Very uneasy about confessing this sin

[Lady Bug]

I know that priests might have "heard it all," but this one, I'm not sure. I honestly don't know how to confess this one without being way too provocative. I'll never be able to make eye contact with him again. I already missed the already-established-times confessions, so if I find a priest to confess to before EV, they're going to know the face of the person confessing. There's a slim chance that this sin is venial (in the way that I committed it) but it is usually an intrinsic evil.

 

[RileyG]

God bless you

 

[Lady Bug]

I'm afraid to ask any priest for a confession today because I fear he will ask me why I didn't utilize the "last chance confessions."

 

[RileyG]

Also, also, also, I confessed the same serious sin probably hundreds of times over. I was never worried about the priest judging me. 99.9% the priest doesn't have a serious reaction.

 

[RileyG]

I'm afraid to ask any priest for a confession today because I fear he will ask me why I didn't utilize the "last chance confessions."

This is rather embarrassing, but I hope this helps you...

As a male (29 years old) who happens to be attracted to other men, there are two priests in my diocese who I happen to find very attractive. I am extremely embarrassed to admit that I definitely lusted after those two many times. They are VERY good looking men. I confessed to one of them many times, and he was always gracious to me. The other is the vocations director of the diocese, whose parents belong to my parish. Both of those priests are 2 years older than me. (technically, the vocations director is less than 2 years older than me...but I digress)

I have no fear at all, anymore. I just want to do what is best for my own soul.

God bless you!

 

[mourningdove~]

I know that priests might have "heard it all," but this one, I'm not sure. I honestly don't know how to confess this one without being way too provocative.

I don't know how you were instructed to make a confession, but it's always been my understanding that our confessions do not need to go into all the 'explicit', graphic details of our sin, unless the priest asks for more information.

Are you familiar with the Fathers of Mercy?
(You may have seen Fr. Wade Menezes on EWTN?)

They have posted on their website an Examination of Conscience.
(Maybe check it out?)

Examinations of Conscience - The Fathers of Mercy

Hello Friends, We thought we’d post the direct links to our new and updated Examination of Conscience for Adults and Teens. Click the links below to download and print the […]

fathersofmercy.com

Here is a pdf of their Examination of Conscience document.
(Of particular interest is page 2) :

https://fathersofmercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020Examination.pdf

 

[Gnarwhal]

I don't know how you were instructed to make a confession, but it's always been my understanding that our confessions do not need to go into all the 'explicit', graphic details of our sin, unless the priest asks for more information.

Yes that's an important point, in fact unless a priest asks it's usually prudent to avoid gratuitous detail just so the priest isn't scandalized or tempted himself.

I have a friend that works for my parish so her confessor is in a town an hour away. It's actually required for anyone employed by the parish to seek confessors elsewhere just because they work closely with father and see him every day. Sometimes when I feel exhausted or foolish for confessing the same habitual sin to my priest I think about finding out whether confessions are available for laymen at the abbey, or I think about going to one of the other area parishes.

 

[FaithT]

Yes that's an important point, in fact unless a priest asks it's usually prudent to avoid gratuitous detail just so the priest isn't scandalized or tempted himself.

I have a friend that works for my parish so her confessor is in a town an hour away. It's actually required for anyone employed by the parish to seek confessors elsewhere just because they work closely with father and see him every day. Sometimes when I feel exhausted or foolish for confessing the same habitual sin to my priest I think about finding out whether confessions are available for laymen at the abbey, or I think about going to one of the other area parishes.

Sometimes I go to a different parish for confessions, too.

 

[Lady Bug]

Sorry, I forgot I even wrote this. I did go to a certain priest, and I kind of feel bad for giving certain details. However, it was a sin that involved an intrinsic evil but was almost impossible not to commit for very personal reasons. I wonder if the priest thinks I'm an idiot but he didn't act that way. It's done now.

 

[FaithT]

Sorry, I forgot I even wrote this. I did go to a certain priest, and I kind of feel bad for giving certain details. However, it was a sin that involved an intrinsic evil but was almost impossible not to commit for very personal reasons. I wonder if the priest thinks I'm an idiot but he didn't act that way. It's done now.

Don’t worry about it. Everything is fine.

 

[RileyG]

Sorry, I forgot I even wrote this. I did go to a certain priest, and I kind of feel bad for giving certain details. However, it was a sin that involved an intrinsic evil but was almost impossible not to commit for very personal reasons. I wonder if the priest thinks I'm an idiot but he didn't act that way. It's done now.

I doubt he even remembers what you confessed.

God bless you

 

[FaithT]

I doubt he even remembers what you confessed.

God bless you

Priests hear so many confessions and it’s said that they’ve been given the grace to not remember what they’ve heard.