What does the priest usually say after somebody confesses a serious sin?

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holly_potter

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Definitely NOT asking about your sins! I’m just a worrier by nature, and am anxious about what the priest might say, or might have me do as penance after confessing a mortal sin.

Has been a habit since childhood (I think age 4 or 5), thought I kicked it, but turns out it just took on a new form. I tend to be slow to realize things–it’s been prickling my mind but I only just finally figured out (or admitted to myself) what I was doing. It probably is still this long-seated habit is my trouble–and I found out it often begins when children are stressed or anxious 'cause of stressful situations and family life. I know it’s fully my fault, and I wish I’d never had begun. I am going to a counselor about my longterm childhood stressful situation (that’s still on going to a lesser extent), It is helping me, 'cause I’m examining what my habits/anxious responses really are based in so I can change my pattern of thinking with her help. And that in a roundabout way helped me to figure out this.But it’s still this really big burden on me, 'cause I know it’s very much my fault. And I recieved Communion when I was still uncertain about the whole thing.

Anyway, I’m just really anxious. I’m planning on going tomorrow morning, but I really am anxious about what the priest might say. I figured if I posted here I might get some helpful responses from other CAFers. I do better, sometimes less worried, when I kinda know what to expect. Thanks.
 
yep I was there about a year ago. prior to that, I had left the church after high school. I mean left it. i did all sorts of things in college and after. I figured my last confession was sometime before my confirmation at 17. I’m 28 now, and went and had my firs confession this past spring. I actually had to write it all down so I wouldn’t forget, along with my act of contrition, which I had forgotten as well. I too had recieved communion when I was home with the folks for holidays, etc. and when I first decided it was time to come back to the church.

tell you what:
1- confession after that long feels GRRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT!!! you’ll walk out of there with a 50# weight lifted off you.
2- I was so nervous I went to a different priest 50 miles away.
3-he was so happy I had returned to the church and confessed, he didn’t give me a penance. he told me the Lord has given me tremendous strength and that I was forgiven for everything, even if I hadn’t mentioned it.

it is such a wonderful feeling, I was so nervous I almost backed out. but it’s just great, I’m happy for you. go. spill your guts. walk out of there a brand new person!!!

God bless!
 
Holly the priest has heard all manner of things in Confession and he will be kind…glad that you have repentance and bring it to Jesus in Confession.

You do know don’t you, that in order to commit a mortal sin you must knowingly
and willingly
consent to something which you know/believe to be a mortal sin.

Don’t be fearful…be grateful that you understand you might need to change and grow…but it you didn’t know, honestly, that it was a mortal sin, it wasn’t…if you now know, ask God fro the graces to help you. God grant you many graces with your Confession

Yours kindly, Trishie
 
I’ve sometimes gotten, “Now thank God for this good confession.”

Other times the priest offers reflections or bible passages to think about. Some just goes straight to penance and absolution. Never have I had a priest yell or even really scold me, and I’ve confessed some grave sins.

My high school religion teacher, a young priest, once told us very seriously and somberly that in the confessional he’s heard just about every sin, except for murder. I really believe him.
 
My witness during CHRP was reconciliation. What I have found is completely and openly confess your sin and recognize it as wrong and you will not do again. Then the priest may take any path from “for that you were excommunicated until the forgiveness of this confession” to “great confession welcome home”. I heard the first for me which I expected and in the end received complete forgiveness and completed my penance. There is nothing like the sweet forgiveness of confession. You have it in your control.

John 20-20-22
(Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
 
First
In Roman Catholic moral theology, a mortal sin, as distinct from a venial sin, must meet all of the following conditions:

  1. *]its subject must be a grave (or serious) matter;
    *]it must be committed with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense (though nobody is deemed to be ignorant of the moral law, embedded into the consciences of every human being);
    *]it must be committed with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to commit the sin.
    Secondly preists arent perfect even they have to go to confession, and they have heard certain sexual sins many many times they arent going to freak out they will be so happy youre in the confessional!

    Thirdly remember Jesus was just like us in all things but sin. He knows the temptations but unlike us He never actually acted on them. But because He knows how hard it is with our wounded nature He gave us confession so dont be afraid. I know personally how hard it is to actually get in there and confess but like someone else said you will feel so much better and like a huge weight has been lifted. Also the priest acts *in persona Chrsti, in the person of Christ, *and in confession that means he is identified so closely with Chrsit that if the priest were to say Christ absolves you from your sins it would be invalid. The priest must say I absolve you meaning I Christ. It is really beautiful so go confess we are all cheering you on…
 
Thanks so much, everybody! I think it probably still is a mortal sin–I was pretty stupid not to realize it sooner (or is it admit to it sooner?) I keep going round and round on that. (note to self: smart in school does not mean smart in anything else).

Anyway, I’m still nervous, but thank you all for reminding me how good it feels to be free. I really hope I’ll be able to confess–the weekday confessions are only 15 minutes before daily Mass, and some priests like to cut it short so they have a little time to prepare. What if that happens? I’m going to try to be early enough in the line, but what if? I don’t want to carry it around for another day…😦
 
If it was self-abuse, don’t be so hard on yourself. This is probably one of least of the grave sins and culpability (guiltyness) is usually mitigated by several countless factors in many cases. It is still something that should be controlled and defeated, however. No priest that I have ever confessed this to has made a very big deal about it…in fact, all have said I was too hard on myself. So if this is your sin, there is nothing to be worried about. The infusion of grace from the sacrament will help you.
 
Just went to confession…the priest was late and I and a couple other people were pretty anxious–but it turned out I was first in line and was able to confess 🙂 I feel much better (still have nagging guilt that it wasn’t a good enough confession, but that’s just me being worrisome again). But still, “I absolve you…” was so great to hear! And no penance…that was weird not to have penance.

I feel better–bad since it did involve somebody else, but better. bf and I have apologized to each other, and swore to help each other have better self control. And I believe that we will succeed.

So, thanks everybody! And thanks StCsDavid…that article you wrote was really wonderful–I just finished my senior thesis (creative nonfiction all about faith), so it was nice to see how others write too 🙂
 
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