Confession

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='mommas_boy' date='20 October 2009 - 04:01 PM' timestamp='1256050884' post='1988428']
@Jesus_lol: Ya, I get to confession at the very least once a month, but more often once every 1-3 weeks. And I [b]still[/b] can't remember all of my sins.

Usually, I try to look at patterns, or more often, a priest will pull out a pattern for me that I hadn't thought of before, and really just get at sort of an underlying theme or personality flaw that is sort of leading to these sins that I've mentioned. The best experiences in confession for me have been when the priest knows me really well, and is able to recommend steps to correct this personality flaw and thus undermine my tendency to perform those sins. The best penances that I've received haven't been only prayers to say, but actions to perform to actually get me into better habits: one time, I was confessing sins where the general theme was self-centeredness. Father gave me a great penance that helped to correct this: no talking for the rest of the day! Having struggled with various addictions and laziness (which are sins of self-mastery), I've had many priests focus in on this by prescribing penances like fasting, or pushups -- focusing on physical self-mastery. I actually find that by focusing on just one thing to work on with the grace of God, that I've been able to make a lot more progress.
[/quote]
Oh yeah, I try to go once a month and still can't remember everything. I really love it when I can get the same priest each time, particularly this one Benedictine monk, as he always gets to the very root of the issue, though I've had that with a couple of confessors. Confession is very humbling, but very awesome.

[xJessicaIsHisx]

I wish I went to confession more... =/
It makes me super nervous before ( I'm shy just have a conversation with most people, so when it comes to confession it's really hard for me), but afterwards, I don't just feel relieved, but I feel so free and peaceful. it's especially good for me because I think I struggle with pride/ stubbornness a lot.

[quote name='mommas_boy' date='20 October 2009 - 11:01 AM' timestamp='1256050884' post='1988428']
@Jesus_lol: Ya, I get to confession at the very least once a month, but more often once every 1-3 weeks. And I [b]still[/b] can't remember all of my sins.

Usually, I try to look at patterns, or more often, a priest will pull out a pattern for me that I hadn't thought of before, and really just get at sort of an underlying theme or personality flaw that is sort of leading to these sins that I've mentioned. The best experiences in confession for me have been when the priest knows me really well, and is able to recommend steps to correct this personality flaw and thus undermine my tendency to perform those sins. The best penances that I've received haven't been only prayers to say, but actions to perform to actually get me into better habits: one time, I was confessing sins where the general theme was self-centeredness. Father gave me a great penance that helped to correct this: no talking for the rest of the day! Having struggled with various addictions and laziness (which are sins of self-mastery), I've had many priests focus in on this by prescribing penances like fasting, or pushups -- focusing on physical self-mastery. I actually find that by focusing on just one thing to work on with the grace of God, that I've been able to make a lot more progress.
[/quote]

I always have to make a list, or I would forget everything by the time it's my turn for confession, especially because I don't go very often...
The priests I've had love to give out actions as penances. I agree that action based penances are really helpful, it really gets me to think about what I need to work on a lot more, it makes it harder to forget.

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
i think it's good to remember that confession is not based on feelings. (this is not directed at any one person, just a general observation). many, many times, i come out of confession not feeling any different than when i went in. too often we get caught up in how something makes us feel, and when we don't get those feelings, we get discouraged from going and receiving the sacraments.

[BG45]

[quote name='Lil Red' date='20 October 2009 - 05:09 PM' timestamp='1256072946' post='1988581']
+J.M.J.+
i think it's good to remember that confession is not based on feelings. (this is not directed at any one person, just a general observation). many, many times, i come out of confession not feeling any different than when i went in. too often we get caught up in how something makes us feel, and when we don't get those feelings, we get discouraged from going and receiving the sacraments.
[/quote]

+1 for utter truth.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='BG45' date='20 October 2009 - 04:31 PM' timestamp='1256077895' post='1988628']
+1 for utter truth.
[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
you too?

[StColette]

I was talking with the First Sacraments parents on Sunday about their child's First Reconciliation. I explained to them how I found it interesting in observing the past First Reconciliation services the children tend to want to go to the priest that they are most familiar with and who is most familiar with them. But as a adults we tend to avoid going to the priests who know us and who we know very well.

[BG45]

[quote name='Lil Red' date='20 October 2009 - 07:41 PM' timestamp='1256082077' post='1988685']
+J.M.J.+
you too?
[/quote]

Definitely. Do I know, recognize, admit, and want to amend my wrongs...sure. It doesn't mean I feel any different though. Sometimes I fill with joy at the words of Absolution, at other times there's just an "okay" about it. Unlike some Pentecostal friends I can't always be full of fire and cheer.

[xJessicaIsHisx]

[quote name='Lil Red' date='20 October 2009 - 05:09 PM' timestamp='1256072946' post='1988581']
+J.M.J.+
i think it's good to remember that confession is not based on feelings. (this is not directed at any one person, just a general observation). many, many times, i come out of confession not feeling any different than when i went in. too often we get caught up in how something makes us feel, and when we don't get those feelings, we get discouraged from going and receiving the sacraments.
[/quote]

Yeah, I have to remind myself this a lot and that feelings change a lot, feelings =/= faith...

(Although many times, it's also for the opposite reason, I don't want to experience a certain feeling and that discourages me...)

[Lil Red]

[quote name='BG45' date='20 October 2009 - 05:57 PM' timestamp='1256083069' post='1988696']
Definitely. Do I know, recognize, admit, and want to amend my wrongs...sure. It doesn't mean I feel any different though. Sometimes I fill with joy at the words of Absolution, at other times there's just an "okay" about it.
[/quote]
yup, exactly.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='BG45' date='21 October 2009 - 12:57 AM' timestamp='1256083069' post='1988696']
Definitely. Do I know, recognize, admit, and want to amend my wrongs...sure. It doesn't mean I feel any different though. Sometimes I fill with joy at the words of Absolution, at other times there's just an "okay" about it. Unlike some Pentecostal friends I can't always be full of fire and cheer.
[/quote]
Yep.