Understanding the parts of Confession

[Theosis]

Good Morning, brothers and sisters. Please help me in understanding; I wish to be obedient to God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I am in need of some guidance.

When we are in the Confessional and confessing our sins, I know the Priest may ask questions about this or that in order to help understand either severity or to give some guidance how to better situate ourselves moving forward and then he will give us a penance and then, after our Act of Contrition, Absolution…

My question is:

When the Priest is giving us his “advice” or “counsel” before he gives us our Penance, must we do whatever he is saying during this “advice” or counsel? I understand with certainty that we need to do our Penance, but am weak in understanding as to if we are bound to do exactly what he says in this “instruction” period before he says “for your penance…”

If possible, I may go ask a Priest today concerning this for clarity and understanding.

Thank you.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

When the Priest is giving us his “advice” or “counsel” before he gives us our Penance, must we do whatever he is saying during this “advice” or counsel? I understand with certainty that we need to do our Penance, but am weak in understanding as to if we are bound to do exactly what he says in this “instruction” period before he says “for your penance…

No. It’s advice, not some kind of binding legal judgment.

 

[Polak]

Yep that is pretty much how I viewed it. Advice and guidance to help you try and avoid whatever sins you are confessing.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

He’s not talking to hear himself or for the sake of filling time, but it’s also not binding. You should give it some serious consideration most of the time, I would think, and then determine what you’re going to actually do to live a better Christian life.

By the way, the Act of Contrition (as a recited prayer on your part) may not always occur within the confession, nor is it required, although it is typical. If the priest determines you to be sincerely sorry, you may need to make your Act outside afterward.

 

[Theosis]

Thank you to all who have taken the time to supply their answers. I appreciate you; God bless and keep you now and always!

Let’s pray for one another! Thank you.

 

[Montrose]

He’s not talking to hear himself or for the sake of filling time, but it’s also not binding. You should give it some serious consideration most of the time, I would think, and then determine what you’re going to actually do to live a better Christian life.

By the way, the Act of Contrition (as a recited prayer on your part) may not always occur within the confession, nor is it required, although it is typical. If the priest determines you to be sincerely sorry, you may need to make your Act outside afterward.

At our parish Church the priest tells us to make an act of contrition in Church before we leave. I have never had to do it while in Confession.
Frankly, that suits me better because I can then do the penance I have been given so everything done before leaving Church.

 

[Vico]

…
At our parish Church the priest tells us to make an act of contrition in Church before we leave. I have never had to do it while in Confession.
Frankly, that suits me better because I can then do the penance I have been given so everything done before leaving Church.

It is interesting to hear of the differences. The priests always ask for the act of contrition. However, we have in the Penitential Rite of 1973, the Jesus Prayer act of contrition, to be done before absolution:

Lord Jesus, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.

 

[brown_bear]

Advice should be considered but without obligation.

The most important thing is the contrition with which we go to Confession.

In my opinion it must be prepared before entering the confessional, meditating on the love of Jesus and our ingratitude.

If there is no sorrow for sins the Confession is invalid.