For many of us Catholics, confession can be intimidating, for a number of factors. While this is completely understandable and common, we also can’t let this hinder us from partaking in one of the greatest gifts our Church has to offer.
So, to help you out with the nerves or uncertainty, FOCUS reached out to priests all over the country about Catholic’s biggest questions surrounding confession. Here are their answers!
What is one of the best tips you can give in regards to going to confession?
“Ask the Holy Spirit to make clear what sins you have committed in order to confess them. Find a good guide to examine your conscience.”
“Prepare. Think it through. Examine your conscience using a guide, reflecting on the 10 Commandments, asking yourself how well or poorly you’ve lived the beatitudes, or pray with the qualities of love that Paul identifies in Corinthians.”
What prevents Catholics from going to confession and what’s your advice for getting past it?
Fear of Telling the Priest Their Sins
“Telling the doctor where it hurts is the only way he can help you heal.”
Not Knowing What To Do
“Don’t get caught up in the formula or knowing the exact words or format of the sacrament – if you need help, just ask the priest to walk you through it.”
Fear of Being Judged
“We priests are not sent to be Judge and Jury, but to be Christ Himself, always ready to forgive!”
Thinking They Need to Have Their Act Totally Together Before Confessing Their Sins
“All we can ever do is try at anything, some attempts are successful, others not so much, but each and every attempt taken in earnest leads to growth.”
What do people do in confession that they don’t need to?
“Don’t blame others, justify your sins, or minimize them.”
“You don’t need to give the details or backstory to your sins, unless the priest asks for them to help him discern the gravity.”
Face-to-face or behind the screen?
“Whichever is going to help you make a good confession.”
“Each has its advantages. When face-to-face the priest and the penitent can reach each other’s body language, which can lead to better understanding. When behind the screen, the priest can give more candid advice without worrying the penitent will think they have a bad opinion of them next time they see each other.”
“The pitfalls of each: the screen can seem like an ATM, face-to-face can seem like two friends catching up. Both pitfalls, in my opinion, are to be avoided.”
How often should Catholics go to confession?
“I usually recommend people go monthly.”
“Whenever in grave sin. When in serious sin, it is very unlikely that [we] will be able to see God’s will with any sense of clarity.”
“If battling a habitual mortal sin, then the grace is there for them and they should go as often as they need to.”
What’s the most important thing for people to remember while inside the confessional?
“Be honest and trust that God loves you enough to give you this gift.”
“This is really about an encounter with Christ, not the priest.”
“Tell the priest your sins forthrightly and simply.”
What’s the most important thing for people to remember after exiting the confessional?
“Your sins are forgiven, go in peace… and live a new life in the Lord!”
“Be confident that the Blood of Jesus truly has washed away all your sins.”
“Do your penance sooner rather than later.”
“The sins they confessed will never stand between them and God again. They are gone, forgiven.”
“Don’t forget to also forgive yourself.”
Now go out there and get forgiven!
Additional Resources
Interested in learning more about the Catholic sacraments? Check out our post on adoration, what it is, and why it’s the best thing you may or may not be taking advantage of. Then head to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s article on how to “Pray the Mass Like Never Before.”
Have you signed up for SEEK yet? SEEK offers five days of non-stop confession, including a conference-wide confession event, accompanied by adoration and mass.
For even more great Catholic resources, you can check out our podcast with talks from our SEEK conference and our YouTube channel for videos, and more!