That time of year again

[Albany]

Hey,

It’s that time of year again when we have to man up and go to confession.

I so don’t want to is there any way I can continue with the year receiving the sacraments without having to go to confession before Easter.

Albany
X

 

[Castello]

Wow, if you can go an entire year without committing a serious sin you are a living saint.

We must go to confession regularly, every time we commit serious sin - putting them all off til once a year risks dying in a state of grave sin and also does not permit us to receive the Eucharist.

Start this week, make an appointment for confession then make it a regular part of your life (at least once per month).

No, you cannot receive the Eucharist if you have any serious sin and have not been to confession.

 

[Mystrx]

Hey,

It’s that time of year again when we have to man up and go to confession.

I so don’t want to is there any way I can continue with the year receiving the sacraments without having to go to confession before Easter.

Albany
X

No, go and confess.

 

[Albany]

Hey thanks for replying so quickly.

I will really try and go before Easter, I still have a while to build up the courage. But no way could I put myself through it ever month. You’re really brave Costello .

Thanks again

A
X

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Wow, if you can go an entire year without committing a serious sin you are a living saint.

The saints didn’t commit mortal sins. Many of them went to confession as often as possible, some even daily, in order to obtain more graces for living a devout life. Staying out of mortal sin is the only the very beginning of the devout life. We’re supposed to be perfect.

 

[CDB1718]

Hey thanks for replying so quickly.

I will really try and go before Easter, I still have a while to build up the courage. But no way could I put myself through it ever month. You’re really brave Costello .

Thanks again

A
X

You get used to it when you go more often. By waiting for a year, you allow anxiety to grow disproportionate to the fear.

It’s just like taking your vitamins. At first, it is a real hassle. You have to first remember them and then choke down what seems to be horse pills! After a while, you don’t mind it and you can swallow them easily but still have to remind yourself. A while more and you don’t even notice because it is part of the routine.

Go to confession. And then don’t wait for another year!

 

[superamazingman]

You get used to it when you go more often. By waiting for a year, you allow anxiety to grow disproportionate to the fear.

It’s just like taking your vitamins. At first, it is a real hassle. You have to first remember them and then choke down what seems to be horse pills! After a while, you don’t mind it and you can swallow them easily but still have to remind yourself. A while more and you don’t even notice because it is part of the routine.

Go to confession. And then don’t wait for another year!

It’ll be bad at first, but you really need to go more often than once a year. I now go once a week, and it was hard at first, but after a while, it became much easier.

 

[DoGodsBidding]

Hey thanks for replying so quickly.

I will really try and go before Easter, I still have a while to build up the courage. But no way could I put myself through it ever month. You’re really brave Costello .

Thanks again

A
X

So you only go to the Doctor once a year regardless of your physical health?

DGB

 

[Catholic90]

So you only go to the Doctor once a year regardless of your physical health?

DGB

Well, yeah…how often do you go to the doctor?

I never get sick enough to go to the doctor other than for “well checks”, so why should I go more often? And actually, I don’t even go for “well checks” every year, cuz everything always checks out good.

 

[LegoGE1947]

Well, yeah…how often do you go to the doctor?

I never get sick enough to go to the doctor other than for “well checks”, so why should I go more often? And actually, I don’t even go for “well checks” every year, cuz everything always checks out good.

When I saw the title of this thread “That time of the Year Again” I was expecting to read about the coming switch to Daylight Savings Time (coming to a clock near you March 11, 2012)

 

[DoGodsBidding]

Well, yeah…how often do you go to the doctor?

I never get sick enough to go to the doctor other than for “well checks”, so why should I go more often? And actually, I don’t even go for “well checks” every year, cuz everything always checks out good.

My point is just as we go to the Doctor when we are sick, we should go to Confession when we are spiritually ill. I had chest pains recently and I went to the emergency room. I didn’t wait for my once per year check-up. When I commit a Mortal Sin, I go to Reconciliation, and I go as soon as I can. I have even used the Diocesian web-site to find the first available Reconciliation celebration in the area, and then gone. Reconciliation is a wonderful sacrament of healing, and I am grateful that Jesus gave it to us.

DGB

 

[Albany]

Hey all,

Thanks so much for the replies. I’ll take all your advice on board but I think if I can just manage once a year that will be an achievement for me.
I admire you all for going so often.
One reason I hate going is I become very silent and can hardly say a word even though I had it all in my head before I’d go in and years ago I tried the old list approach which was even worse. But I’m actually quite outgoing and usually have no trouble speaking up in life. But I guess that’s just the way God wants me to be.

Thanks again for the replies,

A
xx

P.S. I don’t go to the doctor every year

 

[Batfink]

I second what everyone else has said about the more you go, the easier it gets.

If you want more specific advice, I say:
a) Consider trying a different ‘form’ (in the non technical sense) of Confession from what you usually do. If you always go face-to-face, try behind the screen (or vice versa). If you always go to a scheduled Confession time, trying calling the parish and making an appointment to come at a different time (in a big enough parish or community you may be able to just drop in and see if someone’s available, but don’t count on it). If you always go on your own, try bringing a friend to a communal reconciliation service with individual Confession. You get the idea…

b) If you’re anywhere near either Edinburgh or Glasgow I heartily recommend the Dominican priests there. Edinburgh in particular has 4 excellent priests (which is the whole community, they don’t have 4 excellent priests and x other priests!). If you want my personal opinion, you could try Fr Lawrence Lew, but they’re all great.

c) You could read Fr Z’s tips

Just do it!

Best wishes. I will pray for you.

 

[Albany]

Hey thanks Batfink for the link to the twenty tips. I didn’t know about the Seal or that priests went to confession too, that must be really weird especially as they live with each other or near each others parishes.

Hey do you know any good places to go for confession in Glasgow as Edinburgh if a bit far for me.

Albany
XX

 

[Dicerning]

Hey,

It’s that time of year again when we have to man up and go to confession.

I so don’t want to is there any way I can continue with the year receiving the sacraments without having to go to confession before Easter.

Albany
X

I go at least once per month and find that going more often eliminates any anxiety that may occur.
On a side note I utterly impressed that you can go a whole year without confession.

 

[Batfink]

See, we learn something new everyday!

Priests often go to confession a bit further afield with priests they don’t work with all the time so it’s not as weird, but they do often confess to their local friends as well (some take it in turns to confess to one another). My priest usually goes elsewhere, but if he needs to confess before Mass then he will go to one of the other priests in our own parish and he lives with them full-time…if they can do that then we can make an effort too

Glasgow has Dominicans too! Fr Euan Marley is very good, he is the parish priest. I don’t know who else is in that community at the moment but I’m sure they’re all fab. If Fr. Aelred Connelly is still there, he would be good too.

They are at the parish of St. Columba, 74 Hopehill Road, Glasgow G20 7HH.