forgiveness. I never have because I know that God knows I want him in on everything I do. I want nothing hidden from his light.

God’s Blessings on your search for a better reconciliation!

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

Try this:

Imagine that the priest is your best friend. The priest in “persona Christi” is Jesus. Jesus wants to be your best friend. So view the priest as Jesus, your best friend, who can fully cleanse you of the dirt of yours sins.

Just before confession, say to yourself, “Jesus, I love You & I trust in You.” Then just open to the priest just like you would to Jesus, who already knows all your sins (so no secrets are being revealed), and expressing them allows him to take them away.

After confession, thank Jesus and celebrate your newfound purity of soul.