How To Make A Good Confession | The Catholic Talk Show 

Father Rich I'm going to confession for the first time in over 40 years tomorrow I'm terrified but excited.

“Guilt alone is why Judas hung himself, contrition is why Peter was the first pope…” Dang!! That truth cut like a knife! Amen!!

I confessed after 15 years last Saturday and I really didn’t want to go, I even cried before going because I was so scared! But it actually wasn’t that bad! :) the priest was so nice and I didn’t feel judged at all.. I felt his compassion 🤍 And it felt so good to be able to participate in the Eucharist on Sunday instead of just crossing arms. Your old video about confessions really helped too. Thank you guys !

I was away from the church for many years. So many that when my son told me he wanted to go through RCIA, I decided to take the classes as well… even though I had had the sacraments through childhood. The day came when we both felt ready to attend mass, so as we stood in the narthex I was explaining how we would keep our arms crossed over our chests and receive a blessing instead of communion. The priest who was preparing to give mass was walking past and he turned to us and asked what was keeping us from taking communion. I responded that my son was in RCIA and hadn’t had first communion yet, and I hadn’t gone to confession in years. God bless Fr. John McNamera!! He looked at me, said “Let’s get it done, no time like the present!” I must’ve looked like a deer in the headlights, but I had completed an examination of conscience and had promised in prayer that I would take the first opportunity to complete this step as it would fully bring me back to the church. Even still I said, “I don’t want to hold you up, you have mass soon.” He just smiled and responded, “Yeah, they’ll still be there. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.” This priest has such a gentle nature combined with an iron will and genuinely cares about truly ministering to those in his care.

It had been at least 20 years since I had gone to confession and was very apprehensive but in reality, I just told the priest I’m sorry, It’s been a while and I’m going to need your help and he pretty much took me through it. It wasn’t as horrible as I thought. And very different from when I was a kid. I even told him, I can’t remember everything so Father, please forgive me for everything. He understanding and knew I was approaching him sincerely and I just needed to feel cleansed. The problem I think sometimes is God can forgive you but you have a problem forgiving yourself. We just need to know He has forgiven us, so let it go. Move forward sin no more.

I miss my confessor who I was called to ...my thoughts and prayers to you Father. Hope all is well with you and your family.❤

We need more videos on confession. Thanks for this

I was very sad yesterday. I worked up a lot of courage to go to confession yesterday after school. I was very sad when I found out it had been cancelled. As a came home and laid down I found that you guys posted this video. I feel thankful to be able to watch this before I get to go to confession again. Thank you guys!

St. Francis de Sales...and St. Vincent de Paul - both excellent saints to read to deepen spirituality and gain perspective in this spiritually anemic world.

Ah yes. The good confession topic. This is a hard one for me to grasp as someone having mental disabilities. Just know if you’re struggling with any mental disabilities and the cross baring it brings in the forms of scrupulosity, anxiety, lack of trust, and many more-you are loved and you are still able to receive all the sacraments-including reconciliation.

After leaving the Church for a time and going Protestant I can tell you the biggest difference I saw in how sin is handled is that there is something about deep self reflection, prayer, expressing your sins out loud and owning your mess that we need as humans. Otherwise I just walking through life with a "Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." mentality doesn't facilitate CHANGE in a person's life. Owning and expressing your mess leads to growth.

I walk in and cry because I've sinned, that i have hurt Jesus and I cry leaving confess of the weight lifted from the chains of sins. It is frustrating confessing the same sins as well as newer sins, but I don't give up.

I'm a convert and Confession is one of the best things about being a Catholiic. I confess at least twice a month, and I have received so much grace from God because of it. Especially with venial sins. When God convicts me through prayer that I'm falling into the same sin, over and over, and I take it to confession (sometimes several times which can be frustrating, but I trust God), I find myself committing that sin less and less, until I don't do it anymore (and if I backslide, God is waiting with open arms). Now I find myself getting deeper into my interior sins and what patterns of thought or what virtues I am lacking in. It is truly the best medicine for sin. And like taking medicine, it isn't easy. But I promise you, it is so worth it!! Don't wait until you have serious sin, please. Get the best medicine in the world!

