I am long overdue for a trip to the confessional?

Question

I forget what happens once I tell the priest my sins...especially the prayer...can anyone help?

Answer 1

When you enter the confessional, the priest will do the sign of the cross...you do it with him. you then say, "Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (how long) since my last confession. (You then list your sins that you are conscious of)." you may want to say the "Act of Contrition" after or the priest may tell you to make a good act of contrition among the other prayers that you are asked to say for your pennance.

Act of Contrition
Oh my God I am Heartly sorry for having offended you and I detest all of my sins because of your just punishments. But most of all because my sins offend you my God who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your Grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

Answer 2

Tell the priest you forget how it works, and he'll walk you through the whole thing. Any decent priest is going to be overjoyed to have you back after so long, and is not going to be critical if you don't do everything according to form. As far as the prayer, it's called the Act of Contrition. There are big long ones already written, but you can basically say anything that expresses sorrow for your sins. I say "Lord Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner".

Just don't stress over it. Remember that there is rejoicing in heaven every time a sinner repents!

Answer 3

You say: Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been [however long] since my last confession. In that time, I have [fill in the blank.][how many times, or if you don't remember, just say so.]

The priest will then give advice or whatever, and assign a pennance. Probably a bunch of our fathers and hail marys. Of course, it's been awhile for me, too, so things may have changed in the interim.

Oh, And somewhere along the way he'll probably ask you to make an Act of Contrition. That is a prayer.

O my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended you. And I detest all of my sins because of Thy just punishment. But most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

I'm pretty sure that's right. God bless.

And to you others who would tell Susan not to bother, get your story straight. Even Protestants who understand correctly know you have to do more than just tell God. You also have to make it right, and that can mean confessing to whoever you wronged. Confession is no 'get out of jail free' card. The priest is a guide to help you make amends. And you have no right to dismiss a Sacrament believed in my billions. While I no longer attend, I will defend their right to their beliefs to the end.

Answer 4

The priest will talk to you about your sins and then give you a penance. He will then place his hands on or above your head and give you absolution. While he is doing this you say the Act of Contrition. (You can say any Act of Contrition you want, including making up your own prayer telling God you are sorry and that you will try not to sin again) The priest will then bless you by making the sign of the cross and while he is doing this you bless yourself. Then, you're done.

Don't worry if you forget something or don't remember what to do next. The priest will help you.

Answer 5

Act of Contrition:
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.
And I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven & the pains of Hell, but most of all, because they offend thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life
Amen.
Must be said with full intent to not repeat the sin for which you are confessing or it's invalid.
Tell the priest how long it has been since your confession and he will coach you on the proper etiquette/responses.
Any Catholic can say this prayer over a dying person and absolve them of sin in lieu of a priest, so it's important to know this one by heart.
Have a good confession. Glad people still care. I am sure a lot of people will make fun of this post, but this is how Catholics practice faith. It's the faith of my fathers, and only whole communities can make a whole faith work.

Answer 6

You're wasting your time confessing your sins to a priest - they can't forgive you and get you to heaven - only God can do both. God needs no mediator between Him and you to confess your sins. Confess your sins to God Himself through prayer. God's forgiveness is what REALLY matters - not a priest. When you go to confession, you're just merely confessing your sins to another sinner. A priest is no more holier than the next person. They were born with a sinful nature just like you and me, so forget about confession and just pray directly to God Himself for forgiveness.

May God bless. Happy New Year.

Answer 7

A priest is just another man, he may not even be a believer (many are not) and, unlike the sinless Jesus Christ, does not qualify to function as a mediator, your advocate, between you and God. The Bible clearly states that you cite, confess, own up to, your sins and ask God directly to forgive you on the basis of the fact that Jesus Christ went to the Cross and as your substitute took the punishment.

Answer 8

Become an Episcopal. We have general confession and absolution during regular church services. A priest is a person, not God, and other people, no matter how trustworthy they are supposed to be, shouldn't be privy to other people's dirty laundry just because they are in a position of authority.

Answer 9

Bless me father for I have sinned.... it has been ...so many years/decades since my last confession. You could try impressing the priest by saying it all in Latin.

Answer 10

You've forgotten the Hail Mary and Our Father?! I'm not even Catholic and I know them!
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.