First Confession

clintcevans · #1 May 22, '12, 7:28 pm

As a 30 year old who is converting to the faith when I go to my first confession am I confessing every sin I've ever committed in my life? If so my priest might need to pack a lunch! Also, does the priest walk you through the confession? Thanks in advance for all the insight.

God Bless,

Clint

jsaldar · #2 May 22, '12, 7:45 pm

Welcome home.

The priest will listen to all you have to say, then he will give you some advice and then absolves you of your sins. It is the best feeling ever when you are absolved of your sins..!!

asia53 · #3 May 22, '12, 8:23 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintcevans

As a 30 year old who is converting to the faith when I go to my first confession am I confessing every sin I've ever committed in my life? If so my priest might need to pack a lunch! Also, does the priest walk you through the confession? Thanks in advance for all the insight.

God Bless,

Clint

Hi Clint,

Here's a really good basic guide for confession, with an examination of conscience.

Confession

Tell the priest, it's your first confession. I did with my first confession at 46 years old. He was wonderful. He took his time, explaining the steps briefly. It really put me at ease, and helped me tremendously.

Edmundus1581 · #4 May 22, '12, 9:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by asia53

Hi Clint,

Here's a really good basic guide for confession, with an examination of conscience.

Confession

Tell the priest, it's your first confession. I did with my first confession at 46 years old. He was wonderful. He took his time, explaining the steps briefly. It really put me at ease, and helped me tremendously.

Good advice, especially coming from one who has been in a similar situation.

I was received into the Church at age 21, and I can hardly remember my first confession, so I can't offer much advice from my own experience.

To the above advise I would add...

Do give yourself plenty of time for prayerful preparation, and (probably) write down what you intend to confess and take it into the confessional. Especially try to recall mortal sins since baptism. We see quite a few posts here from people who forgot to confess some mortal sins (quite honestly) and then go through rounds of remembering and confessing these. We are forgiven ALL sins when we make that first confession, but we must confess any forgotten mortal sins we remember later, and this seems to cause some discomfort, so try to save yourself that.

However, the attempt to confess all mortal sins could lead to fear, and to confusion about what is a mortal sin. To avoid going too far, I recommend that you consult your pastor, if possible, and/or have a look at this guide to first confession for an adult convert [Jimmy Akin], which could be read along with the examination of conscience provided above.

bearer · #5 May 22, '12, 9:23 pm

Welcome home!

Kudos to those offering good advice in these previous posts. I would also recommend setting up an appointment with a local priest so you can take your time without others waiting in line outside the confessional. A good pastor might be the best person to speak with, as they tend to have lots of experience as confessors and are usually pretty good spiritual advisors.

If you need help finding a priest, go to MassTimes.org and search for parishes close to you. They include the contact information and pastor's name, if available.

If you write down a list of sins to confess, make sure you destroy it immediately afterward so no one else sees it. That might save you some embarrassment! I did so and afterward ripped it up and flushed it.

rckirby · #6 May 23, '12, 4:35 am

Congratulations, Clint!
I was received last year at Pentecost (in my 30's).
Depending on what you're converting from, you may be in a different position.
Confession is for post-baptismal sins. If you're being baptized this part is easy, but
if you are being received from another Christian group (as I was), you need to think back to your baptism. It's ok to tell the priest, "I committed sin X many times in the last 20+ years." If Father wants to know more, he will ask. There are many good guides to confession that walk through the 10 Commandments, Church teaching, etc. I found such very helpful for my first Confession. Also remember that intent plays a big role -- if you're intending to make a full Confession and forget something, you can confess it next time you go. But, part of making a good Confession is examining your conscience and being thorough.

tradcathusa · #7 May 23, '12, 8:20 am

Welcome to the Church. I assume you are in a novus ordo church so I don't know how things are done there. I am a traditional catholic and go to a latin mass parish. If you get confused in the confessional just say you don't know what to do and the priest will walk you through it. In a traditional parish when an adult converts the confession is done in the church at the altar rail. The priest sits (because he acts as a judge) in a chair facing south on the epistle side of the altar. You kneel at the altar rail and confess in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Once the confession is over you go outside on the porch to prostrate and abjure your former heresy etc to start the ceremonies of entering the church. Don't sweat it, you are saving your soul!!!

cessnawag · #8 May 23, '12, 3:57 pm

When I gave my first confession I was 30 also. I wrote down everything I could think of on a piece of paper and just read it off to the priest. He was very patient and has seen that kind of thing before. He didn't judge me because of my laundry list of sins, he was just glad I was there. No problem what so ever. Congratulations by the way!!!

clintcevans · #9 May 23, '12, 4:02 pm

Thank you to everyone who replied, I greatly appreciate it! I am converting from the Baptist denomination and was baptised at 8 years old. I can't wait to be fully received into the church! Thanks again to everyone.

Clint

Joe Kelley · #10 May 23, '12, 5:05 pm

Two excellent points have been made. I always advise my RCIA people:

1. Make an appointment so that you and the priest have plenty of time.

2. Tell the priest that it is your first confession and let him guide you through.

thistle · #11 May 23, '12, 5:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by clintcevans

As a 30 year old who is converting to the faith when I go to my first confession am I confessing every sin I've ever committed in my life? If so my priest might need to pack a lunch! Also, does the priest walk you through the confession? Thanks in advance for all the insight.

God Bless,

Clint

I was a Methodist before converting which was at the age of 44. My first Confession lasted more than one hour. Just tell the priest all the sins you can remember and if he wants to ask you anything he will.