Questions about Confession and the Mass

[PeteZaHut]

1. I remember going to Confession once when I didn’t know the whole Act of Contrition. I confessed my sins, said some parts of the Act of Contrition that I knew, then the priest absolved me. Is there anything further I need to do about this?
2. I always see people kneel down when they enter their pew at Mass. Are we obligated to do this? What do you pray?
3. What are you supposed to pray after you come back from communion?
4. When does Mass end? After the Concluding Rite or after the final hymn?

 

[Pug]

1. I remember going to Confession once when I didn’t know the whole Act of Contrition. I confessed my sins, said some parts of the Act of Contrition that I knew, then the priest absolved me. Is there anything further I need to do about this?

No. You expressed contrition and sorrow for your sins. The priest absolved you. The sins are forgiven. A person is free to recite whatever version of an act of contrition they wish. It can be short or long, from the bible, etc. Though I recommend you to memorize a standard one and use it often.

 

[maryjk]

1. I always see people kneel down when they enter their pew at Mass. Are we obligated to do this? What do you pray?

I say a couple of standard prayers, then talk to God about my week and happy I am that I made it through with His help and how happy I am that I at church.
No we are not obligated to pray to God.

1. What are you supposed to pray after you come back from communion?

I welcome Jesus into my body and ask him to help me with my trials during the week.
My son says a standard prayer.

1. When does Mass end? After the Concluding Rite or after the final hymn?

I don’t leave until after the final hymn, but Mass is over when the Priest says, “Mass is over, go in Peace.”

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

1.) Your Act of Contrition can be as simple as, “Be merciful to me, O Lord, a sinner.” Once in a while, because I go to confession EARLY in the morning usually, I mentally fuzz up. Sometimes, I’m so overcome by this gift of forgiveness, a standard formatted prayer does not seem worthy of the gift I’m being given. I wing it. I still get absolved.

2.) Well, what if you went to your friend’s house and when he or she opened the door, pushed aside him or her, flopped in a chair, and didn’t even say hello? The Lord God holds open house and is about to Give Himself to us, and it would be rude to ignore Him by not even acknowledging His Presence- esp. if the Tabernacle is up front and center. So, tell Him hi, how are You, maybe even mention a little bit about your week or what have you. Do you have to do it? No. But it would seem the polite thing to do.

3.) You are supposed to talk with Your Guest, the One who has just entered your body with His. How you do that is up to you.

4.) Mass ends when the priest says, “The Mass is ended, go in peace,” and the people reply, “Thanks be to God.” Again, polite people, esp. in the U.S., wait until the priest has either gone back to the sacristy, or made it to the narthex to shake hands. I have heard of other countries, and some people in the U.S., who “bag” after “Thanks be to God” and are on the sidewalk or in the parking lot before the priest can even get lined up to leave.

 

[PeteZaHut]

No. You expressed contrition and sorrow for your sins. The priest absolved you. The sins are forgiven. A person is free to recite whatever version of an act of contrition they wish. It can be short or long, from the bible, etc. Though I recommend you to memorize a standard one and use it often.

Yeah I’ve just got it memorized from repetition now. That happened when I first started going to Confession regularly. I go at school. They usually have an Act of Contrition taped in the room for us to read, but that particular week, confession was in a different room so it wasn’t in there. Caught me off guard!

Thanks for your answers everyone.

 

[LeahInancsi]

Items 1-3. I usually say a spontaneous prayer of thanksgiving, asking God for strength and direction and whatever else might be on my mind.

Item 4. Mass is over when the priest exits the sanctuary. The best rule of thumb is to sing the final hymn until the cantor ends the hymn.

 

[FoundSheep]

Hi Everybody in Christ
I'm new to the forums. In the past, I had forgotten the Act of Contrition, and the priest said it with me. Also, when I go to the pews before confession, I ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother to help me recall my sins. As far as after Communion, I pray fpr Jesus to continually come into my heart.I try to keep it simple, because it's a gift. Hope this helps!