Thomas Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Okay, I hope I'm not the only Catholic that has ever had to deal with this: If you don't know my story already; I had strayed from Catholicism for about 3 or 4 years and now I'm back. Just for the record I'm 17. Anyway, while I was gone-I didn't believe in God, this lead me to commit some, as I look at them now, VERY embarassing sins. These sin's are not a matter of anyone being physically hurt, [though they are still 'Mortal'], but gosh, the more I think about it, I just get red in the face! I know that confessing my sins is the right thing to do, and I'm going to soon. But I'm just so embarassed that I don't know if I'll ever be able to look my Priest in the eye again, or worse...if he'll ever be able to look ME in the eye! Has anyone else ever been in this/or a similar situation? Any advice? Please help...please pray for me.
Dave Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 (edited) A priest won't think any less of anybody for confessing particularly serious sins. If anything, he'll probably think more of you for being courageous enough to confess them! But yes, I know how it is. I'm a convert from the Presbyterian Church, and when it was time for my first confession, I was like, "Oh no, how am I ever gonna be able to confess THIS?" But praise God, I did. And it felt amesome to have gotten it out of my system! And yes, you got my prayers, dude. Edited February 20, 2004 by Dave
the_rev Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Sometimes I'm embarassed of some sins I commit, so I say for a temptation I fell into. Is that appropriete?
VeraMaria Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 I'm praying for you, Thomas, and remember, it's Christ in the confessional.... the same thing happens to me, though, all the time...i just remember it's jesus in there!
Iacobus Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Hey all sins are embrassing. But what is even more embrassing is not confessing for 8 years. I have a past simliar to yours. And before my family stoped going I didn't go to confession because my parents never made me (I was foolish than). I had to go to Confession last year and say my last confession was 8 YEARS ago. After saying that no sin will phase me.
Thomas Posted February 20, 2004 Author Posted February 20, 2004 (edited) Is it a sign of a lack of integrity to confess sins behind the screen thingy? And is there really any point, as they can see you walk in the door anyway.... *Walks in.... *Hey Thomas.... *Imediatley walks out red faced and shaky... Edited February 20, 2004 by Thomas
Dave Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Sometimes I'm embarassed of some sins I commit, so I say for a temptation I fell into. Is that appropriete? Not at all! If you deliberately don't say the temptation you fall into (assuming that it's a mortal sin), then you make a bad confession, meaning that none of your sins are forgiven, and you commit the added sin of sacrilege. And if you receive the Eucharist after having made a bad confession, then you commit sacrilege there too. To rectify having made bad confessions, a person would need to go to confession and make a general confession, that is, confessing at least all the mortal sins (as best they can recall) committed since their last good confession.
Thomas Posted February 20, 2004 Author Posted February 20, 2004 (edited) Dave, I think he was trying to say that he would say he; "Fell into a lustfull temptation." Is this wrong compared to saying: I peeked at so-and-so's nakedness? *the-rev, I'm just saying an example, not directing it toward you. Edited February 20, 2004 by Thomas
Dave Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Dave, I think he was trying to say that he would say he; "Fell into a lustfull temptation." Is this wrong compared to saying: I peeked at so-and-so's nakedness? *the-rev, I'm just saying an example, not directing it toward you. The question is, falling into a temptation can constitute any kind of sin. For example, a lustful temptation can mean indulging in lustful fantasies, looking at porn, masturbating, having premarital sex, adultery, homosexual activity, and so forth. So thus, it would NOT suffice to say that you fell into a certain temptation. The priest should've asked precisely what sin was committed as a result of giving into the temptation.
God Conquers Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Bro, use a screen. It makes it alot easier, and its not a sign of a lack of integrity. Just remember, the priest has heard it all before, and you're confessing to God, he already knows what you did. Also, the priest will not remember, nor will he know you. Good luck. You'll feel amesome once you're done!
Thomas Posted February 20, 2004 Author Posted February 20, 2004 God Conquers, Thanks for the reply, it's encouraging... As for the priest knowing me and remembering me. I live in a small city, I know the Priest by name and he knows mine. It's a tight knit parish community. Which has its benefits, or in this case it's downfalls. You have all been so encouraging that I will go soon to confess, perhaps tomorow! Thank you all so much! Good-night!
