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ROBTEACH49
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| Joined: | Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | BOB | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | ARMENIAN ORTHODOX...NOW CATHOLIC |
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Posted: Fri Jun 20th, 2008 08:29 pm |
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| I will be converting soon to the RCC and will be taking my Profession of Faith...since I am a member of the Oriental Orhodox Church I have been told entrance to the RCC is a much shorter path...the one thing I am nervous about is making a confession before I receive the Eucharist...I have not confessed to a priest in all my years on this earth...granted I have done some things I am not rpoud of...but I am worried about telling the priest these things...what if he recognizes me or my voice...eah time I look at him I would be feeling that he knew me and knew the sins I committed...what to do???
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jun 20th, 2008 08:58 pm |
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Click here for several threads on confession.
Bob, you're going to be fine. Perhaps you will want to scan some of these threads.
Becky
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5453 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Jun 20th, 2008 11:17 pm |
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Bob, remember that a priest is specially blessed, trained and selected. He has two purposes in the confessional. The first is to offer spiritual guidance. The second is to forgive your sins. He is not a judge and jury. His function is not to punish or embarrass you, but only to forgive you as a stand-in for Christ. And unless you're a mass murderer, the chances are he will not hear anything that he has never heard before (unless you get a brand new priest, of course). In fact, since he's a sinner too, he might well have confessed many of the same sins himself.
Tell the priest it's your first confession, and he'll guide you through. You'll do fine.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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ROBTEACH49
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | BOB | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | ARMENIAN ORTHODOX...NOW CATHOLIC |
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Posted: Sat Jun 21st, 2008 08:11 pm |
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| Now I am nervous...the priest who will oversee my "conversion" thought it might be a good idea if I had a face to face confession...I don't think I can handle that...I now have to confess all my sins which I have accumulated for over 59 years to a priest face to face...How do I do it without feeling embarrased or belittled...what to do now?
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2260 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Jun 21st, 2008 08:37 pm |
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Bob, two things:
1. You still have to deal with God face to face. He knows your life beforehand even if you are embarrassed to stand before him. The priest’s job, as God’s representative, is simply to discuss with you where you’ve been, where you are now, and what will be the best course for the future. Along the way you will find forgiveness and acceptance.
2. Most priests admit that they don’t remember what happens in confession. God grants them a convenient amnesia of people’s sins. So even if you go face to face, it’s not going to matter. All that really matters is that you have made proper response to God, and that he is pleased to forgive you and take you into his home as a beloved son.
I like the face-to-face method because it allows me to be responsible for my sins and earnest in my aspirations. It also allows the two of us to communicate more effectively. Afterwards, a burden — the burden of sin — is lifted from my shoulders. So go with God’s blessing and be relieved of the burden.
David
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heardclarke
Member
| Joined: | Mon Apr 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 199 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Episcopalian; confirmed RC Easter 2005 |
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Posted: Sat Jun 28th, 2008 12:33 pm |
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Face to face sounds more difficult, but actually I once did that in the pastor's office b/c it was going to require some discussion and take longer than it normally would. Like your confession, this concerned issues from before the time I had joined the Church.
The pastor was very kind and understanding. I was there to receive help, advice and forgiveness, not blame. He has always told us a priest must never "punish" a person in the confessional and if one ever did we should find another priest.
I was still nervous going in, as I am every time I go to confession. I think it is kind of like seeing a doctor or dentist. It is uncomfortable during the process but one feels so much better once ii is done!
Lisa
____________________
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Jun 28th, 2008 08:34 pm |
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ROBTEACH49 wrote:
Now I am nervous...the priest who will oversee my "conversion" thought it might be a good idea if I had a face to face confession...I don't think I can handle that...I now have to confess all my sins which I have accumulated for over 59 years to a priest face to face...How do I do it without feeling embarrased or belittled...what to do now?
Hi, Bob,
I was 58 when I made my first confession. It was face-to-face, and like all women, I did not have the comfort of confessing to a person of the same gender. I've been thinking about your questions.
A small suggestion: Look at the floor, at the wall, out the window--anywhere but into the priest's face, if you are worrying about his reaction to your sins.
More important: You really should not be thinking about the priest. Think about Christ instead. During the half-hour or so prior to your confession, while you are preparing your heart, focus on the fact that you will be encountering Christ's representative. The intention should be to speak as honestly and openly with the representative as you would with Christ Himself.
If you are concentrating on the process of encountering Christ, a spirit of humility will replace the pride that is distressing you. Of course you have sinned (we all do) and your sins are ugly (they all are). There is no surprise or novelty there. Think, behave, and speak as if Christ were sitting in that chair (instead of a priest).
The proper goal when going to confession is not avoiding embarrassment but, rather, submitting to Christ's provision for spiritual guidance and forgiveness of sins. Approaching confession in this manner allows you to begin growing in Catholic spirituality as well and helps you take your place within the Body of Christ.
Find a confessor you like and stick with him for frequent confessions. The first time might be stressful; but soon, you'll be praising God afterwards for the blessings of the Sacrament of Penance. You will be in my prayers, Bob.
Grace and peace,
BeckyLast edited on Sun Jun 29th, 2008 01:49 am by Intercessor
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1845 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 30th, 2008 08:12 pm |
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| I've often heard, too, priests say that they forget the confessions. The late Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., a sort of mentor of mine (and the one who heard my first confession, covering 32 years of my life), used to say this, and he would marvel at it as a grace from God. It would be a tremendous burden, after all, of remembering all these bad things about everyone who confessed to you. Priests wouldn't want that anymore than we dread confessing the stuff. It's too much for any one man to bear: the weight of even the knowledge of all that sin. Last edited on Mon Jun 30th, 2008 08:14 pm by Dave Armstrong
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2000+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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ROBTEACH49
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | BOB | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | ARMENIAN ORTHODOX...NOW CATHOLIC |
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Posted: Tue Jul 8th, 2008 10:50 pm |
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Well friends...the time is here...I just found out that I will take my Professio of Faith this Saturday as well as have my first confession (in 59.5 years!!)...to tell you the truth I am nervous about both...more so with the confession...I spoke to the priest and he said the best way to approach it is by a face-to-face confession...in my 59 years I have many sins that I will have to confess and I am so embarrassed by them...but I look forward to my first Eucharist on Sunday...I can not wait to receive Our Lord...
Bob
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1311 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jul 8th, 2008 11:18 pm |
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Bob, this is so exciting. I am rejoicing over your news.
Probably your priest has spoken with you about confessing your sins in terms of broad categories and patterns. Then, if, during the confession, he needs additional information, he can ask questions. If you need/want additional information about that sort of thing, holler; we'll locate a thread for you or someone will write a few paragraphs.
I'm very happy for you, Bob. Pretty soon you're going to walk out of that confession with a totally fresh start--at peace with the Church and at peace with God. How generous the Lord is to us!
In Christ,
Becky
____________________
"He who will persevere unto the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will humble himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God." Divine Intimacy, p. 885 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2260 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 02:14 am |
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You’ll be fine, Bob. You will be unburdened, and you will never have to confess those sins again. I’ll be praying for you.
David
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