Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- All Categories 13.8K
- General Category 10.9K
- General Announcements 184
- Faith Issues 3.4K
- Coptic Orthodox Church 2.5K
- Personal Issues 1.4K
- Prayer Requests 423
- Random Issues 1.8K
- Introductions 294
- Non-Orthodox Inquiries 232
- Youth Corner 606
- Hymns 2.5K
- Hymns Discussion 2.5K
- Technicial Difficulties 368
- Technical Topics 368
confession
hi
i need help w/confession. for some reason i have really hard time confessing to a priest. can some on please give me some advice.
god bless
i need help w/confession. for some reason i have really hard time confessing to a priest. can some on please give me some advice.
god bless
Comments
i'm not an open person usually. and then i see the beard, and i get stiff, and i just can't tell them the confession.
God Bless
THE ROOM
17 year old Brian Moore was asked to write something
about Heaven in school. It was his best essay; it
literally stunned his class. But sadly, it was also
his last.
He was killed in a car accident on May 27, 1997. His
parents pinned this essay in the living room. "I think
God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to
find it and make something out of it, " Mrs. Moore
said of the essay. She and her husband want to share
their son's vision of life after death.
"I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know
I'll see him.
Brian's Essay: The Room...
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found
myself in the room.
There were no distinguishing features except for the
one wall covered with small index card files. They
were like the ones in libraries that list titles by
author or subject in alphabetical order. But these
files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and
seemingly endless in either direction, had very
different headings. As I drew near the wall of files,
the first to catch my attention was one that read
"Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping
through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to
realize that I recognized the names written on each
one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where
I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude
catalog system for my life. Here were written the
actions of my every moment, big and small, in a
detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and
curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I
began randomly opening files and exploring their
content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a
sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look
over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends
I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane
to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I
Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have
Laughed at." Some were almost hilarious in their
exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers."
Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My
Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My
Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the
contents.
Often there were many more cards than I expected.
Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the
sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be
possible that I had the time in my years to fill each
of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each
card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own
handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have
watched", I realized the files grew to contain their
contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet
after two or th ree yards, I hadn't found the end of
the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the
quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that
file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I
felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file
out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and
drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content.
I felt sick to think that such a moment had been
recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One
thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these
cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to
destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out.
Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn
the cards. But as I took it at one end and began
pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a
single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card,
only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to
tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to
its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let
out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it.. The title bore "People I Have
Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than
those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on
its handle and a small box not more than three inches
long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it
contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep
that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook
through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out
of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The
rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes.
No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock
it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the
tears, I saw Him.
No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I
watched helplessly as He began to open the files and
read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response.
And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His
face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to
intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to
read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me
from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His
eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I
dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and
began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm
around me. He could have said so many things. But He
didn't say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.
Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file
and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine
on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I
could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card
from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But
there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so
alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written
with His blood. He gently took the card back. He
smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I
don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so
quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him
close the last file and walk back to my side.
He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is
finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room.
There was no lock on its door. There were still cards
to be written.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me."-Phil. 4:13
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life."
If you feel the same way forward it to
as many people as you can so the love of Jesus will
touch their lives also. My "People I shared the gospel
with" file just got bigger, how about yours?
You don't have to share this with anybody, no one will
know whether you did or not, but you will know and so
will He.
Keep these things in mind, and talk it out with your father of confession – be open with him, you need that sort of relationship in order for him to be effective in helping you out. Sorry, im not a great help in this area.
i really appriacate it. that was a very deep and powereful essay.and i feel that it has made an impact on me. but i also have trouble with stopping myself when i sin.
For example when i'm watching something bad, i know that should stop and never do it again, and repent and confess, but for some reason i feel powerless, i'm unable to stop.
please help
"when i'm watching something bad, i know that should stop and never do it again, and repent and confess, but for some reason i feel powerless, i'm unable to stop. "
well, i was told one day in sunday school that if you wanna stop sinning, you have to hate the sin first. and if u dont hate the sin, then there's no way you can get urself out of it. SO, you gotta start by hating whatever it is that you do that brings you away from God.
i'm only relaying the message :)
About confession, I personally forced myself and I was quite surprised how understanding abouna was and I'm sure you will be also. Pray that God may grant you the strength to confess. God bless.