The most impactful concessions that I have made were ones were I wasn't just confessing a particular sin, but the root causes that allowed me to fall into the sin. When I went to confession after 20 years most of what was said wasn't a particular sin but the nature of my heart at the time that led me to that end. I do not think the confessor was prepared that day to receive someone that was in tears with a broken heart emptying out everything.

Thank You! I am a convert who went thru RCIA a dozen years (or so) ago. I live in a very small town and most of the congregation are retired. I don't feel as if I have ever been taught my faith. It's sad too that I've not been inspired by any of the priests we have had in that time. l am still grieving the loss of my husband to suicide a year ago and have only attended mass 4 or 5 times since then. I don't know how I found you but your program is helping and teaching me so much. Thank you for approaching our faith with humor and down-to-earth discussions. I am currently going through your play list. I needed this one. Keep up the very good work.

Thanks for another great & Godly show ! Note: I’am 80yrs old and your intro & exit music just about blows my ear drums. (How about going down about 20db.) Thanks

I have never been to confession, the last time I was in any church was 45 years ago, I'm 59 going on 60. The only commandment I did not violate was the one about committing murder. I cannot tell you how many times I had committed each sin, and the one about adultery was almost 20 years ago and I have refused to get involved with anyone in that way ever since, the pain, grief and guilt are too much to bear going back again. There's a rough outline of my life of sin. It's as though my soul took daily baths in sewage only stopping 2 months ago when I reverted to Catholicism.

It’s especially frustrating when you have resisted Sin A for sometime, went for confession for Sin B, then on the next day fell for Sin A. It’s real spiritual warfare I tell you. The devil just doesn’t stop. And after I’ve sinned, my ability to resist sin becomes compromised until the next confession and holy communion. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner…

I went to confession on the 23rd of September, the first time in 30, years, it was overwhelming but I felt amazing afterwards. I felt lighter if that's possible as if a huge weight had lifted from my shoulders.

I was guided by The Holy Spirit to come to confession when I came back to the faith 22 yrs ago. I was never fully away from the faith but I had 8yrs of serious battle. Confession cuts the devil off but frequent confession keeps you safe and more able to come closer to God. VERY URGENT. 💖

I am extremely grateful to my God. Amen 🙏

Dude seriously one of the best episodes…Delacrosse is on fire in this one. Much love to all y'all...Glory to Christ! VCR!

His feet were washed today with my tears watching this episode. This was for me a most heart felt episode. It took me almost 4 hours to watch I had to walk away and come back several times, I couldn't see the screen. Great on timing, as well Shrove Tuesday! I started this morning preparing my mind and thoughts for Lent. I am so looking forward to confession with my spiritual counselor! Thank you, God bless, Thank you for sharing!

My mondays are complete with these guys. Thank you always.

Ive decided to go to confession after 30 years of not .im terrified but i feel compelled to do this .Thank you for this podcast

I am so glad to have stumbled upon this episode! I learned so much! Edit: 49:45 It’s good you think the Filipino priest doesn’t know how to speak English. We Filipinos all do from school 😂 Maybe he has a thick Filipino accent.

I’m converting and I guess I have to join the church before I can go to confession (even though I snuck into confession when we had a visiting priest). I’m hoping I can remember all my sins.

God bless these 3.

I've been going to confession for 2.5 years now, at least 2x a month and I still have a hard time. It seems the more I confess the more I remember past sins.

