Fear of going to the Sacrament of Confession

[viny]

Dear friends, I need some help to this question which could help priest in ministering the sacrament of confession:

Why are so many people afraid of going to the sacrament of confession?


Thank you very much for your comments!

Blessings and internal peace,

Fr. Vincent Esprit FMI

[Annabelle Marie]

Well, for me it used to be a terrifying experience...and I don't know why...our priest has always been kind in there....I think it's just admitting that you did those things...shame...that makes people not want to go. I kept reminding myself that I was not confessing to our priest...but to Christ himself...and it helped that a really hard time I was having in dealing with something and having to confess my sin in reacting to it...when I looked into the eyes of our priest...I really did see Christ there

[theresaavey]

For me am shy so it all started there; then I lapsed from the sacrament for a couple years so it was harder than before.
Plus committing the sin is one but having to admit it to someone else is terrifying and shameful. In my case not much priest where I live and my parish priest knows me well so am embarrassed to confess to him so I always wait for other opportunities like mission or something so I wouldn't have to confess to him.
Also its not a "talked about" subject so in my case I only fell the urgency to go to confession because of MUCH FEAR...or consequences.

I still have that fear.

Thinking of the priest as God or even that the priest heard it all...still doesn't bring comfort or ease the fear...probably makes it worse.

[Aleema]

They are afraid to look at themselves, we need to learn how to look at ourselves as others see us
Fear of saying the wrong thing
fear of not being forgiven that some old sin is so bad that they cant say it
fear of confronting what they had done said or thought
fear of not regonising their sins.. hence ("i dnot need to go i am ok")
fear of the pirest (maybe someone they are not confortable with)
fear of not being understood

I think more priests should be telling people that its not just about what sins you have committed but about how others have hurt you and how you carry around that hurt... and how it makes you feel... this is a good beging for actualy going to confession then when in the confessional they will open up more and show their souls to the priest who represents Jesus in all His love and Mercy!

Thank God for confession

[starryheart]

When I was a child i didn't fully understand confession. If the priest would assign me 8 Hail Marys and 9 Our Fathers I felt extremely bad. That I was that bad, I needed to say that many prayers. I was also so embarrassed to tell my deepest sinful thoughts "to a stranger." I think the Church should explain the Sacrament better to children. Around the age of 19 my friend took me to another church where the priests explain this great Sacrament to me. Now I go about once a week!

[MissRose73]

I think its because people don't like to talk about what they've done wrong and/or are ashamed of something they've done like various sins of the flesh. I know for years I never went to Confession privately because the churches I went to in the 80's and 90's did not emphasize private confessions, and had communal services twice a year. Yes, I know I am nervous going in, but feel a sense of relief when I am finished.

In the past few years to the present, I am making a habit of going at least 3 to 4 times a year for private confession. I just wished there was more emphasis on going from the pulpit for all those who are of the age of reason and older.

[viny]

Thanks Miss Rose for the witness. I do agre that priests ned to preach more about the sacrament of confession during their homilies. God's blessings and peace!

Fr. Vincent Esprit FMI