What path to confession?

[edward_george1]

I think sometimes about my great uncle, 68 years ordained and still going strong, and how many it would work out to for him. My nearly 1000 Masses is a drop in the bucket compared to his career…

 

[Raphaelle]

My friend, it is a big deal to me to make a good confession. That means trying my best to remember as much as I can

No, that’s not what making a good confession means. It means prayerfully reviewing an examination of conscience, stepping into the confessional, and telling the priest all of the sins that you remember. If you forget 20, it’s still a good confession, as long as you didn’t intentionally not confess them.

 

[CatholicTurk]

Why do you think that I should go to the priest I will be confessing to on a regular basis?
Priests are priests everywhere. They pretty much do the same thing, right?

I have found out that confessing to the same priest on a regular basis actually keeps you in check to an extent, so to speak. Or let’s say that it’s a bonus factor against sinning - a little extra encouragement. I mean, it’s nothing magical, you’re just naturally inclined NOT to commit that one or more particular sin(s) again, as you know you will have to get in front of him again and again… At first I was like, what do i care what the priest thinks of me? But once you’re in front of him more than once with the same sin, it becomes quite a challenge.

However, in your particular case, because this is your homecoming after such a long time, i agree with the idea of getting over with it first no matter where and which priest. Nevertheless, you may also have a different perspective, if you like: Why not go to your parish priest and tell him all those sins of years, and obviously you will also tell him that it’s been 40 years, etc. Then when you’re due for your next confession you’ll display how good you’ve been (much less bad in comparison lol…) ever since your last confession, which is an improvement in the right direction. Besides, there is a certain humbling component to owning your sins in front of your parish priest. I think we should also suffer carrying that Cross a bit. Then again, like i said, that is for the later part. Just do whichever serves you better to confess as soon as you can.

 

[TheOldColonel]

Schedule a face-to-with a priest you don’t know in a neighboring parish. This will take some of the pressure off and you’ll feel more free to make a good confession.

 

[YourNameHere]

At Mass today, I have a bit of joy in my heart. I prayed for the strength to move forward in an effort to go back to confession.
I just pray that I receive to courage to act on the feelings I felt this morning.
St. Peter received the strength to go from a denier to a person who told all not what they wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear.
You good folks on this message board have given me a good dose of what I need to hear. Thanks. Please keep me in your prayers!