Returning Catholic/Reconciliation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dennis_Donahue
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Dennis_Donahue

Guest
Hi! I’m about to return to the Church after a very long absence. I have been praying and examining my conscience for weeks now preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s been a very spiritual journey! I’m wondering though if I have to quantify each transgression. It’s been well over 25 years since my last confession and I have failed God many times in many ways. It is very difficult to remember the NUMBER of sins. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank You!
 
Dennis_Donahue said:
Hi! I’m about to return to the Church after a very long absence. I have been praying and examining my conscience for weeks now preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s been a very spiritual journey! I’m wondering though if I have to quantify each transgression. It’s been well over 25 years since my last confession and I have failed God many times in many ways. It is very difficult to remember the NUMBER of sins. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank You!
Click to expand...
The greatest thing about the Sacrament of Reconciliation is that you can do it completely wrong, and it still works. 👍

(I wish everything else worked like that - my life would be so much easier.)

Just do your very best, and know that God accepts your sorrow and your repentance just as the Prodigal Father accepted the return of his wayward son - He is not counting up to make sure you get the numbers right, or calculating to see if you remembered every stupid thing you ever did - He accepts your best effort, and demands nothing more than that.

Welcome back. 🙂
 
Welcome home! 😃

Just give it your best shot. Try to give the “big sins”…the one’s that are grave matter.

The priest will help you out a lot. When you go, you might want to start with how long you have been away from the Church. As long as you don’t intentionally leave out any grave sins, you will be absolved for all of your sins.
 
A priest I know used to tell us this. Think about a hole in a wooden fence. You see gobs of fruit on the other side and you can help youself to as much as you can but you have to cut a hole first. He said you dont cut a small hole to get out a strawberry, then cut a bigger hole to get a lemon, then cut a bigger hold to get an apple etc., etc. He said you cut a large hole to get the watermelon out then all the rest is easy pickings. He said same way with confession. You confess the big ones first then the rest come very easy.
Beside you will make the priest very happy and heaven and all the angels will rejoice :extrahappy: to welcome you back.
A priest I go to always ends, after he gives absolution with, “Give thank to the Lord for He is Good. His Mercy endures forever”.

God Bless You…
 
You must give your best estimate of the number of time for all MORTAL (serious) sins. It does not have to be an exact number. Something like “about twice a week over the past seven years” is perfectly OK. You don’t have to do the math! Just so the priest has a good idea of the frequency.

You do not need to confess the number of times for VENIAL (less serious) sins. In fact, you are not obligated to confess all your venial sins, but it is a good idea to confess the ones that give you the most trouble, as the sacrament gives you specific graces to overcome the sins you do confess.

As long as you confess ALL your mortal sins (or at least one venial sin if you are sure you have committed no mortal sins), ALL your sins are forgiven.
 
Dennis_Donahue said:
Hi! I’m about to return to the Church after a very long absence. I have been praying and examining my conscience for weeks now preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s been a very spiritual journey! I’m wondering though if I have to quantify each transgression. It’s been well over 25 years since my last confession and I have failed God many times in many ways. It is very difficult to remember the NUMBER of sins. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank You!
Click to expand...
I would just follow the guidance of your pastor or parish priest who is guiding your return on the matter.
 
Dennis_Donahue said:
Hi! I’m about to return to the Church after a very long absence. I have been praying and examining my conscience for weeks now preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s been a very spiritual journey! I’m wondering though if I have to quantify each transgression. It’s been well over 25 years since my last confession and I have failed God many times in many ways. It is very difficult to remember the NUMBER of sins. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank You!
Click to expand...
Welcome home.

I was 44 years old when I converted from being a Methodist to becoming a Catholic so I had a lot more to remember than you.
Don’t worry about numbers. You do not have to be exact. Use expressions like: over the years I have committed many times the sin of…
 
Welcome back! Frequently, often, sometimes, and occasionally are acceptable for those you are unsure of. Like the other posters have mentioned, though, be sure to let the priest know how long it has been since your last confession. Don’t be afraid to let him know if you’re having any difficulties, as it will help him determine how best to help you make a good and thorough confession.

Ericka
 
Welcome Home, my story is nearly the same as Thistle, but I was 42 when I converted. I wrote out all the ‘big sins’ and did up a cheat sheet because I was so afraid to go to confession. I’m glad I did, because i cried the whole way thru it and needed the memory jog here and there. But it was the most cleasning experience of my life, I’ll never forget that first time and the good priest that put up with it.

Now I go and have no problems, but I still took the cheat sheet for awhile in case I got stuck.
 
Dennis,
I also had a very long absence, so much so ,that i almost forgot what to say in the confessional, and had to confess that to my priest…He will help you through…The church has made alot of changes and seems much more welcoming from years gone by…Welcome back and i always heard, Christ is not like us humans, he hears your confession and forgives ,and doesn’t bring it up again…What a journey you are embarking on once again our brother in Christ…God Bless you …With Warmth & Aloha, Sis in Christ, LynneMarie
 
Dennis_Donahue said:
Hi! I’m about to return to the Church after a very long absence. I have been praying and examining my conscience for weeks now preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s been a very spiritual journey! I’m wondering though if I have to quantify each transgression. It’s been well over 25 years since my last confession and I have failed God many times in many ways. It is very difficult to remember the NUMBER of sins. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank You!
Click to expand...
Sounds like you kow exactly what to say…
Bless me father for I have sinned, it’s been 25 years since my last confession. I have failed God many times in many ways. It is very difficult to remember the number of sins…so these are my sins.
Oh wait till you see how your life is gonna change. You are about to make the angels sing. Praise God.
I too had been away from confession for 25 years, now it’s something I desire to do. It’s …just amazing.
 
+
Hello Dennis! I just recently came home and found myself in much the same predicament as you ~ I knew I couldn’t remember everything that I’d done in my years away. I was mulling over that fact one evening when I suddenly realized that I didn’t know everything but I knew someone who did and he wanted desprately for me to be whole again…to be home again. I realized that I was truly sorry for ALL my sins, not just the ones I could remember-and I understood that having that true sorrow was the important part. So a few days later Our Lord led me to the reconciliation room and back home to His Church.

Peace be with you my friend.

Edgar
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top