First Confession

[Michie]

@Michie

Thank you for all of the great information!

You are very welcome! God bless you!

 

[rturner76]

Get the pamphlet

Is there one online? I'll be going tomorrow so I won't have time to look for one at the Basilica.

Simply add, for these sins and for the sins of my life, I am truly sorry.

Do you say this before or after you make your confession(s)?

 

[RileyG]

Is there one online? I'll be going tomorrow so I won't have time to look for one at the Basilica.

Do you say this before or after you make your confession(s)?

After.

 

[chevyontheriver]

That is interesting. I don't have many mortal sins (sins against the Ten Commandments) but there are some venial sins I struggle with chronically. Are venial sins inappropriate to confess or does the part of Mass when we ask for forgiveness enough if it's happening repeatedly?

Venial sins ARE appropriate to confess. But also you are right that those are forgiven in the mass. If they are recurring it is fine and probably good to bring them to confession.

This will be my first ever. If I remember correctly we say "Bless me Father for I have sinned, this is my first confession." Is that the right thing to say or do I just sit down and wait for him to ask me a question?

Wondering how confession was not part of your entering the Catholic Church. Somebody dropped the ball in not guiding you into a habit of confession. It's good you are getting around to it now, but it might have been helpful in years past too. Anyhow, figure out how you can do it every month or so.

I as positive that there are sins that I have forgotten. How would I phrase a request to absolve all of the sins of my past? Certainly, I had many many more mortal sins before my conversion/confirmation but I was under a valid baptism during that time. Should I request absolution for those sins when I ask for absolution for ALL of my sins?

All the sins going way back to the beginning of what you can remember, from your early Lutheran days. OF COURSE you will not remember everything, but do a review of your life before going to confession and then confess every serious thing you can remember. Ask for a general absolution for everything from your youth to the present, for the remembered and forgotten. The whole Magilla. You will come out of confession (most likely) floating on air. And you will be objectively made clean.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I think I need to go to confession again.

The cool thing is that you can.

 

[RileyG]

I think I need to go to confession again.

Same here

 

[rturner76]

Well, I did my confession and it was great! The Priest gave me a printout of a prayer I am to say at the end. He had some good advice about how to deal with the father of lies when he tells you that it's okay to do something that you know not to do. When I left, it felt like God was traveling with me and I got renewed resolve to fight against my pet sin. I received absolution without being required to do penance or an act of contrition. There is something about the Preist signing the cross and saying "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" where I already felt forgiven before he even said that he absolved me of my sins. I love getting blessed by a Priest when I am down on my knees. It feels so right. I'm sorry that Protestants don't get to have the experience of a Priest who learned through the Apostolic Succession gives you a blessing or prays for you. I just feel so much power in their blessing.

God bless you all and thank you for your advice and encouragement. This is what we do for each other and why I had my conversion. He also said that taking the Eucharist absolves sins as well so now I know why I have such a light feeling when I take it.

 

[Michie]

Well, I did my confession and it was great! The Priest gave me a printout of a prayer I am to say at the end. He had some good advice about how to deal with the father of lies when he tells you that it's okay to do something that you know not to do. When I left, it felt like God was traveling with me and I got renewed resolve to fight against my pet sin. I received absolution without being required to do penance or an act of contrition. There is something about the Preist signing the cross and saying "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" where I already felt forgiven before he even said that he absolved me of my sins. I love getting blessed by a Priest when I am down on my knees. It feels so right. I'm sorry that Protestants don't get to have the experience of a Priest who learned through the Apostolic Succession gives you a blessing or prays for you. I just feel so much power in their blessing.

God bless you all and thank you for your advice and encouragement. This is what we do for each other and why I had my conversion. He also said that taking the Eucharist absolves sins as well so now I know why I have such a light feeling when I take it.

I’m so happy it went well for you! Thanks be to God. Yes when you finish confession, it is not nearly as bad as we think it is going to be. But I think it’s common to have anxiety like that. You always walk out feeling about 10 tons lighter. The priest is acting in persona Christi so it just like our Lord lifting that load for us and helping us along the way. Again, so happy for you and continued prayers for you on your journey.

 

[rturner76]

I’m so happy it went well for you! Thanks be to God. Yes when you finish confession, it is not nearly as bad as we think it is going to be. But I think it’s common to have anxiety like that. You always walk out feeling about 10 tons lighter. The priest is acting in persona Christi so it just like our Lord lifting that load for us and helping us along the way. Again, so happy for you and continued prayers for you on your journey.

And for some reason when the Priest makes the sign of the cross and says "In the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," I already feel God's presence after he makes the sign of the cross. I never felt God's physical presence the same way when I was a Protestant. I felt it intellectually but not physically like I did at confession or when I am granted The Eucharist, which the Priest said also absolves sin.

