Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger Doh! I forgot that this was your big weekend, cmpaley! I meant to be one of the first to offer congrats. Well, maybe I won't be the last.
Originally Posted By avromark Congrats, it took you how long? I recall you've worked on this for a long time. It's about time you joined us with your body and blood of christ, with your ability to go into the confessional and confess and hope you don't get too many Hail Mary's Chris "Forgive me father for I have sinned..." <snip> Father "I don't think that throwing 1 cigarette butt out the window is too bad, but since I don't smoke that will be 5000 rosaries, 500 hours of volunteer work in Uganda, and the $70.00 cleaning fee"
Originally Posted By cmpaley LOL! I was really nervous about what kind of penance I would be getting. Compared to what I expected, it was VERY, VERY light. Now, I see that I have definite tendencies toward scrupulosity. UGH! Not fun...not cool! I really need to learn to trust in His mercy which is tough.
Originally Posted By cmpaley I forgot to mention...my confirmation name is Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi. His story is a very good example of a life of penance and love of God.
Originally Posted By avromark My confirmation name was Mark, after St. Mark. I was in grade school what did you expect?
Originally Posted By Big Thunder >>"LOL! I was really nervous about what kind of penance I would be getting. Compared to what I expected, it was VERY, VERY light."<< I'm sure most Catecumens think that, I know I did. Plus my first one was fairly intense, all my deepest darkest[well most anyway] but like you described, it was a great feeling to confess them and be absolved. >>>"I know a priest that gives the same penance no matter what heh."<<< OK now that I participate in the sacrament a few times a year for the last 11 years, I am less anxious about it and dont look forward to at as much. So, here's my trick, I know which priest to go to, and if I time it right he'll be in a hurry because on Saturday afternoon he has to get ready before the next mass starts, so I wait it out, he'll be in a hurry, I spill my guts [seriously I have learned to just get to the point, I dont warm up with venial sins and work my way up, I get right to the big stuff] Sometimes he'll council me, but usually he looks at his watch, gives me a smirk, and dishes out a few pennance. I learned this by accident one time and I joked with my friend, "hey I found the express lane" My friend told me that if ever that stops working, to go to his parish. He says he can be in & out in 2 minutes. He said father will run down the commandments and ask "did you do...?" he just wants a yes or no answer, a penitent heart and his penance are always the same. All kidding aside, it is said that Padre Pio used become inpatient with penitents because he already knew their sins. people have reported that after finally getting in there with him [he'd hear hundreds of confessions a day] they would hold back and he'd ask "dont you want to tell me about _____ [insert sin here] and they'd be shocked.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder by the way I should clarify... I dont try to hide sins from my preists, I talk openly with them often. They are quite aware that I am not perfect.
