URGENT help needed, in time for Saturday Confession

  • Thread starter Thread starter Catholic_97
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Catholic_97

Guest
I’m quite scared still. I want to know how to confess the following, I know this should be private, but I really do need help with this to make sure my confession goes smoothly. Here are sins:
(Found all from bereconciledtogod.com/pdfs/teensexaminationofconscience.pdf)

SECOND COMMANDMENT
“You shall not take the Name
of the Lord your God in vain.” (Ex 20:7)
Have I used foul language?

THIRD COMMANDMENT
“Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.” (Ex 20:8)
• Did I miss Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of
Obligation through my own fault?
Have I received Holy Communion in a state of
mortal sin (When I recieved, I did not know I had commited mortal sins)

FOURTH COMMANDMENT
“Honor your father and your mother.” (Ex 20:12)
Have I disobeyed my parents or those in authority
(principals, teachers, coaches, police, etc.)?
• Have I disrespected my family members or treated
them poorly, by insulting, mocking, ridiculing or
yelling at them?

FIFTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not kill.” (Ex 20:13)
Have I held grudges or tried to get even with
others? Have I hated or failed to forgive someone?
• Do I get angry easily and lose my temper? Do I act
rudely, impolitely or arrogantly toward others? (at times)

SIXTH & NINTH COMMANDMENTS
“You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.” (Ex 20:17)
Have I remained chaste and pure in mind and body,
as God asks of me? (would this be part of it?)
• Do I understand and appreciate the gift of my
sexuality and desire to save the gift of myself for
marriage?
• Did I deliberately look at impure TV programs,
computer sites, videos, pictures, or movies?
Did I commit impure acts with myself
(masturbation) or with others through adultery (sex
with a married person), fornication (premarital sex)
or homosexual activity?

SEVENTH & TENTH COMMANDMENTS
“You shall not steal.” (Ex 20:15)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.” (Ex 20:17)
Did I shoplift, steal or take things that didn’t belong
to me?

EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbor.” (Ex 20:16)
• Have I lied?
• Have I gossiped or passed on rumors?

OTHER SINS
Did I intentionally refuse to mention some grave
sin in my previous confessions (This is my main one)

My reason for having so many sins is because before I did not know that these were sins, I simply thought they were venial sins. I should have looked everything up sooner.
My question is how would I make this a quick confession? I don’t want to spend such a long time in the confession booth, as i already am scared enough as it is. Please help, God bless.
 
Catholic_97 said:
My reason for having to many sins is because before** I did not know that these were sins**, I simply thought they were venial sins. I should have looked everything up sooner.
My question is how would I make this a quick confession? I don’t want to spend such a long time in the confession booth, as i already am scared enough as it is. Please help, God bless.
Click to expand...
If you didn’t know they were sins, your culpability is dimished somewhat if it was invincible ignorance. I would mention it to your Priest that it’s the first time you’ve confessed in a while/ever and that you are not sure how to confess/what to confess. The point is that you are sorry for offending God. I wouldn’t worry about how the words come out, as long as you confess them and feel remorse. Don’t focus on making this a quick confession. Focus on making yourself right with God. When you’re in the confession booth, I can assure you that you will feel the comfort of Our Lord.

My first time back in the confessional after many years I was scared too. But once I was in there, I felt awesome and wanted to glorify God for loving me and forgiving me.

Good luck.
 
I would make a list of type and number of sins, then explain to your confessor that you were unaware that some may be mortal. However, please also consider that you might be tending toward scrupulosity just a bit. Ask your Priest about that - it is very easy to do and many good, faithful Catholics occasionally fall into it.

Christ’s peace be with you.
 
Hey Catholic_97!

I wish I could offer better advice. I’m “scheduled” for my first confession Saturday, as well. On the one hand, it does seem a bit spooky. 🙂 It will be my first confession and, not being a “youngster”, I’m sure there will be things I won’t remember. Which is entirely different from intentionally withholding something. There are things I didn’t know were sins at the time and other things, well… :o

On the other hand, hopefully, if everything goes relatively smoothly, we will both be ending Saturday with a “clean slate”! 👍

Good luck and God bless! 😃
 
Everythng WILL go smoothly. You WILL be glad you went. I have had some better confessions than others, but I have never had a bad experience, and I’m fairly sure neither of you will this weekend.

The GRACE you receive? BETTER than you think.

Wishing you a Holy Week and Easter season that renews and strengthens you.👍
 
Dear One,
Peace be to you.

I see from your other postings that you are 13.
Fear not - All will be well.

Our Dear Lord has already brought you into Himself and now only wishes to share is abundant grace (His very Life) with you. So fear not.

Lets take a look at the things that are most likely troubling you.