Thy Geekdom Come Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, wrote in his Confessions about his life of sin during his adolescence. He is now known as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers, defenders and apologists, that the Catholic Church has ever seen. St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primate of England, was friends with King Henry II of the Normans. They used to go off and commit terrible sins together. He had a conversion and was martyred by the Knights of his old friend (whether King Henry II had ordered the murder is up for debate). He is remembered as an excellent convert and a true Catholic. St. Francis of Assisi was a rich, spoiled brat who got sick on the way to the crusades, returned home, renounced all worldly goods, and received the stigmata. He's one of my favorites, and he committed terrible sins. Possibly the most important-there was a man who fled from Christ's side at the crucifiction and denied Him. He was the chosen apostle, the first pope, St. Peter. Please, be inspired by these and all the saints. We all have our flaws and our sins (save Jesus and Mary). We have all sinned in the sight of God. Chances are that the priest you would confess to has done some pretty terrible things, perhaps not mortal sins, but still terrible. Trust me, I'm in the seminary, I've done terrible things, I had a period of doubt and an even longer period of teenage lust. I know a lot of the things my classmates have done. We are all sinners. Go to confession; the priest won't insult you, and even if he did: 1. He'd have to answer to God...big time. 2. It's better to be insulted once than to suffer for all eternity. May God bless and guide you, Raphael mmurphy@conception.edu (by the way, dUSt, please don't delete my email address, I very much trust the folks on this board and want them to be able to contact me whenever necessary).
cappie Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 Speaking as a priest of 20 years I can assure you that it is God who welcomes you if you say your sins as speaking to God then all fear should fall away. If you are embarressed then it is,in a way, good because it shows you are really sorry for these sins. If you had no contrition then you would not care. I have a crucifix in the confessional and I point to it and say: "we may say our sins did that to Jesus but I find it more profitable to say if Christ would do this for me then he must love me very much." Also St Leopoldo Mandich a Capuchin saint who used to hear confessions in Padua said "Your holiness shall consist of being truly human, not angelic. God has plenty of angels." As Jesus said to the disciples caught in the storm, "Why are you afraid?" I will remember you in prayer this weekend.
Sinner Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 I didn't go to Confession for 13 yrs ....... and then I went and it was the biggest relief, and a true miracle happened. Now I love Confession, and go frequently. Use the screen, go to another Parish if you have to to get started... but my advice is to just go!! And when you do..... be fearless. He knows that you love Him. You are the prodigal son, return to your loving Father. You will find Him awaiting you with love and understanding. I am praying for you.
Ash Wednesday Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 (edited) Usually I face the priest, but going behind the screen is always good and has no less of integrity. In fact, didn't they always have the screen before the changes in Vatican II, with facing the priest more widely accepted as an option after that? I went behind the screen when I confessed that some friends and I had raided the church kitchen as a high schooler and got into some food and beer left in the fridge. I honestly felt guilty and sorry... I was so embarassed I went behind the screen even though the priest knew me. After I told him what I did, I heard him chuckling quietly to himself.... which surprised me because he was a pretty strict priest in a lot of ways... maybe he knew my voice. :blush: Edited February 20, 2004 by Ash Wednesday
M.SIGGA Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 My technique when I was a kid was leaning in the corner of the confessional to make sure Fr. couldn't see my face lol. Priests hear confessions from convicts to nuns so Fr. has probably heard every sin in the book more than once. I'm always nervous every single time I go, and it's sort of wierd that it doesn't change even if my sins aren't as numerous. So pray to St. Gerard Majella and St. John Nepomucene, the Patrons of a Good Confession, take a deep breath, and go in with a sincere heart. It's the best feeling in the whole world on the way out. God Bless :D
Thy Geekdom Come Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 One of the biggest temptations I have is that I have what I call a "guilty soul". I can go to confession, feel great for a few minutes, and then the devil will try to tempt me into thinking that I really wasn't forgiven. When I do something wrong, I feel TERRIBLE about it, so I suppose that Satan thinks this is a good way to try to tempt me into despair. Luckily, I don't recall falling into it yet.
Ash Wednesday Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 (edited) Raphael, that also happens with scrupulosity, too. After confessing a pentitent wonders "did I confess that right? Am I truly forgiven?" People forget what a danger scrupulosity can be in this age of lax consciences. My ex boyfriend had problems with scruples. He finally decided "it's no use, there's no sense pleasing this 'god' " and left the Church. :( Edited February 20, 2004 by Ash Wednesday
Thy Geekdom Come Posted February 20, 2004 Posted February 20, 2004 [Raphael, that also happens with scrupulosity, too. After confessing a pentitent wonders "did I confess that right? Am I truly forgiven?"] I suppose that's a part of it. Does that mean anything in particular? I just tended to think that the devil was trying to tempt me.
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