Our Lord told St. Faustina in preparing for confession to pray for the priest before going into the confessional. In this way perhaps the priest will be more open to listen to Jesus as well. ❤🙏

I have a suggestion for a show topic. Many Catholics are confused about what the difference between a Venial and a Mortal Sin is and go to Communion disregarding it or confused. Recently learned, myself from my pastor, the difference and how there's much more to it then, let's say Google might tell us (I looked it up first and became completely distressed, confused and terrified because of all the different articles I read through, before calling), I think you all should make a video on the difference, what defines them, the context that makes it official that you are under the weight of a Mortal Sin and SHOULD NOT GO to Holy Communion; as well as, what happens when the Catholic people disregard it and take Holy Communion as if it were a church tradition, and not a Holy Sacrament. That would be amazing and SO ENLIGHTENING!! Thank you. 😊

I am so very Blessed to have a wonderful Pastor. Very easy to confess to, to talk to, ask questions, etc. I Love him. I truly am Blessed. ❤

I was skeptical of confession. For years and years I kept guilt to myself. To finally confess and was told it wasn’t really even a sin. And the priest offered good advice. I highly recommend going, from this skeptic no more 😀✌️

Thank you lord Jesus Christ halelujah Amen ✝️❤️🙏🕊️

I am 78. We received First Communion and Confirmation at a very young age, I think 7 or 8 years old. I attended Catholic School. The good nuns lined us up in Church every Friday to go to Confession. We would stand there and help each other make up sins that we did not commit, so the priest would not yell at us for not having any sins to confess.

I listened to this two months ago on my podcast player. I'm going on a silent retreat this weekend and have been thinking about what I need to bring to confession and spiritual direction. This morning my back pocket started telling me how to make a good confession! I believe this was a true Godsend since I haven't listened to your show recently and have listened to dozens of others since playing this episode. There's no "rational" explanation of how my phone turned the screen on, opened my podcast player, clicked on your show then scrolled down to click a show from two months ago while in my back pocket! The Lord works in mysterious ways and works with whatever we're willing to give Him!

I did my first confession yesterday and it was amazing. So happy I did it.

I hadn’t gone to confession for a long time I’m quite old now and of course I don’t remember every single thing I did, but what I don’t like is that the church has change the prayers quite a bit the prayers and I can’t remember them. Also, they’ve changed confession, and the Commandments are used to be simple, blank, blank, blank and that was it. Oh now they got little things on the side like I can’t do this by and I wanna know who did that before I’m gonna follow everything new that they’re saying because they’ve added everything another words it’s a sin to breathe or enjoy anything in your life. Thank you for letting me blow off some steam.

I don't feel confessing face to face makes the confession a deeper one.

I have been living with a mortal sin for a little while now. It seems that every Saturday I make plans to go to confession, but something always comes up that keeps me from being able to go. I swear that it's an attack of the devil. I think what I shoukd do is to make an appt. during the week. I have to add that this sin weighs on me every minute of every day!

I am such a simple soul this is almost too deep for mr. I’m doing the best I can

Love your show and your musical introduction - rock on!

I don't know what you gentlemen, His Reverence, and anyone else here would make of this, but here's my strange Confession story (with a Filipino priest here in Manila): One Maundy Thursday in the nearby basilica, the procession to the Altar of Repose was done, and the friars were preparing to hear hundreds of penitents Confess until midnight. Some sat in the boxes, others in the sanctuary at 90º angles to the altar rail so their sides touched the altar rail. When speaking they looked straight ahead, away from penitents, inclining to listen better if needed. As the kneeler on the other of the sanctuary was lower, a kneeling penitent's eye level aligned with a priest's elbow. Ushers were randomly assigning people queueing in the pews to the next available priest. I was led to an older one whom I have never seen before, in all my years worshipping there. The more familiar faces were at other stations along the altar rail or in the boxes. So, I opened up and cried on the marble-top rail, the priest's words being few and far between. Suddenly, he spoke with an authority and sternness - like a father scolding a child - and told me to forgive myself as Christ already has. It was a low point in my life, and I was beating myself up for every little thing. I was confused and stopped sobbing, and on asking him he continued to admonish me, then came down from his excited state and absolved me to my great joy. Afterwards, I told my father and he said to me in Tagalog: "Are you sure you were still talking to the one you're supposed to?" That frightened me a bit, as I mistook it for him implying the Devil was at work. I then recalled how Confession works: the priest, a normal man, is "In persona Christi" during the Sacrament of Penance. The initial fright was replaced with slow processing that turned to awe. I realised I spoke not to the old friar in church, but to the One Whose Church it is and Who has given His ministers the power to loose and bind sins. I will never forget how, unworthy as I am, He condescended to give me a drop of His infinite mercy, and to knock some sense into me that holy night.

