Suggestions regarding Confession (a confession of a confession)

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jmoburg

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Tonight I finally made it to a confession. 9 years since my last, but after attending Mass this morning and seeing that yes, between 7 & 7:45 tonight, there would be a priest hearing confessions, I knew I needed to go.

I clammed up-- got nervous, I knew there was a line outside waiting, and lost the laundry list of topics I wanted to discuss. I told the priest that I had not said everything I wanted, and that maybe today was a “part 1 of two or more” for a confession. He was understanding. I felt so unprepared but yet glad that I went there. I didn’t feel the cleaning of my personal slate as I had 9 years earlier (but at that time, I had been attending church more, confessing more regularly, & didn’t have so much to remember).

Do people bring lists with them, or should it all be from memory?
Should I be nervous about the time, and other’s outside?
Act of Contrition … I know I’ve forgotten it… preparing for confession… I don’t feel I prepared enough, but I’m not sure how.

Any thoughts?
God Bless!!!
 
People bring lists all the time. It’s effective for making sure you remember everything. No, others outside can’t hear you, unless they’ve got their ear at the wall. Even if they could, why should they care? Further, the priest has no trouble helping you through the Act. I’ve been to confessionals where there is a laminated card in case you don’t know it, or are prone to nervous amnesia. Try to learn it, though.
 
I try to do an examination of conscience every night before going to sleep and then say an act of contrition at that point as well. That could help you remember it quickly. I also write down my sins at that point in time so I don’t do a quick scramble before confession.

Also, I use a little booklet that I found from Leaflet Missal Company titled Examination of Conscience.
 
jmoburg said:
Tonight I finally made it to a confession. 9 years since my last, but after attending Mass this morning and seeing that yes, between 7 & 7:45 tonight, there would be a priest hearing confessions, I knew I needed to go.

I clammed up-- got nervous, I knew there was a line outside waiting, and lost the laundry list of topics I wanted to discuss. I told the priest that I had not said everything I wanted, and that maybe today was a “part 1 of two or more” for a confession. He was understanding. I felt so unprepared but yet glad that I went there. I didn’t feel the cleaning of my personal slate as I had 9 years earlier (but at that time, I had been attending church more, confessing more regularly, & didn’t have so much to remember).

Do people bring lists with them, or should it all be from memory?
Should I be nervous about the time, and other’s outside?
Act of Contrition … I know I’ve forgotten it… preparing for confession… I don’t feel I prepared enough, but I’m not sure how.

Any thoughts?
God Bless!!!
Click to expand...
You don’t need to bring a list with you. There are only 10 commandments and 6-8 (I’ve seen different lists- I’m not sure on the official count) precepts of the Church. There are only so many ways you can break them seriously enough for them to be mortal sins. If you forget something, just mention it whenever you think about it in confession. It’s good to be thorough in your examination of conscience and your confession (but don’t take too long! When you’re in there for a long time every time you go, you may be a near occasion of sin for the people waiting on you), but that can turn into scrupulosity if you’re not careful- which is not holiness or piety at all- it is a spiritual disorder.
 
I agree that an extensive list could lead to scrupulosity. However, reconciliation is a sacrament of healing, and we need to get to the root of our sins so that we can become more holy. A list can help the priest guide us to avoid committing that sin in the future. I use a list to help me remember what I did a month ago so that I can make a better confession. Going into the confessional and saying I broke 2, 4, 6, and 10 this month (an exaggeration) does not help the priest to guide us. This could lead to a robotic type of faith.
 
jmoburg said:
Tonight I finally made it to a confession. 9 years since my last, but after attending Mass this morning and seeing that yes, between 7 & 7:45 tonight, there would be a priest hearing confessions, I knew I needed to go.

I clammed up-- got nervous, I knew there was a line outside waiting, and lost the laundry list of topics I wanted to discuss. I told the priest that I had not said everything I wanted, and that maybe today was a “part 1 of two or more” for a confession. He was understanding. I felt so unprepared but yet glad that I went there. I didn’t feel the cleaning of my personal slate as I had 9 years earlier (but at that time, I had been attending church more, confessing more regularly, & didn’t have so much to remember).

Do people bring lists with them, or should it all be from memory?
Should I be nervous about the time, and other’s outside?
Act of Contrition … I know I’ve forgotten it… preparing for confession… I don’t feel I prepared enough, but I’m not sure how.

Any thoughts?
God Bless!!!
Click to expand...
HEY! CONGRATULATIONS!:extrahappy:

Now try not to let so much time slip away next time.😉 The Sacrament of Confession is wonderful and each time I make a confession, I feel like celebrating!

God is merciful and I am soooo thankful for that!
 
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