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annb
Guest
What suggestions would you give to a fellow parishoner who was having trouble going to confession and knowing what should be confessed?
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JimG
Guest
You mean they are not sure of what actions or inactions in their lives are sinful?
They should examine their conscience. Unless one is a saint, there are many ways in which we are falling short. One might even ask a spouse or a trusted friend, “what are my main faults?” if that can be done without damage to the relationship.
But I really think that with a little reflection, one can discover one’s chief faults. If one has no serious or grave sin, then concentrate on a lesser bad habit that one would like to overcome. Confess that.
One can also use something like this examination of conscience to help in one’s own reflection.
I remember a person once saying that he never went to confession because he had nothing to confess. In my mind I thought of the many times he had been unkind to his wife in my presence and of his frequent irritability.
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annb
Guest
That’s a helpful website. There is a little credit card size cheat sheet you can take with you to confession.
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