About the abouna understanding, it's really shocking how understanding they are, u can tell them anything and theyll be ok with it really
but if you feel slightly uncomfortable verbally telling ur sins to abouna, you can write them down on a sheet of paper and give it to him. ive known a few ppl who do that, write everything they want to confess on paper, give it to him, he reads it, gives advice/spiritual excersize and then prays the absolution.
this could be a start perhaps until you're more comfortable with revealing ur sins to him.
btw.... really really awesome stroy.... :)
take care and God bless
it's me again
it's not like i like to sin, but u know when, for example u c a movie that's rated PG-13, because something inapporpriate in it but, injoyable u want more and u can't stop watching it
yes as crazycopt sed rite it down i no people lyk that umm i heard that you just rite it down then give it to abouna in the mass then its like your sins are forgiven i dunno ill chek out that more 4 ya
neway i hope God Blesses u the way He blessed me i can say anything to abouna even if its between me i say it
so may GBU and every1 else
i luv u all ppl :) ;) :D ;D :-*
pray 4 me plz
FROG
+sing a new song to the Lord :) ;) :D ;D+
thanx for everything guys.i really appricait ur help and i will try to do everything u guys have mentioned. i would also appriciat more advice u have any.
God Bless
Another Idea is to maybe find another Father of confession. Someone who draws that information out from you. I think it is easier for us to answer than to make statments, and after a while you will be more comfortable with him.
Just my 2 cents
chiefofsinners,
you also might consider that abouna have heard many other sins from people that are horrible, sins that are really shocking to hear! so ur sins to him are very normal, even if they seem really ashaming to you, compared with all other sins abouna hear, they are really not that bad.
also abouna has millionnn of stuff to worry about, and 100th of confession he hears. so DON"T WORRY, HE WILL NEVER REM. UR CONFESSION!!
i rem. sayedna Youssif once said that when they read that 7el for abounas to become an abouna, one of the stuff they say is asking God to give them the power to forget (something like that), because imagine if our abounas rem. all the confession and sins that people did, they will go crazy, it is just too much to handle!
so i hope that helped a little ;)
**Smile :) God Loves You**
...like a serious load lifted off your shoulders... gotta experience it to know what m talking about, especially when its a sin you've been carrying around a long time
...thank God for Repentence and Confession, seriously... where would we be without it??!!!
i'm back
i know wat u mean that it's a load off but for some reason when abouna lays his hand on my head i feel like he's disappointed
God Bless
Really, I think it would be a SHAME if the devil can take this ABSOLUTE GIFT from God (confession), this tool thats acts as a bridge from us to God and use it to make us feel bad and dissappointed and ultimately use it for his advantage in the cause of keeping us away from God.... IT WOULD BE SUCH A SHAME...so lets ALL make sure that DOESNT happen
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
We'll pray for u and u confess :D just never stop confessing and getting up again.... even the most "saintly" of us can feel exactly what you're feeling... its frustrating that as humans we often fall into the same sin but remember its better for God to come and find us struggling with sin and fighting it, then for Him to find us freely indulging in it! ...goodluck
good point. i really appriciat ur help. it has made me realize something very important. a priest can fall in the same sins that i fall in.(unlikely)
i would appriciate more advice if u have any
God Bless
God Bless
SOOOO, id much rather have to tell an abouna, who is human just like me and doesn't judge me than stand in front of God on that last day and actually be judged for real and pay the price myself....
come to think about it...i haven't confessed in a while!! thanks for reminding me :) definitely gotta get crackin on it!
Maria
back to the topic at hand..
I had the blessings of driving his grace Anba Youssef to the airport one time and i took the oppurtunity to ask him: how to overcome a sin/addiction that has haunted me for many many years. I didn't confess the sin that day and untill this day i have not done so, and i regret not doing so, but this Thread as i read on has encouraged me to try writing the sin and sitting with my father of confession to try and resolve my sin.
I thought i'd share what his grace told me about my issue.
just like any practice or task we prepare for, we begin by preparing one step at a time.
What you can try doing is try to give up that which you are afraid to confess, for a week, and then two weeks and so on and so forth untill you realize that you have overcome that which you struggled with. I myself had tried this method and it worked for a short period of time, but because i didn't confess the sin, i found myself back at the beginning.
Please pray for me and God bless you all...
Chiefofsinners - good luck. and please pray for me while you are confessing...