I've used your show on the seven deadly sins as an examination of conscience. It has really helped me to look deeper.

I do use the Examination of Confession based on the 10 Commandments, but I also use one based on the Deadly Sins if I realize, for example, that my venial sins lately are coming from pride. But for a nightly examination, I love going through the events of my day and saying, "Jesus and I got up on time." "Jesus and I ate breakfast." "I got frustrated with a friend." "I neglected my scripture reading." "Jesus and I attended Mass." Simple, but very effective. Not all of them will be even venial sins, but they show me parts of my where I'm not including Jesus. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR HELP. 🙏

I am grateful for you guys and your show. I'm feeling a pull to convert to Catholicism AND have been, surprisingly, motivated by your show and others on RU-vid. God is using RU-vid! blows my mind. God Bless You all and Peace, Wave

I could watch and listen to all of you all day. Great personalities! 😅

Father the presentation you did on the seven deadly sins was amazing. It absolutely helped me. This is a very helpful show.

I had a point in my life with 33 years between confessions. Then 1 or 2 times a year. Now its monthly. I actually have a few recurring sins I've overcome. Still a long way to go. I feel closer to God these days.

Thanks for the advice

Great show, Guys!

Well few years ago I decided to clear my conscience and confess. So I prayed to God that he would review my sense to me so that I can be so that I could ask for forgiveness. And I gave it six months so that I could pray and because I don’t I just thinks I just don’t remember and it was pretty upsetting. It was upsetting because I remembered things that I had completely forgotten about and so it needed prayer. So I had to work through I had to work through a lot of things. But when I did go to confession it was cathartic. The poor priest

Great show! Thanks for sharing this information.

THANK YOU.

Thanks for giving hope to those who confess the same sins

I just watched this and was so grateful for the information. It was so timely as I am having surgery next week, I really want to go to confession but I am always so afraid of going. I found a Missionary of Mercy in my proverbial back yard and emailed him at 3:45am (I work night shift) and he emailed me back IMMEDIATELY! I have an appointment and am actually looking forward to it. Thank you!

I have her book and omg it’s so good! Y’all should make a show about it!

Back watching your videos after quite awhile and glad I ventured onto this video. I have always wanted to know how to do this correctly. Thank you Ryan for bringing this up & Father for explaining the affirming purpose of amendment. I never realized it’s to the ruin of our souls. I’ve watched a few Priests explain “how to make a good confession” and just never got anything out of those videos. What you just explained Father hit the nail on the head for me.

I need to confess to God after examining my conscience I’ll follow the Ten Commandments. I like how Father said the hatred of sin.

God bless

Thanks for this information. I wasn't familiar with Evagrius, but have since looked this up and have been learning about his list. It's very helpful.

Thank you Father. I,m So Blessed when i hearing this talk show

I'm late to the party, but anyone reading, this is great advice, I've returned after 30 years, and my priest, shout out Father Carlos O of Holy Spirit Parish Kent WA, that's how you take a dingbat's confession, such as myself, and wow, I feel 2 inches taller (I'm short, so that's alot!) God Bless!

I prefer to confess with a priest that doesn't know me personally.

