Three Confession Questions

[Insomniac]

1. I can’t remember the exact date of my last confession. So, I can’t give an accurate interval… Is it permissible to say something to the efect of “My last confession was 2-3 months ago?”
2. How does one do a proper examination of conscience?
3. And, what I feel is most important: How does one know if they are truley contrite? When I go to confession, it is because I

1. Hate the stains of [mortal] sin on my soul. I feel that in some ways, anything I do while in mortal sin is somehow corrupted… it is a very uncomfortable (and probably scrupulous) thought.
   2)Fear the consequences of dying without confession. No explaination need, I think.
   Neither of these really seem to be reasons of contriteness, but rather with my own attitudes to having sin on my soul… my desire to get a good spiritual scrubbing of sorts… Oh I don’t know. I think I’m rambling now, so I’ll stop.

 

[Kristopher]

1. …Is it permissible to say something to the efect of “My last confession was 2-3 months ago?”
2. How does one do a proper examination of conscience?
3. …How does one know if they are truley contrite? When I go to confession, it is because I

1. Hate the stains of [mortal] sin on my soul. I feel that in some ways, anything I do while in mortal sin is somehow corrupted… it is a very uncomfortable (and probably scrupulous) thought.
   2)Fear the consequences of dying without confession. No explaination need, I think.
   Neither of these really seem to be reasons of contriteness, but rather with my own attitudes to having sin on my soul… my desire to get a good spiritual scrubbing of sorts… Oh I don’t know. I think I’m rambling now, so I’ll stop.

Dear Insomniac, et. al.:

You ought to ask a priest, but yes, give the best estimate of when you last confessed, not much more unless you can do more than this.

You confess to a priest, because it is his place to judge that you are contrite that you are willing to amend the situation by means of grace available to you, Communion, and your intelligence, and your freewill, in consideration of the grace God may give you that your soul might reside immortally in Heaven, as opposed to in Hell.

Pray a good act of contrition, more power to you.

Most sincerely,

Kristopher

P.S. An examination of conscience can be very simple, brief, yet quite thorough: reference The Decalogue, The Ten Commandments, and boil it down to the summary of the ten if you have to–Love God, Love your neighbor: have you? What have you omitted; what have you committed? Is your sin(s) one of thought, of deed, of word? Reference The Beatitudes, an exposition of them, have you lived them? Reference the precepts of the Church, have you violated them? State the frequency as best you can that you have violated each of these, whichever set, or all of them that you choose to reference. Keep it short and sweet, KISS.

Use three, or two three by five cards, and memorize The Apostle’s Creed, and reference which of the twelve of these articles you have doubted–simply confess what is most on your heart: confess temptations; confess what you have done as a mortal sin in the past, though you already have been forgiven.

 

[thistle]

1. I can’t remember the exact date of my last confession. So, I can’t give an accurate interval… Is it permissible to say something to the efect of “My last confession was 2-3 months ago?”
2. How does one do a proper examination of conscience?
3. And, what I feel is most important: How does one know if they are truley contrite? When I go to confession, it is because I

1. Hate the stains of [mortal] sin on my soul. I feel that in some ways, anything I do while in mortal sin is somehow corrupted… it is a very uncomfortable (and probably scrupulous) thought.
   2)Fear the consequences of dying without confession. No explaination need, I think.
   Neither of these really seem to be reasons of contriteness, but rather with my own attitudes to having sin on my soul… my desire to get a good spiritual scrubbing of sorts… Oh I don’t know. I think I’m rambling now, so I’ll stop.

For examination of conscience see this site:

catholic.org/frz/examen/mortal_main.htm

 

[puzzleannie]

1.3. And, what I feel is most important: How does one know if they are truley contrite? p.

just read the standard act of contrition, which acknowledges both of the reasons you state, and adds a desire for perfect contrition. Is that how you feel, or how you would like to feel if you could? Then recite the prayer with confidence that you have true contrition.

for an examination of conscience, for the excellent habit of reviewing the events of the day every evening before bedtime, asking forgiveness of any sins, making a resolution for tomorrow, and sleeping with a peaceful conscience. when preparing for confession, slowly, prayerfully reflect on the 10 commandments and the beatitudes and the precepts of the Church, and judge your conduct on that basis. don’t agonize about the exact definition of each sin, just say what happened (or what was neglected) and how often or how persistently, with only enough detail to identify the sin (no long autobiography is needed.).

the “good spiritual scrubbing” is the effect of the sacrament, of Christ’s grace working in you through the sacrament, independent of any action on your part other than the desire for the good effects of the sacrament. As long as you confess what you can remember, and have not formed a habit of deliberately forgetting or ignoring habitual sin, and express contrition to the best of your ability, you are cooperating with the grace of the sacrament.