When You Go To Confession

[Kateri89]

Okay question:

 

Has anyone here ever done an examination of conscience and actually written out their sins and then taken that list of sins into the confessional?  I don't see why there would be anything wrong with that and I just want to make sure I don't leave out any sins when I'm actually confessing.  I have a great app on my phone for confession that is actually meant to be used in confession but I always feel weird looking at my phone during the sacrament.  It has a very thorough examination of conscience and includes what to say to the priest so it's especially helpful for beginners.

 

Just curious.  I also find it humbling to write out my sins because when I see how long the list is, well let's just say it's too long.  I think if more people did this, they would realize that their idea of being a "good person" is pretty low expectations.  Like when people say that all it takes to get to Heaven is to be a "good person".

[Lil Red]

i use Confession: A Roman Catholic app during confession. i go behind the screen, so the priest doesn't see that i'm using my phone anyway. :P

[Winchester]

I go face to face, and maintain eye contact the entire time, whilst describing my sins in excruciating detail.

[PhuturePriest]

I used to do an examination of conscience online that was quite excessive. It detailed every mortal sin you could possibly commit, and it had me doing thirty minute confessions every week for months. I tested that poor Priest's patience, and not to mention everyone behind me in line that was then unable to go to confession were very mad at me. I haven't used examination of consciences since, and I absolutely refuse to write down my sins. I don't want thirty minute long confessions. Now I confess whatever comes to mind while I'm in line, and my confessions only last a few minutes. My scrupulosity went down to zero in a matter of a month (This all happened in the Fall of 2011), and I stopped constantly worrying about mortal sins. Maybe it was just a scrupulous examination of conscience I was using, but I'm wary of using them now.

Edited March 9, 2013 by FuturePriest387

[Winchester]

I often read Eliot's "Ash Wednesday" prior to confession.

[Gabriela]

I do this. I write them down in a journal every night before bed. I simply wouldn't remember squat if I didn't. My lists wind up very, very long, and I cry pretty much every time I go to Confession, from the sheer overwhelmingness of it. My priest once accused me of scrupulosity (which is totally not the case), and I do take longer than anyone else I've ever seen in Confession (though not 30 minutes). Still, I think this is the best way for me. I am arrogant, so I need the humbling. :-(

[Gabriela]

I go face to face, and maintain eye contact the entire time, whilst describing my sins in excruciating detail.

 

Just to prove how manly you are, or out of sheer shamelessness, or as a mortification—or are you joking?!

[Evangetholic]

I go face to face, and maintain eye contact the entire time, whilst describing my sins in excruciating detail.

 

I hope that's true. It sounds like a very sweet mortification. I want to start doing this, and maybe walking with rocks in my shoes. :D

[Gabriela]

i use Confession: A Roman Catholic app during confession. i go behind the screen, so the priest doesn't see that i'm using my phone anyway. :P

 

I just downloaded this and, my goodness, is it a.w.e.some! I love that it brings up a quote about sin after your confession. I do wish I could add prayers to it, though, as my preferred Act of Contrition isn't in there, and there are some prayers I get over and over again as my penance, so I wish I could put them in there!

 

I also think it's hilarious that I downloaded the "iRepent" version 1.0.3! LOL!

 

Thanks so much for sharing this, Lil Red!

Edited March 9, 2013 by curiousing

[EmilyAnn]

I've always used lists. I'm a very nervous confessor, so I tend to forget everything as soon as I go into the confessional. I use an app called Mea Culpa now, I use it for my examination of conscience every day and then as my guide for when I'm actually in Confession. And it keeps track of my last confession, because I just cannot keep track of time. It's helped me so much, and it's easier than a written list - a written list I was always worried about not throwing away properly (I used to tear them up and put them in different bins on my walk home) but now it's all passcode protected and I can erase it as soon as I'm done. 

[ToJesusMyHeart]

I always make a written list and take it with me into the confessional. There's nothing wrong with doing so. :)

Whatever helps you make a good confession! 

 

p.s. I'm going to put this in the Q&A board, but maybe someone here has an answer. I went to confession this Wednesday for the Lenten Penance service and we had visiting priests. The priest I confessed to did not say the Absolution prayer ("God, the Father of mercies...). He only said "I forgive you of your sins." 

 

Are my sins forgiven or should I go again with a priest who says the Absolution prayer?

Edited March 9, 2013 by ToJesusMyHeart

[Kateri89]

i use Confession: A Roman Catholic app during confession. i go behind the screen, so the priest doesn't see that i'm using my phone anyway. :P

 

Yep that's the one I have on my phone and I always go behind the screen but the backlight emanating from my phone is too bright, I'm sure the priest would see an unusual light shining on my side of the confessional and wonder what's up...  :hehe2:   I still use the app though for the examination of conscience.

[Lil Red]

I just downloaded this and, my goodness, is it a.w.e.some! I love that it brings up a quote about sin after your confession. I do wish I could add prayers to it, though, as my preferred Act of Contrition isn't in there, and there are some prayers I get over and over again as my penance, so I wish I could put them in there!

 

I also think it's hilarious that I downloaded the "iRepent" version 1.0.3! LOL!

 

Thanks so much for sharing this, Lil Red!

 

I think you can addprayers?

 

ohno, you can add other sins. lol

[GeorgiiMichael]

As long as you can get in and out in 5-7 minutes or less, don't worry about it. But it's rude to other people waiting in line to take much longer. Especially when the priest is only available for 30 minutes or so. if you have to make a longer confession, either schedule a time with a priest or go to one of those big Lenten penance services where there are a lot of priests and there is a good long amount of time for confessions. 

 

I can't tell you how many times I've had to abstain from the Eucharist because someone took 10-30 minutes for confession and so I didn't get a chance to go.

[Guest]

I did a huge list with horrible sins that I wrote out once and I do mean huge and horrible...I scheduled a appointment...Still didn't take long and I was forgiven just like that...Its not fair really...God is good...I think I had to say a few Our Fathers...

Edited March 9, 2013 by Guest