Please Help, Need your Guidance

[JeromeVDM]

Please Help, Need your Guidance.

I recently went to confession and had almost three pages to go through and was extremely nervous with the confessional as I was sadly last in confession many years ago.
I went through the most important Issues that were most serious to me and failed by mistake and due to time constraints to mention one however I did mention to the priest that there were many things since my last confession. I was then asked a few questions and then given my penance.
The first question that I have is do I need to go to confession and mention the one sin that I forgot before I can go forward for communion or can this be at my next confession ?
I then finished with my confession and part of my penance was to do a decade of the Rosary, as I have never prayed the rosary before I said a few personal prayers and tried my best to Pray the Rosary, this just before mass and during mass. I felt that because I have not completed my Penance I should not go up for communion until I have carried out my full penance. After mass I went home and later prayed the Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary and prayed the full rosary with this mystery.
The second question I have is that is it fine if I done my penance after mass and not directly after confessional, I prayed after my confessional and really tried to pray the Rosary but it was incorrect when I checked when I got home so I done it the correct way when I got home.
In terms of a decade of the Rosary is this done by praying the Sorrowful Mystery?
I ask that you please urgently give me advise on this as I am truly lost in terms of where to from here. I feel that the confession went well however I feel that by not knowing how to carry out my full penance I have somehow failed.

Jerome

 

[Carlan]

Please Help, Need your Guidance.

I recently went to confession and had almost three pages to go through and was extremely nervous with the confessional as I was sadly last in confession many years ago.
I went through the most important Issues that were most serious to me and failed by mistake and due to time constraints to mention one however I did mention to the priest that there were many things since my last confession. I was then asked a few questions and then given my penance.
The first question that I have is do I need to go to confession and mention the one sin that I forgot before I can go forward for communion or can this be at my next confession ?
I then finished with my confession and part of my penance was to do a decade of the Rosary, as I have never prayed the rosary before I said a few personal prayers and tried my best to Pray the Rosary, this just before mass and during mass. I felt that because I have not completed my Penance I should not go up for communion until I have carried out my full penance. After mass I went home and later prayed the Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary and prayed the full rosary with this mystery.
The second question I have is that is it fine if I done my penance after mass and not directly after confessional, I prayed after my confessional and really tried to pray the Rosary but it was incorrect when I checked when I got home so I done it the correct way when I got home.
In terms of a decade of the Rosary is this done by praying the Sorrowful Mystery?
I ask that you please urgently give me advise on this as I am truly lost in terms of where to from here. I feel that the confession went well however I feel that by not knowing how to carry out my full penance I have somehow failed.

Jerome

Hello Jerome, you confessed your sins sincerely with contrition to the best of your ability, God knew that. Your priest gave you absolution in the name of Christ. You are fine there. You have said your penance to the best of your ability, Thank our Dear God for his forgiveness and continue in his grace going back to the confessional when you need to or if you still feel concern about the one forgotten sin,. go back when you can and talk to your priest about it. May God continue to bless you with his actual and sanctifying grace. Peace, Carlan

 

[JRKH]

Carlan’s advice is sound.
Everything you did was done to the best of your ability at the time. Your confession is valid as is the absolution. You are free to receive communion.

Now - having said that, for your own peace of mind, if the unmentioned sin bothers you then by all means mention it during your next confession. This would give you greater peace of mind which, of course, is important.

Oh and Welcome Home!!!
Much joy in heaven

Peace
James

 

[baltobetsy]

Wow, Jerome, how wonderful that you were able to make such a confession. I love hearing about people who return to the full practice of their faith through this beautiful sacrament.

For your first question: You may receive Holy Communion because you did not intentionally conceal the sin. If it was a mortal (serious) sin, you must confess it at your next confession. It has already been forgiven, but it must be submitted to the authority of the Church through the priest in confession. If it was a venial (less serious) sin, it is up to you whether or not to confess it at all. If it is something you are particularly sorry for, or if you would like to receive advice about it or the special grace that comes from confessing it, by all means tell it in your next confession. Otherwise, you can opt to skip it if you wish.

Your second question about penance: It is not necessary to complete your penance before receiving Holy Communion. Indeed, some penances will take more than one day to complete, or they may depend upon your interacting with a particular person who is not with you at the moment. There are a number of reasons why you might not be able to fulfill your penance right away. It is a good idea to do so, but if you cannot, it’s OK as long as you do it soon. No matter what, even if you do not do your penance at all, your sins are forgiven. To refuse to do your penance would simply be a new sin.

If your penance was a decade of the Rosary, that means praying one Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and the Glory Be while meditating on one of the mysteries. If you prayed all five Sorrowful mysteries, you went above and beyond what you were assigned. More grace for you!

Keep going to confession frequently, like every month or so. Pretty soon you’ll be an old pro at it! Welcome home!

Betsy

 

[3DOCTORS]

baltobetsy said it all very well. I would add just one thing - be aware that it’s normal to experience some doubts and scrupulosity after having been away or gone through a major “repentance experience.”

The Devil doesn’t like us to turn back to Christ because it means he’s lost a soul he thought he could claim as his. Makes him mad. So instead of attacking us directly, sometimes he tries to put these doubts in our minds to make us feel discouraged. So turn it around and take them as proof you’re on the right track!

They should probably diminish on their own as you readjust to being back to church. Think of them as “growing pains.” If they continue to bug you, mention them to a priest who is good with scrupulosity or visit the OCD/Scrupulosity group on CAF. Relax and enjoy being back to the Faith! :grouphug: :heaven: