Time to confess

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fenderstrokes

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I have recently returned to the Church. I’m pretty sure that I have been fighting against Christ for a very long time and I want to give that up before its too late. Having realized the gravity of my sins throughout my life, I know I need forgiveness. I want to attend confession but I don’t really know what to do…Do I need to say an Act of Contrition with the priest in the confessional? I don’t want to look foolish…but I really don’t know how to confess.Is confession a good first step?

Saddly, there are probably a hundred mortal sins (I think) that I have done throughout my 26 years but I am not sure if I will remember them all. For example, if I have lusted, and like Jesus said, already committed adultery…do I have to confess that specific time…or do I just confess that I have committed this sin countless times? There might be a thousand examples of that for me. 😦

Hope someone can give me some advice.
 
Fenderstrokes,

Great to hear you are returning to Mother Church!!

Myself, I’m coming into the Church this Easter, and despite all the RCIA and my own reading, I still don’t feel completely prepared for the 1st General Confession (just over a week away!). However, I’m sure I’ll do fine, I’m preparing, probably I’ll tell him too much instead of not enough. I have no experience, probably you have way more than I do, since you used to be Catholic. But your priest should be able to guide you through it in the rough spots you need help with. Your question in the 2nd paragraph… God knows your heart, so perhaps attempt to express, along with specific sins, the state of your heart at those times that led you to fall into the sins, so that the priest and God will “be on the same page” so to speak.

Anything you can read to kind of help you organize and examine your conscience, like those 2 articles stbruno linked to, will help.

In RCIA, we went through the 10 Commandments, and the priest used that as a form to help us find the sins we’ve committed. If you have anything that goes into detail on things regarding what all’s involved with the 10 Commandments, that would be an excellent reference also.

Prepare, Don’t Despair!

-Rob
 
I am so ready to answer this! I just made my first confession today, ever. And I had a lot to confess (40 years worth). I didn’t know what I was doing and I just told the priest first thing that this was my first confession and I didn’t know how it worked.

He was very kind, and said not to worry, he would walk me through my examination of conscience. We covered everything under the sun, I was very much at ease with him and in the end he even gave me a card that had the Act of Contrition prayers or I could pray my own words.

It was beautiful, I’m still walking on the clouds. Get to it, you will be so relieved!

DO NOT BE AFRAID !!! 😉
 
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fenderstrokes:
I want to attend confession but I don’t really know what to do…
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Well, you came to the right place for help.
Do I need to say an Act of Contrition with the priest in the confessional?
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Generally, yes. You can bring a copy in with you if you like, or ask the priest for help, or even just sincerely use your own words to express sorrow. Not too much to fret about, then.
I don’t want to look foolish…
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Why not? Isn’t that sort of the idea, afterall… to reveal your foolishness? “Bless me Father, I’ve been a fool!” 😉
…but I really don’t know how to confess.
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Just explain this (and that you’ve been away for some time) to the priest. He should be happy to help.
Is confession a good first step?
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Absolutely!
Saddly, there are probably a hundred mortal sins (I think) that I have done throughout my 26 years…
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The just man falls seven times a day. 100 isn’t so bad, all things compared, then.
… but I am not sure if I will remember them all.
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Just do the best you can to reveal everything you recall. That’s all you have to do.
For example, if I have lusted, and like Jesus said, already committed adultery…do I have to confess that specific time…or do I just confess that I have committed this sin countless times? There might be a thousand examples of that for me. 😦
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You just note the nature of the sin and how often (generally speaking if you don’t have an actual count) you’ve committed it. No need to get into gory details.
Hope someone can give me some advice.
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I hope so too! 🙂
 
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fenderstrokes:
I have recently returned to the Church. I’m pretty sure that I have been fighting against Christ for a very long time and I want to give that up before its too late. Having realized the gravity of my sins throughout my life, I know I need forgiveness. I want to attend confession but I don’t really know what to do…Do I need to say an Act of Contrition with the priest in the confessional? I don’t want to look foolish…but I really don’t know how to confess.Is confession a good first step?

Saddly, there are probably a hundred mortal sins (I think) that I have done throughout my 26 years but I am not sure if I will remember them all. For example, if I have lusted, and like Jesus said, already committed adultery…do I have to confess that specific time…or do I just confess that I have committed this sin countless times? There might be a thousand examples of that for me. 😦

Hope someone can give me some advice.
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Fear not. About six months ago I was where you are now. I had not been to church or anything remotely connected with the church in many, many years. I was terrified, but I knew I had to get right with God. I did not ever not believe what I had been taught thru 12 years of Catholic education, but just too selfish to perform accordingly.

I got up the courage to go to confession and am now in the state of grace. Was it hard, absolutely. Was it worth it, absolutely. I told the priest when I first began that I had not been in many years and please help me. He was kind, thoughtful, even told me he had heard much worse and gave me a penance that seemed far too easy to me. But he also said that it was obvious that I had suffered during this time of alienation from the church.

Just go. When I went, there were two acts of contrition on the kneeler and the priest told me to use one. Last night, when our parish had a reconciliation service and nine priests from throughout the area to hear private confessions, the ushers handed out “Examination of Conscience” leaflets and a card with an Act of Contrition on it. But I think any Act of Contrition will do.

I pray for you to have the courage to receive the forgiveness of God thru confession. God bless you.
 
I’m handicapped & can’t go to mass.So the priest comes to me 1to2 times a yr.

He is more than happy to help.
Oh I do get communion from anEM on Sundays. 🙂
 
Fenderstrokes!

Good for you for responding to the graces the Lord has sent you.
He LOVES YOU and waits for you to meet him in confession. You are confessing to HIM - just pour your heart out in all honesty- He knows your sins before you say them.

Before you go, spend time before the tabernacle and pray for Our Lady to assist you - she will help you. 🙂

Just tell the priest - who is there in persona Christi - that you haven’t been to confession in a loooong, and he will help you step by step. Don’t hurry, and ask any question you have.

I also highly recommend face-to-face confession if you can handle it. I don’t always do this, but in circumstances where I need to work through a problem - the greatest graces are gained this way.

Be prepared for the joy that will be poured upon you after you have confessed. Confession is better then any medicene or psychotherapy.

God Bless YOU!
 
As foolish as you might think you look, it’s mighty hard to shock a priest! They’ve heard it all! :eek:

❤️
 
Thank you all for helping me. You are all awesome…and after having a tough day…it is really refreshing to have your support.

Thanks again.
 
Can’t promise it gets easier - I’ve been going weekly during Lent and I still get very nervous when I’m sitting in line, but the worst bit I think is not knowing what to expect the first time round.

It’s a trick of the devil to get you not to go, so grit your teeth and confess your worst sins first so as not to forget or chicken out of them.
 
I would just like to add one suggestion. Because you will be making a more lengthy general confession, you should probably call the parish office and make an appointment with a priest, so he can set aside some time for you. I know when I came back to the Church, my confession lasted about an hour (20 years worth), which would definitely been inappropriate for the regularly schuduled confession time. Anyhow, by making a personal appointment, there will generally be no time constraints (priests are busy people), and your priest will be able to walk you through the process at a more comfortable and relaxed pace.

I am so happy for you, fenderstrokes! Just thinking about the joy and peace I receive from confession and reconciliation (especially that first one) lets me know that this will be a wonderful experience of God’s grace for you.
 
Welcome Home FenderStrokes! I would definitely make an appointment with your pastor and explain that you haven’t been around for a while. He will lead you through and help you out. Don’t worry about exact numbers since they are impossible anyway…alot usually suffices for the priest to get the idea that this is a problem area for you.
 
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