  1. *]If you did not know that something was a mortal sin, then it isn’t. One of the requirements for mortal sin is full knowledge. So you are OK there. You did NOT receive communion in a state of Mortal sin.
    *]If you can’t remember “intentionally” omitting grave sin in previous confessions then you most likely did not. Just confess what you do remember now and Trust God to cover any that you do not remember.
    *]Confess those things that trouble you most. For instance I know you are struggling with chastity. This is a biggie. Make sure you bring this up and confess it.
    *]Confessing and working on the big problems will just naturally cause you focus to be more on Christ and the smaller sins will begin to also diminish. (things like foul language)
    *]We are told to confess the sin and the number of times. Don’t get too hung up on the number…estimate as best you can or just say “numerous times”.
    *]It also appears that there may be anger issues involved. I would suggest that this be confessed as a single sin. The Sin of Anger against others.
    *]As someone else suggested, write these things down. This is what I did for my first confession after 35 years 😊. Writing down the sins helped me to see the overlaps and also helped me to condense the list. I took it with me and read it to father. Then after confession I destroyed it.
    *]Finally, after confessing those sins that are serious and most fully on your mind and of greatest concern to you, ask forgiveness for any other sins that you might have forgotten.

    I hope this helps a bit. As I say above, you are obviously sincere and want to please God and get this right. You desire has already made it right. The technical specifics are of secondary importance. God understands these things.

    Of greatest importance is our contrition, our desire to amend our ways, and our desire to Please God. It is obvious that you already have these most critically important desires.
    so so to confession in sorrow and contirtion, but with confidence in God’s good graces. Then move forward toward holiness.

    Peace
    James
 
Catholic_97 said:
SECOND COMMANDMENT
“You shall not take the Name
of the Lord your God in vain.” (Ex 20:7)
Have I used foul language?
Click to expand...
It isn’t about using foul language but about using Jesus’ name, God’s name in vain.

Although salacious talk isn’t good either.

But to be on the safe side just confess everything.
 
I was ready to make a long, theological reply with several points.

But then I realized, that would be pointless…hear me out…it’s not our job.

We are not the ones qualified to judge or make comment on those sins. Only a priest sitting In Persona Christi (in the place of Christ) is qualified.

I know you are scared, but simply mention it to the priest. He’s heard worse, let me tell you. He’s PRIMARY GOAL is to bring you CLOSE TO GOD. He DOES NOT want to seperate you from God. It will be for your good. If clarification is needed, the priest will ask.

I completely understand not wanting to spend a long time in the confessional, however, that’s up to the one who is actually sitting in place of Christ. I am not qualified to judge your sins and what you should do in confession. That’s what you are going to confession for:) The priest there will do that.

Just honestly tell everything and don’t hide anything. He will help you with those judgements:)
 
Thank you all for your suggestions
I was wondering, since so many sins fall into the one category of a commandment, would it be ok to simply state “I have dishonored my father and mother” instead of “I have disobeyed them. I have lied. I have not followed. Etc” and for the other sins (such as chastity) to just state the clear points of the son I have commited?
 
Catholic_97 said:
Thank you all for your suggestions
I was wondering, since so many sins fall into the one category of a commandment, would it be ok to simply state “I have dishonored my father and mother” instead of “I have disobeyed them. I have lied. I have not followed. Etc” and for the other sins (such as chastity) to just state the clear points of the son I have commited?
Click to expand...
You can even state that you have broken the fourth commandment.
 
Hey, Catholic_97!

I hope things went well for you today. They did for me. Well, for the most part… I got a flat tire on my bike on the way to church, so I had to walk the rest of the way and all the way back home and I think I’ve broken a tooth. But I feel so good! 👍

When I got the flat tire, I just thought of… oh, darn! I can’t remember her name now. She was a nun, now a Saint, traveling through Italy on a cart pulled by a horse in nasty, rainy weather. The cart hit a bump and dumped her into the mud. She is quoted as saying, “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few.”

Ah! A brief internet search seems to indicate it was St. Teresa of Avila.

Please excuse me now, I must do penance. 🙂
 
Catholic_97 said:
Thank you all for your suggestions
I was wondering, since so many sins fall into the one category of a commandment, would it be ok to simply state “I have dishonored my father and mother” instead of “I have disobeyed them. I have lied. I have not followed. Etc” and for the other sins (such as chastity) to just state the clear points of the sin I have commited?
Click to expand...
If you are too vague, the priest may simply assume the worst, and give you advice that is more suitable for a patricidal maniac than for a 13 year old girl who yelled once or twice at her Mom. It is probably best if you just say, “I yelled at my Mom a couple times, and I went out with my friends one time when I was supposed to be helping with the chores. I also got sassy with my Dad when he wanted to know the names of the boys I was out with, after I got home.” (For example, of course.)

Simply state your sins in plain language, exactly as if you were talking to your best friend. If you can do that, you will be just fine. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top