When can I go to confession?

[mrs_miggins]

Hello all, and a blessed Easter to everyone.

I have a couple of what may be silly questions but would appreciate others’ opinions. I am trying to come back to the church - will need my marriage convalidated - and know that confession will be part of this. But in reading the blessings that come with confession/reconcilliation I am feeling almost compelled to go. The question is - do I have to wait until ‘everything is in order’ so to speak and I am back in ‘full communion’ with the church?

Also I have been looking through the threads regarding what to think of before confession and the problem I have is ‘honor thy mother and father’ - I have recently had a falling out with my mother - she was always against my faith and, while this current problem didn’t actually touch on it, she was one reason why I left the church - I mistakenly thought that by doing so I would receive her love and validation, which of course I didn’t. I know this may sound petty but it has been weighing on me - I still talk to them but only regarding them seeing my children and when I do I am polite and respectful. I don’t see the point in trying to reconcile as I have done so many times in the past and it always ends up at this point - ‘casting pearls before swine’ comes to mind. But can I say this is something I don’t need to confess or is it something that will always be a ‘transgression’.

Thank you.

 

[yearofthelord]

My dear Mrs. Miggins, I am so pleased that you wish to come home to the Church. I would suggest that you approach your parish priest and discuss the matter with him. I see your situation as two issues. The first is the marriage. If you are living with your husband as married people live, then there is a issue with being able to receive absolution. The priest can explain this better.

If your only reservation is the falling out with your mother, then I would make a firm purpose to continue treat your mother with respect and dignity and confess the failings of the past. The purpose of the Sacrament is to heal and strenghten you. It is not designed for saints. None of us are perfect and parent/ adult child relationships are often strained.

God bless and keep you.

 

[yellowbird]

My dear Mrs. Miggins, I am so pleased that you wish to come home to the Church. I would suggest that you approach your parish priest and discuss the matter with him. I see your situation as two issues. The first is the marriage. If you are living with your husband as married people live, then there is a issue with being able to receive absolution. The priest can explain this better.

If your only reservation is the falling out with your mother, then I would make a firm purpose to continue treat your mother with respect and dignity and confess the failings of the past. The purpose of the Sacrament is to heal and strenghten you. It is not designed for saints. None of us are perfect and parent/ adult child relationships are often strained.

God bless and keep you.

I couldn’t have said this better myself.

I also wanted to add how happy I am to hear that you are coming back. God bless you!!!

 

[mrs_miggins]

Yes of course - didn’t think about the ‘full reconciliation’ bit of the sacraments - shows how long I’ve been away

Thanks for the advice - don’t know what I would have done without this forum this week - such a good place to come and ask the questions you can’t really ask anywhere else.