First Confession

[Gal. 5:22,23]

I'm getting a little (ok, a lot) anxious about my first Confession. Am I supposed to confess every thing I've ever done in my life since my baptism at age 12?

This is an overwhelming thought for me because I'm in my late 30's now and have confessed to God over the years. So has He not forgiven me of those sins? Any suggestions from converts would be helpful.

[philothea]

[quote name='Gal. 5:22' date='23,Nov 11 2005, 05:11 PM']I'm getting a little (ok, a lot) anxious about my first Confession. Am I supposed to confess every thing I've ever done in my life since my baptism at age 12?

This is an overwhelming thought for me because I'm in my late 30's now and have confessed to God over the years. So has He not  forgiven me of those sins? Any suggestions from converts would be helpful.
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Hrmn.

Well, until an expert posts, you get me!

You only have to confess mortal sins, and especially given that span of time, I think that's all you'd want try to confess. Obviously if you can't remember something, you can't remember it, so don't sweat it. Do the best you can. It's not a test, it's a sacrament. You do what you can and God takes care of the rest. It's your intention that matters.

It probably will be a nervewracking experience. But just think, after that all your confessions will be easy! And it'll feel very good to be formally, officially absolved after so many years.

I can't speak from experience, since I was baptized when I converted. Even so, I was such a coward that one whole week later when I went to confession I was so terrified I couldn't form actual words.

[homeschoolmom]

wouldn't it just be cool if you could draw pictures and slip it to the priest?

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Nov 11 2005, 06:13 PM'] wouldn't it just be cool if you could draw pictures and slip it to the priest?
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Don't know that I'd want to draw pictures of the things I'd have to confess ...

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Gal. 5:22' date='23,Nov 11 2005, 05:11 PM']I'm getting a little (ok, a lot) anxious about my first Confession. Am I supposed to confess every thing I've ever done in my life since my baptism at age 12?

This is an overwhelming thought for me because I'm in my late 30's now and have confessed to God over the years. So has He not  forgiven me of those sins? Any suggestions from converts would be helpful.
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On a serious note ... yes, you're supposed to confess all the mortal sins.

You're not going to remember everything, and that's OK -- just communicate that to your priest.

What I did was make a list of stuff I needed to confess. Anything that popped into my mind, I put on the list. I also had a list of questions to help me compile my list, and I spent a couple of hours in deep self-examination prior to my first confession.

[MichaelFilo]

All mortal sins, and anything else that you have done that bothered you.

Don't think too much of it, confession isn't so scary if you don't make it out to be. Think of it as a joy to remove so much from your soul.

Make a list of neccessary, but I was told not to do it by one of the priests... so be careful. Just think over your sins, and intend to confess all your sins, regardless of memory.

God bless,
Mikey

[Gal. 5:22,23]

What constitutes a mortal sin?

[homeschoolmom]

If you committed the sin with full consent of the will
If you knew it was a sin
If it's of grave matter.... then it's mortal.

(It has to be all three)

[tojo]

When I converted last year, I wen through the same thing. Thankfully, our priest set up appointments with us for our first confession, so he knew they would take a while. As the others said, all you have to do is confess all the mortal sins thath you could remember after a bit serious effort to recall them.

It was hilarious in some ways, I told father, I figure I have done X roughly 2,000 times.... lol

[Gal. 5:22,23]

I wonder if Guiness has a category for world's longest confession...

[philothea]

[quote name='Gal. 5:22' date='23,Nov 13 2005, 03:19 PM']I wonder if Guiness has a category for world's longest confession...
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That's going to get real awkward with the Guiness observer there in the confessional.

[tojo]

[quote name='philothea' date='Nov 13 2005, 07:23 PM']That's going to get real awkward with the Guiness observer there in the confessional.
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Lol, would telling how long someone else was in confession break the seal of confession?

[cappie]

[quote name='tomasio127' date='Nov 14 2005, 11:28 AM']Lol, would telling how long someone else was in confession break the seal of confession?
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no

[tojo]

[quote name='cappie' date='Nov 13 2005, 07:33 PM']no
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Well, I didn't really think it would.....

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='cappie' date='Nov 13 2005, 07:33 PM']no
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Oh swell...

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Nov 14 2005, 09:14 AM']Oh swell... 
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The only thing that annoys me is when you come to find out that older ladies in the Church get in line every week 45 minutes early and then spend a half hour each complaining about this and that thing to the priest because he's smart enough to avoid them the rest of the week. Then you have to wait FOREVER to have your turn in confession which takes no more than 5 minutes. Bleh.

[Dreamweaver]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Nov 14 2005, 09:35 AM']The only thing that annoys me is when you come to find out that older ladies in the Church get in line every week 45 minutes early and then spend a half hour each complaining about this and that thing to the priest because he's smart enough to avoid them the rest of the week. Then you have to wait FOREVER to have your turn in confession which takes no more than 5 minutes. Bleh.
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Oh boy, I'm not the only one I guess. I wanted to go to confession this weekend, but in an hour only 4 people go through. I had to go, as I had other plans and Mass was going to start anyways. I felt kind of uncharitable though. Who knows how long they've been without confession? If it takes 20+ minutes for them to make a good confession, I think its great, but I want to have a chance to confess too.

Next week, I'll be in line an hour early.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Nov 14 2005, 09:35 AM']The only thing that annoys me is when you come to find out that older ladies in the Church get in line every week 45 minutes early and then spend a half hour each complaining about this and that thing to the priest because he's smart enough to avoid them the rest of the week. Then you have to wait FOREVER to have your turn in confession which takes no more than 5 minutes. Bleh.
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How do you know what they're confessing? Maybe they have a very active sin life...

[Sojourner]

There's a bunch of older people who confess where I go, but they don't take that long.

[tojo]

Hmm, we don't seem to have that problem. I'll go, and there will be 6 people ahead of me in line, and I'll barely have time to say a few prayers before it's my turn.