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ATeutonicKnight
Guest
God knows what they are, yes, but he knows all of your Mortal sins, too. Does that mean you shouldn’t confess them, just because God knows what they are?
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TrueLight
Guest
It’s either you’re absolved or you’re not. That’s the way I see it.
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A_Catholic
Guest
Actually, I want to thank the OP for this link. My greatest fear in going to confession is that I am leaving out sins, or that I don’t recognize the sins I have committed. Contrary to the title of this thread, I feel this is one of the best examinations of conscience I have ever seen. We live in such an evil world that doesn’t even recognize sin and it is so easy to be contaminated by that. Having a sensitive conscience is a great grace.
On the subject of general confession, Francis de Sales highly recommends it in “Introduction To A Devout Life” and even gives instructions on how to do it. In our day I think the hardest part is finding a good priest!
On the subject of general confession, Francis de Sales highly recommends it in “Introduction To A Devout Life” and even gives instructions on how to do it. In our day I think the hardest part is finding a good priest!
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Sherry_G
Guest
No one is saying that you HAVE TO do this. Of course, this is a choice that some make in order to review/see patterns of sinfulness that have persisted over a span of time, receive more pastoral guidance, etc. Once your sins are confessed with true contrition and absolved by the priest in personna Christi, your sins are truly forgiven and do not have to be revisited. It’s only a choice, not a requirement.
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TrueLight
Guest
Okay.No one is saying that you HAVE TO do this. Of course, this is a choice that some make in order to review/see patterns of sinfulness that have persisted over a span of time, receive more pastoral guidance, etc. Once your sins are confessed with true contrition and absolved by the priest in personna Christi, your sins are truly forgiven and do not have to be revisited. It’s only a choice, not a requirement.
Do you know if a GC is required at an Ignatian retreat?
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Anathama_Sit
Guest
Greetings TrueLight,
No one said you had to make a General Confession.
God Bless.
Anathama Sit
O
Oneofthewomen
Guest
No, it is not “required”.Okay.
Do you know if a GC is required at an Ignatian retreat?
However, the very intimate and personal nature of the Exercises makes one look at their life very differently . The graces I received from the Exercises of the First week, which general confession is a part of helped me to more greatly appreiciate our loving & merciful God.
From the Spiritual Exercises:
I have posted a link to the Spiritual Exercises, but just a word of caution-
it is not meant to be “read”, but to be “practiced”.
And one should have a competent spiritual director that is well versed in the Ignatian way before one embarks on this journey.
The Spiritual Exercises are not something that one does “one their own.”
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TrueLight
Guest
Is it required to do a general confession at the start of spiritual direction? Remember folks, I had my first confession about 6 weeks ago and that was distressing enough- thank you very much!
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paperwight66
Guest
TrueLight, you do know that Canon Law 989 states that we are only obliged to confess mortal sins? (although confessing venial sins is highly recommended).
So the frequent claim on these boards that we have go to confession at least once a year is wrong. It is not a blanket requirement, but for those who are conscious of having committed mortal sins.
It’s very easy to become scrupulous and fearful and end up being dominated by scheduling Confession frequently. If confession makes you anxious and it’s an ordeal, and you aren’t conscious of mortal sin, then perhaps you should re-think the importance of confession for you.
Do you perhaps over-emphasise God as judge and not enough as God our loving Father? Jesus said that He had come to give us life to the full, and peace. He also told us to call God ‘Abba’, ‘Daddy’.
So the frequent claim on these boards that we have go to confession at least once a year is wrong. It is not a blanket requirement, but for those who are conscious of having committed mortal sins.
It’s very easy to become scrupulous and fearful and end up being dominated by scheduling Confession frequently. If confession makes you anxious and it’s an ordeal, and you aren’t conscious of mortal sin, then perhaps you should re-think the importance of confession for you.
Do you perhaps over-emphasise God as judge and not enough as God our loving Father? Jesus said that He had come to give us life to the full, and peace. He also told us to call God ‘Abba’, ‘Daddy’.
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asia53
Guest
You’ll do just fine, TL!
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TrueLight
Guest
Not at all. I’m an ex-Evangelical. There is a lot of emphasis on one’s personal relationship with Christ.
None of the above.
I tend to be very calm and so not scrupulous.
My first confession was scary and embarassing. I’ve had two more since my first and they have been fine.
I’m asking specifically about the general confession. I know someone who went to an Ignatian retreat and did a general confession.
I do know if I do a retreat in the future, I would not want to rehash these same old things. So I wanted to know if it was a mandatory part of the retreat or if one day God blesses me with a spiritual director, I will have to repeat these sins again.
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
I have done the Spritual Exercises in the 19th Annotation form.
As I said, a general confession is not required.
Did you read what I posted from the Exercises in post # 27?
I can say that even though I had frequently received the Sacrament of Reconcilliation prior to my doing the Exercises, my “general confession” was a very moving experience. In preparing for it, with the help of the exercises of the first week, the graces I received were more than I ever imagined.
I still confess on a regular basis (at least monthly, more if needed) and at my own choosing, and at the recommendaton of my spiritual director/confessor, I still make a “general confession” once per year, usually sometime during the Lenten season.
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TrueLight
Guest
Thanks for posting from the exercises. I can see how a general confession can be helpful.
Don’t worry. I am not inclined to start these on my own at all.
