Penitent's opening prayer in confession

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You can start out in any way you like. The more I think about it, the more it seems both greetings are redundant, given that one would not be in the confessional except to seek blessing and forgiveness. How about just making the sign of the cross, then saying how long since last confession, and confessing sins?
 
The Archdiocese of Boston tells us to say “forgive,” and this is part of a campaign to get Catholics to go to confession more often. Even so, it appears that “bless” and “forgive” are both used in many places, and I’m glad I remembered my 1947 instruction correctly!

thelightisonforyou.org/confession/index.html

"Making a Good Confession
Going to Confession
The penitent and the priest begin with the sign of the Cross, saying:
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The priest urges the penitent to have confidence in God with these or similar words:
May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow.

The priest may read or say a passage from Sacred Scripture after which the penitent then states:
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been (however many days, weeks, months or years) since my last confession."
 
This is all too hilarious. Do we really think that what you see on a TV show about the Catholic Church is correct? And as one poster says, is that part even very important? The important part is getting your sins said and receiving absolution.
 
Mrs_Sally said:
This is all too hilarious. Do we really think that what you see on a TV show about the Catholic Church is correct? And as one poster says, is that part even very important? The important part is getting your sins said and receiving absolution.
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I think the words of all our rites are important. There is a correct way of doing things and then all others are inferior at best.

My mom always watched for faux-Roman Catholics in tv programs to see which way they’d make the sign of the cross. It was almost always wrong. It was just something to prove to her whether or not someone had done his homework. 🤷
 
I was taught in 1960 to say “Bless me father, for I have sinned, it has been _____ since my last confession.”

Then to confess thusly: I ____ three times since my last confession; I ____ 2 times since my last confession," etc.

Not only did you confess your sins, but you said how many times since your last confession that you committed each sin.
 
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