Hola

[Phoebe]

Hi, I'm Phoebe, joined this forum recently.

I'm a born-again Christian, which means to me that altho I was raised in a Christian household (I went to an Assembly of God church where my dad was a Sunday school teacher) I really didn't know what Christianity or faith means to me until I became an adult and had an epiphany.

Now I'm non-denominational but take my faith seriously. Yet my beliefs are somewhat unconventional and I'm not so much bound by Scripture. (I don't take it literally.) Looks like this forum has many original-thinkers and I hope to learn from you guys/gals.

My first question … Does anyone know of legitimate/trusted online confession sites where I can talk to real priests or pastors … I could probably go to a local Catholic church, but I'm afraid that some of the priests can recognize my voice. I feel guilt all the time from small things (e.g. being impatient with my family members, I have bad mood-swings) to larger things (e.g. I live far away from my aging parents) … I've never done a confession, but I've been wanting to for quite some time. Would a priest give me advice as to what to do or they'd just listen …

How does a confession work? Has anyone had an experience?

 

[Namaste Jesus]

Welcome to the forum. As to confession, my feeling is, God already knows our sins and that we all fall short. The only one you need confess your sins to, is yourself. Acknowledge your sins. Be repentant and know that in God's name you are forgiven. Most importantly though, don't forget to forgive yourself.

 

[wil]

Could you goto a church in the next town?

For prayer... 800 669-7729

 

[Thomas]

Hi, I'm Phoebe, joined this forum recently.

Hi Phoebe,

My first question … Does anyone know of legitimate/trusted online confession sites where I can talk to real priests or pastors …

Sorry — no, but then I'm UK based, but from what I know, the Catholic Church does not do online confession.

I could probably go to a local Catholic church, but I'm afraid that some of the priests can recognise my voice.

Should make no difference. In an active parish, the priest could well know a lot of the people who come to confession.

However, that does raise the question: If you are not a Catholic, then technically the priest cannot offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), as part of that process assumes acceptance of the Catholic faith. So the first question would be, are you baptised, and is that baptism recognised by the Catholic Church? A lot of questions like that.

The above is all rather technical, and the odds are, if you actually spoke to a priest, you might find him a lot more receptive, welcoming, ready to offer advice, or even receive your confession. It depends on the priest. If it were me, I would hear anyone ...

I feel guilt all the time from small things ...

Don't let the guilt stand between you and God — God doesn't. God's kind alike, "You're carrying all this stuff around? Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

Go and the confessor have one thing in common. It's an analogy I've used here before. Life is like a game of pass the parcel, in which rather than unwrapping, we wrap the package and pass it on. So people get hurt by little things, or have a bad day, and they pass that on to the next person, who adds their little bit of angst/grief/complaint/ill-feeling, and passes it on ... and then it gets to Jesus, who puts the parcel down.

That's it. Simple as that. Nothing's changed, but the 'parcel' isn't in play any more. That's what Dod does, and that's what the confessional does. And the priest never picks the parcel up ... so the idea that 'he will know' is a tough one to shake, but the measure of a good priest.

Having watched a fair few police TV dramas, if I became a cop, I'd know one thing: The guy who's brought in for questioning, and looks terrified, is invariably innocent, and the guy who is cocksure and confident is usually guilty Maybe it's a good thing I'm not a cop. My point is, the innocent often feel bad about what they think others think about their bad, whereas the bad man doesn't give a flying fig what anyone thinks, he's expert in self-justification.

I've never done a confession, but I've been wanting to for quite some time. Would a priest give me advice as to what to do or they'd just listen …

Depends what you want out of it. I would suggest you speak to a priest first, before engaging in the confession.

How does a confession work? Has anyone had an experience?

As for Confession, there's a process, you go in, kneel down, sign of the cross, "Bless me father for I have sinned ..." and off you go. I remember going back for the first time after many, many years. I made the usual opening noises, and then ground to a halt. "It's been a long time," the priest said. "Let's start from the top. Killed anyone?" ... and we took it from there. Luckily, I hadn't killed anyone, so we got off to an easy start ... it began as a process, ended as a conversation.

Mind you, my mum went to confession at the Cathedral in Central London, and a priest from her folk's town in Ireland was hearing confessions. There was a lot of "How's so-and-so" and "Have you seen?" and such chatter. When she came out, after a considerable time, those waiting were looking at what they thought could only be a serial killer ...

Humanity is a communal species. "No man is an island," as John Donne said, but if I can paraphrase the rest of the line:
"any man's sin diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind... "
So sin is seen as a communal thing. My sin is mine, but we all hurt, as it were. People feel the need to talk ... ask any good barman.

 

[A Cup Of Tea]

I could probably go to a local Catholic church, but I'm afraid that some of the priests can recognize my voice. I feel guilt all the time from small things

They are basically there to listen, judging is left to God and I hear he has a good heart.
I hope you can overcome your guilt, I don't know what you have done, but I'm thinking that guilt is only good for anything if it can help you change.

 

[StevePame]

Welcome to the form, Phoebe!

Unfortunately, I don't have any recommendations of online services that would offer what you're seeking.