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ANNE_2
Guest
Whenever in doubt, always use the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” (dark green cover) from the Church Magisterium.
The CCC is free of human misinterpretation and human error.
The Vatican web site can also answer many questions.
On confessing Venial sins:
CCC - " 1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.
By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:
Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God.
Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” - this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” - this is what man himself has made.
Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works.
The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light. "
On general confession and general absolution -
CCC - " 1483 In case of grave necessity recourse may be had to a communal celebration of reconciliation with general confession and general absolution.
Grave necessity of this sort can arise when there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time for the priest or priests to hear each penitent’s confession.
Grave necessity can also exist when, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors to hear individual confessions properly in a reasonable time, so that the penitents through no fault of their own would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time.
In this case, for the absolution to be valid the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their grave sins in the time required. The diocesan bishop is the judge of whether or not the conditions required for general absolution exist.
A large gathering of the faithful on the occasion of major feasts or pilgrimages does not constitute a case of grave necessity."
(Also see Code of Canon Law # 961 vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3F.HTM )
On Venial Sins and Plenary Indulgences -
We may not obtain a Plenary Indulgence when we are in the state of Venial Sin. Confession is one of the requirements.
See " Manual of Indulgences" (Enchiridion Indulgentairum; Normae et Concessiones by the Holy See).
If anyone says something is from the CCC, and it does not sound correct, check it out yourself.
We have an obligation to do so to form a correct conscience.
The CCC is free of human misinterpretation and human error.
The Vatican web site can also answer many questions.
On confessing Venial sins:
CCC - " 1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.
By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:
Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God.
Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” - this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” - this is what man himself has made.
Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works.
The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light. "
On general confession and general absolution -
CCC - " 1483 In case of grave necessity recourse may be had to a communal celebration of reconciliation with general confession and general absolution.
Grave necessity of this sort can arise when there is imminent danger of death without sufficient time for the priest or priests to hear each penitent’s confession.
Grave necessity can also exist when, given the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors to hear individual confessions properly in a reasonable time, so that the penitents through no fault of their own would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time.
In this case, for the absolution to be valid the faithful must have the intention of individually confessing their grave sins in the time required. The diocesan bishop is the judge of whether or not the conditions required for general absolution exist.
A large gathering of the faithful on the occasion of major feasts or pilgrimages does not constitute a case of grave necessity."
(Also see Code of Canon Law # 961 vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3F.HTM )
On Venial Sins and Plenary Indulgences -
We may not obtain a Plenary Indulgence when we are in the state of Venial Sin. Confession is one of the requirements.
See " Manual of Indulgences" (Enchiridion Indulgentairum; Normae et Concessiones by the Holy See).
If anyone says something is from the CCC, and it does not sound correct, check it out yourself.
We have an obligation to do so to form a correct conscience.
J
jm0rr0w
Guest
The examination of conscience originally referenced is much like the one offered at The Penance Project. Instead of precepts the seven deadly sins are used along with the ten commandments.
Here is a link to the examination of conscience at The Penance Project.
Here is a link to the examination of conscience at The Penance Project.
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ATeutonicKnight
Guest
Thank you so much. You’re a life-saver. I’ll use this as an examination of conscience until I order some official books on confession. When I used the last one, even though I lost the original paper I wrote, when I thought about it and wrote another based off of it, I had written down at least thirty-two sins, and they were all generalized (Except the Mortal ones and the ones Father asked more information about). I’ll use this and hopefully my confessions won’t be fifteen minutes long anymore.
J
jm0rr0w
Guest
Your welcome. I hope it is a soul-saver or at least an assistant. The most important part in doing a good examination of conscience is prayer and reflection. Slow down, go to a quiet place, and pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit in calling to mind your sins. After praying to the Holy Spirit stop and listen for a bit, think about how you may of sinned, and then read through the examination of conscience questions and think about the answers etc. There is never going to be a perfect guide (website, book, mobile app) that will do what our prayers and quite reflections will do.
The examinations referenced may be extensive or brief, but they are only tools to help. We should never focus so much on the tools that we neglect to do the prayer, reflection, and meditation.
No matter what else you use to examine your conscience remember it is much more important to make a good confession than it is to make a quick one.
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ATeutonicKnight
Guest
So true. If only more people knew this.Your welcome. I hope it is a soul-saver or at least an assistant. The most important part in doing a good examination of conscience is prayer and reflection. Slow down, go to a quiet place, and pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit in calling to mind your sins. After praying to the Holy Spirit stop and listen for a bit, think about how you may of sinned, and then read through the examination of conscience questions and think about the answers etc. There is never going to be a perfect guide (website, book, mobile app) that will do what our prayers and quite reflections will do.
The examinations referenced may be extensive or brief, but they are only tools to help. We should never focus so much on the tools that we neglect to do the prayer, reflection, and meditation.
No matter what else you use to examine your conscience remember it is much more important to make a good confession than it is to make a quick one.
I wouldn’t worry about me doing a quick confession. My last confession took fifteen minutes.
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SaintGobban
Guest
I believe that examination is very close to almost every other examination of conscience that I have ever read. It is also very close to the way we were taught to examine our conscience when in grade school and high school, Commandment by Commandment.
I’m not really understanding what the problem is with it, at all.
I’m not really understanding what the problem is with it, at all.
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ATeutonicKnight
Guest
The problem was by the end I had thirty-two sins written down because of it and I was afraid that Father would be angry with me.
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