I haven't been to reconciliation since I was a very young child. I fell away from the Catholic Church as a young adult, and have started going again recently.Are there certain things I need to say at confession?
2007-03-29 08:02:44 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree with vinslave. I was raised Catholic but did not go to church for years. I was very stressed about going to confession after I-don't-know-how-long. You start by saying "Bless me Father for I have sinned, it has been (blank) since my last confession." I said "It has been a very long time since my last confession." Let us be honest, we all have many things to confess. I am not an expert but I usually just talk about the two or three things that I most want to get off my chest. I assure you the priest will be nice and welcome you home. Most priests simply mumble "uh huh" during your confession. The priest asked me why I am returning to the church and why I am returning to confession. I told him the truth, that I was raised Catholic and wish to return to the church because my wife is a strict Catholic. The priest will then ask you to recite the Act of Contrition. Most old-fashioned Catholics have this memorized, I do not. I always tell the priest that I do not have the prayer memorized. The priest is always helpful and asks me to repeat after him. Some people bring in a card as a kind of a cheat sheet.
Truth to tell, I do not exactly like going to confession, but after wards I feel like I have a load off my mind.
2007-03-29 08:32:20 · answer #1 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ex-Catholic here... just say the old "Father forgive me for I have sinned... my last time at confession was (insert time here), and I'm afraid I've forgotten how this whole process goes." The priest is likely to be compassionate (I hope) and will talk you through the steps and prayers.
Be sure to gather your mind about you before you go in, as usual... etc. There are books about it in various Catholic bookstores online and such if you need more help.
_()_
2007-03-29 08:13:20 · answer #2 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear Reconciling one,
many people believe that at reconciliation we must confess every bad thing one has done, and truthfully you'll be there all day. At reconciliation we must confess our sins, not the ones that you are aware of but the ones that are the darkest and secretest to you, and one but God knows about. At reconciliation you must clear your conscience.
2007-03-29 08:11:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Start with, "I confess that I have sacrificed my intellectual integrity by believing in such an obvious myth because I'm afraid of death."
2007-03-29 08:06:09 · answer #4 · answered by Some Dude 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Uh, I've never been, and I can tell by the name. It's not like "baby oil" or something.
2007-03-29 08:05:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