The really cool thing was being absolved without even being assigned an act of contrition or penance. My sins were just sucked up into heaven.

 

[Michie]

And for some reason when the Priest makes the sign of the cross and says "In the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," I already feel God's presence after he makes the sign of the cross. I never felt God's physical presence the same way when I was a Protestant. I felt it intellectually but not physically like I did at confession or when I am granted The Eucharist, which the Priest said also absolves sin.

The really cool thing was being absolved without even being assigned an act of contrition or penance. My sins were just sucked up into heaven.

It really is a relief when the priest makes the sign of the cross in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s immediate. The Lord knows your heart as well as your struggles. I believe that feeling is a gift from God for the truly contrite. I’ve never gotten away from confession without penance… so what’s so special about you, huh? *joking*

 

[Valletta]

Do we need to go back to confession and confess sins we’d committed years ago, even when we were kids or teenagers, forgotten about then one day remembered?

The thing about confession is to realize that God loves you and it's about God mercy. God is so pleased you come to confession. Find a good confessor and just ask the priest in confession if you have any concerns about past mortal sins. In my situation I had been away from the Church for a long long time and such thoughts occurred to me later after confession. The priest assured me I was absolved of all past sins and I didn't have to bring them up in confession each time I remembered another past sin. Again, it's not about rules, it's about forgiveness. As a Catholic or Orthodox it is a wonderful thing to know your sins have been forgiven. That and receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist are such extraordinary and wonderful gifts.

 

[chevyontheriver]

And for some reason when the Priest makes the sign of the cross and says "In the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," I already feel God's presence after he makes the sign of the cross. I never felt God's physical presence the same way when I was a Protestant. I felt it intellectually but not physically like I did at confession or when I am granted The Eucharist, which the Priest said also absolves sin.

The really cool thing was being absolved without even being assigned an act of contrition or penance. My sins were just sucked up into heaven.

Now make confession a habit.

 

[rturner76]

It really is a relief when the priest makes the sign of the cross in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s immediate. The Lord knows your heart as well as your struggles. I believe that feeling is a gift from God for the truly contrite. I’ve never gotten away from confession without penance… so what’s so special about you, huh? *joking*

I think it might be because it was my first time. The Priest showed mercy. But yes, as soon as he made the sign of the cross in the air I felt the presence immediately. He hadn't even spoken yet but that sign in the air just washed everything away, now I have even more of a desire to STAY clean, and I feel God's help strengthen my resolve. I thank you guys for kind of guiding me through this experience.

 

[chevyontheriver]

The really cool thing was being absolved without even being assigned an act of contrition or penance. My sins were just sucked up into heaven.

An act of contrition is a normal part of confession. It is you declaring you are sorry for your sins. this can be a formal statement said with meaning or one that you have made up as long as it expresses sorrow for sins and an intent to reform your life. Sounds like you intended that even if the priest didn't have you do it. As long as that intent was there on your part, and it really sounds like it was, all is good. It's valid because of your intent even without speaking your contrition. Some people speak the words by rote and do they really mean it?

A penance is also a normal part of confession. A priest may have a reason to skip a penance but it is very unusual. As long as you didn't not do any assigned penance, all is good. But expect one in the future.

Penances are basically small acts of reparation for the damage our sins or the sins of others have done. So we can do reparations for others any time we want, and not necessarily only for OUR sins. Think of the cloistered nuns out in the monastery on the hilltop who spend they days praying (and working their massive garden). Those prayers they pray are for you and me. We can do the same sort of thing, albeit at a more relaxed pace than those nuns, when we pray for others. A life of penances, of intercession for others, is not a bad way to spend the hours. Not all the time of course, but with a bit of regularity. Because sin damages things. And repairing things is a very Christian work.

 

[rturner76]

An act of contrition is a normal part of confession. It is you declaring you are sorry for your sins. this can be a formal statement said with meaning or one that you have made up as long as it expresses sorrow for sins and an intent to reform your life.

Yes, he did have a card that he had me read which expressed my sorrow and my commitment to do better.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Yes, he did have a card that he had me read which expressed my sorrow and my commitment to do better.

That would be the Act of Contrition. I was in the habit of making up my own based on Psalm 51. Then I ran into a priest who wouldn't accept that. Oh well.

 

[RileyG]

That would be the Act of Contrition. I was in the habit of making up my own based on Psalm 51. Then I ran into a priest who wouldn't accept that. Oh well.

I've used the Jesus Prayer as well "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" and it was accepted. When I was in college, I was always told to say the Act of Contrition on my own.