Life Confession

[InnerPhyre]

For those of you who are converts to Orthodoxy, how did you go about preparing your life confession? Confessing 24 years of sins seems like a task that is nothing short of monumental.

 

[Khaleas]

one practical aspect, write things down and take the note with you (and take tissues too, just in case, I went through about 15).

For me personally it was very draining to do the life time confession and my mind kept blanking because of nerves and the intesity of it. I was glad I had written out notes.

 

[Matrona]

The priest will guide you. Writing the sins down might help (but be sure to hide whatever it is you've written them on ).

This is a guide for self-examination prior to any confession, you might find it helpful to go through this: http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/selfexam.aspx

The Pocket Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians has a similar guide based on the Ten Commandments. That's a good guide, too.

 

[Eusebios]

Mike,
Don't be overwhelmed. As Matrona has rightly pointed out, the priest will help guide you. And confession , like other sacraments of the Church is not a one time thing, so don't feel like you've "erred" if there is something you forget.There will be many opportunities to make things right. This is not to say that you should purposely hold things back, rather that if there are things that occur to you later, simply go to confession again and confess them. I'm sure that in spite of the seemingly difficult task that lies ahead, your lifetime confession will be a most liberating experience for you.
In Xp,
Eusebios.

 

[e=mv^2]

This is a guide for self-examination prior to any confession, you might find it helpful to go through this: http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/selfexam.aspx

Erg....That was painful.

 

[Michael G]

Mike, remember that Orthodox confession differs from Roman Catholic confession in that while Roman Catholic confession often has a very legalistic approach to it, Orthodox confession is seen more as spiritual medicine. Instead of focusing on every little sin you have ever committed, rather focus on the larger areas that cause you trouble. Take notes of those sins which seem to repeat themselves in your life, and spend a considerable ammount of time in prayer. And as everyone else has said, don't fret this! A good confession leaves a very "clean" feeling when you are done with it! The priest is there as your friend and your guide and not as your inquisitor. He is definitely not Torquemade, but more like your advocate before God. God be with you and go in peace!

 

[Akathist]

For those of you who are converts to Orthodoxy, how did you go about preparing your life confession? Confessing 24 years of sins seems like a task that is nothing short of monumental.

I was 41 when I gave my lifetime confession so I understand about something feeling monumental. And my priest is great, but when it came to this he was very obtuse and would not guide me at all. (I suspect he did this deliberately so that each of his catechumen’s would do their confessions in a way that made sense to them.)

And this I think is important, you need to find what works for you.

You did ask how we went about preparing and this is what I am saying, it is not necessarily what will work for you.

I read lists like someone posted above, I read the preparation that was in my prayer book, I read a brochure we have at church that goes through the Beatitudes and discusses how to use them to prepare for confession. I studied and meditated on the 10 Commandments.

But what worked the best for me, was the morning, evening and communion preparation prayers.

But I did a “life story” approach. I took my life from the earliest I could remember and talked in the confession about my family life, how I was raised without a father and how this effected how I thought about God. (This is just one example). Then I confessed the sins I did such as being disrespectful of my mother.

I discussed events that happened in my teen years that played a role on my view of God and confessed my sins, my seeking advice from astrology for example, being harsh in the breakup of a boyfriend, etc.

Then I focused on my college years and how during that time I turned further away from God, I confessed the sins I did during those years.

And in this fashion, I both explained to my Priest about my life and important events that shaped me and my walk with Christ, but I also covered in a rather general level for the early years, and more specifically in my young and middle adult years my sinful behavior.

I cried a lot during my confession. I looked at the Icon of Christ and told Him how I had turned away from Him and did things I am now ashamed of. And to be honest, I never felt more loved. It was draining… and fulfilling all at once.

By the way, I was not allowed to use notes and had been told not to write it out by my Priest and I did forget some things. The next time I went to confession I confessed those things I forgot. And the time after that, I recalled a couple other things too. It was just fine. We are called to do our best.

 

[Tsarina]

For those of you who are converts to Orthodoxy, how did you go about preparing your life confession? Confessing 24 years of sins seems like a task that is nothing short of monumental.

