General Confession? Lots Of Questions.

[SilentJoy]

Before I received Confirmation, I confessed whatever mortal sins I could remember at the time (and when I remembered more I brought them up in later confessions). I have heard of the practice of making another general confession once a year, or at least before doing anything big in life.

 

Any tips on how to do this? Would I just use an examination of conscience like the ones in the "sticky" thread at the top of this phorum? Do I need permission from my priest? I have heard of people making special appointments for this so they don't hold up the regular confession line, but could someone explain to me why a general confession would be really long (in a normal confession I take 2 minutes tops)? Would I only include mortal sins, or would I be trying to explain general tendencies and imperfections as well?

 

:mail:

[cmaD2006]

Well I can tell you how I've done them.

 

a) I did my first general confession back in 2000.  It was extremely detailed and thoughtfully prayed/took my time preparing.  (I had my reasons for this -- my 1st confession prior to coming in full communion with the Church was pretty lame, but this general confession was not).

 

b) after the 1st general confession -- you only do a general confession from the previous one, i.e. you don't have to go through your life again.

 

c) I usually do a general confession during a week long retreat (and when I did my 30 day retreat I did a general confession which included things that were from the distant past but that wasn't covered in previous general confessions, or at least I had a new insight to the depth of sin).

 

So my suggestions: if you did a general confession on a yearly basis (more or less) I would try if possible to do it in a retreat setting.  You have much more time to pray and focus, and I tend to see things more clearly then. You include both mortal and habitual venial sins.  I know that it isn't possible to always do a retreat but I do think it makes a difference.

 

Finally if you struggle with scruples/scrupulosity, I would consult a spiritual director or a trusted priest to see if it is prudent to do a general confession.  General confessions may feed scrupulosity, so if right now that is a big struggle, then it is probably not wise to plan on doing a general confession for a while, at least until you have a handle on it.

 

Hope this helps.

[arfink]

My pragmatic 2 cents is this:

 

Before you consider a general confession, do you go to normal confession regularly already? Do you perform a regular examen, perhaps in the style of St. Ignatious' spiritual exercises? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may not necessarily need a general confession right now, and if you do feel a very strong need, consult your spiritual director first. If you answered no, I suggest you try them out first.

[SilentJoy]

Thanks for the advice, CMA!

 

 

 

Finally if you struggle with scruples/scrupulosity, I would consult a spiritual director or a trusted priest to see if it is prudent to do a general confession.  General confessions may feed scrupulosity, so if right now that is a big struggle, then it is probably not wise to plan on doing a general confession for a while, at least until you have a handle on it.

 

Hope this helps.

I don't thiiiiiink I'm scrupulous. I can get worried and discouraged about venial sins and imperfections but I don't mistake them for mortal sin.

[SilentJoy]

My pragmatic 2 cents is this:

 

Before you consider a general confession, do you go to normal confession regularly already? Do you perform a regular examen, perhaps in the style of St. Ignatious' spiritual exercises? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may not necessarily need a general confession right now, and if you do feel a very strong need, consult your spiritual director first. If you answered no, I suggest you try them out first.

 

I try to make a little examination of conscience nightly (sometimes I forget for a while and it becomes weekly instead), and I normally make it to Confession every two or three weeks with a regular confessor.

 

I don't think that I'm ready to make a general confession right now, but I have been wanting to do it. I like CMA's suggestion of doing it within the framework of a retreat (I love frameworks!) but I might have to do it mostly on my own with some books and maybe with the help of a spiritual director.

[cmaD2006]

Ask your regular confessor for his opinion. If he thinks that doing a yearly general confession would be good for you then that's a good sign.

Re: scruples. I didn't necessarily think you were but anyway your confessor I would think would tell you. And besides having a regular confessor anyway is a wonderful thing.