Life confession? My priest baptized me and gave me communion without confession the following week. He said since im baptized, all my sins have been washed away. So what was left to confess?

Godbless.

 

[Akathist]

I do hope we don't get into a debate about this. Some Priest do require a lifetime confession. This thread is about how the OP will be giving one and a request for advice and the sharing of this experience.

Please, let us not debate here.

 

[Tsarina]

I do hope we don't get into a debate about this. Some Priest do require a lifetime confession. This thread is about how the OP will be giving one and a request for advice and the sharing of this experience.

Please, let us not debate here.

There is no debate here, thornygrace. I was not aware that some Priests do require a lifetime confession, i was just suprised.

Godbless.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Thanks everyone.

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Mike:

I went through my life confession in stages ... it took four confessions to get it all out.

It was like pealing an onion. I confessed what I knew about my sins ... then the Holy Spirit came and convicted me of more sins.

So I went to confession again and confessed the deeper layer - the motives behind why I fell into sin. The root causes.

Then I found that I remembered sins during my toddler years (yes, we are to confess all sins). So I confessed those ... and would you believe, the priest zeroed in on my toddler sins (the terrible twos) as important. These were times I said "no" to my parents and to God as I knew Him. It made me grateful that I didn't die as a small child. I was deaf and a rebel because of that. Yes, I had low frequency hearing loss, so I could not understand my father's voice nor the vowels. I missed a lot and had delayed speech and reading abilities.

Finally, I remembered some "venial" sins that I had never confessed in the Roman Catholic church - because in Orthodoxy we are to confess all sins, whether known or unknown (those got me), intentional or non-intentional, committed by accident. That is a lot.

So it took me my first four confessions to get it all out and in the open. Yes, it was draining for me and the priest. But it was time well spent.

 

[Xpycoctomos]

For those of you who are converts to Orthodoxy, how did you go about preparing your life confession? Confessing 24 years of sins seems like a task that is nothing short of monumental.

Did your priest say you have to give a lifetime confession?

John

 

[elizabethevangeline]

During the inquirer's class I attended, the priest was answering questions for those who were preparing for their 1st confession. I thot it was really interesting that he said once the confession is finished he doesn't usually remember the details we think are so horrible. That would be my hang-up...what does the priest think/see when he looks at me? It sounds like my priest has the gift of forgetfulness.

 

[Xpycoctomos]

By the way, I'm NOT trying to debate... I was just wondering because some preists do no expect or even accept a lifetime confession from former Catholics as long as they took their cnfession and absolution seriously. Others do expect it... so i was just bringing this up so IP could check on this IN CASE he hadn't already.

John

 

[Rilian]

I made a mental list of the major sins that were weighing on my soul. I also confessed some that would probably be considered minor that troubled me as well.

It was scary, but I'm glad I did it.

 

[Xpycoctomos]

I made a mental list of the major sins that were weighing on my soul. I also confessed some that would probably be considered minor that troubled me as well.

It was scary, but I'm glad I did it.

That's what I did basically.

 

[AnthonyRC]

I am curious about this too. I wasn't asked to give a lifetime confession before my reception into the Orthodox Church. What determines whether one goes through this or not?

By the way, I'm NOT trying to debate... I was just wondering because some preists do no expect or even accept a lifetime confession from former Catholics as long as they took their cnfession and absolution seriously. Others do expect it... so i was just bringing this up so IP could check on this IN CASE he hadn't already.

John

 

[InnerPhyre]

Did your priest say you have to give a lifetime confession?

John

No, he didn't say. I just assumed that it would be required since I'm already baptized. Confession as a Catholic was something that I took extremely seriously, but I will be obedient to whatever I am instructed to do.

 

[Dust and Ashes]

I am curious about this too. I wasn't asked to give a lifetime confession before my reception into the Orthodox Church. What determines whether one goes through this or not?

Logically, I would think that reception by Chrismation would require a lifetime confession since you were baptized at some earlier point but reception by baptism would make it unnecessary. Unless the priest is having one do it "for their own good" so to speak in which case it would be a great way to dredge up those sins and finally face them as a means of helping heal.

This is purely my opinion and so carries no weight or value. I just like the sound of my own keyboard.