Howard I love you man

I went very deep when I confessed at the confession after being away from the church for a very long time and I return. I told all the mortal sins first then the other sins are not so confess the other ones second it took three confessions no I had to go to another one the Holy Spirit another one it's been so many years I totally forgot about that one I'm nervous but I I have to do that one too.

Just recently did a Byzantine confession, the priest absolutely grilled me and then put his robes over me and had me reflect on the passion of Christ. THAT was a confession! Thanks for another awesome video :)

I had to smile while you were all so earnestly speaking those funny little statues were nodding their little heads in unison with you!Nice touch.

One of the things I did when I came back to the church to start fresh after all my confessions I took the r c i a online video what the church teaches and this really helped me.

Fr. MIKE MOORE! FROM TAMPA, LOVE HIM! Great confessor!

Thank You God Bless You all 🙏🏻🛐⛪️✝️💐🌹💯💯💯🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

In my confession after 15 years I heard the voice of God helping me to say yes by moving my head of my sins I could not talk because of joy wanting to cry for my gilt but most of all I felt His love taking away my filth it is the grace we receive just because of his Love, so much to say. Revelations 21:14

4:25 Delacrosse yeah I think you nailed it well. Myself I have the larger volume Daily Roman Missal and in the back it has a guide to a good confession. I use that periodically and it helps. What Delacrosse says is true it's about the relationship and the journey. I used to make bad confessions when I was young, at first not understanding it thoroughly then later in the rebellious teen years because I disagreed with what is sin and what isn't. My life is much better following the Church properly.

Went for anointing following a good confession today. I feel so relieved. And mostly I feel blessed by having a truly good priest as my spiritual advisor/confessor. We started out at one parish together and he got transferred to another parish several years later and I moved to a different city in an adjacent diocese a year later but he is still there for me. PS I contribute to my own parish and his as well and actually, because of Father George, I now know more people in his parish, than I do in my admittedly still newvparish. Thank you for this video it helped a lot

Please keep it up🙏🏻 Your Programm is very - very important specially for our children, grand children (New generation)🙏🏻🛐⛪️✝️❤️💐💯💯💯🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Was out of town and went to confession at a Catholic Church outside of the state I live at. The priest had such a heavy accent that I didn’t understand the penance he gave to me. I felt so bad, and just prayed the our father and prayed the hail Mary’s afterwards.

Thank you Fr Rich and Ryans for this great show. I’ve been praying and contemplating about how I prepare better for the sacrament of reconciliation for quite some time. This show spoke directly to me on how I can prepare for a more deeper and meaningful confession the next time I go. God bless you 🙏🏼

Great show. Thank you for raising so many pertinent points, although I must say I cracked a smile at the "save us the story comment" because that falls outside of the female gender experience of being sincere in a confession. Here in Ireland we are more relaxed about whether you are doing it rightly or wrongly, just so ,ong as you keep coming. Always a pleasure to listen to the three of you.

I appreciate this. Ive been trying to go to confessed weekly but sometimes i feel more guilt afterwards because i feel like i was too bland or wasnt concise. I think maybe the screen is making me emotionally keepnmy guard up. Sometimes i start to get emotional or open up but then quickly move on and not let myself feel too much. Emotional vulnerability is tough for me in general but i also carry guilt in a very heavy way even from small sins. I appreciate the gift of confession but want it to help change me and i feel like im missing something and only doing it as a rite of devotion

I prefer face to face, even if it is embarrassing. But I need to connect with the priest.

You guys should have Michael Voris from Church Militant on the show... 👍🏻

I go to confession pretty regularly. I don’t like when the priest tells me to say one OurFather and a Hail Mary. I pray those regularly. I want more.

I remember going through RCIA and only 3 months into it I remember them talking about confessions. I'll be honest I thought it was stupid at first but through an app called formed they have videos explaining confession and the process. Something about it moved me. I remember texting my sponsor saying can I go to confession and she told me let's talk to the Father about it. I remember praying saying God if this is my next step then speak through the Father when I attend Mass. I get to Mass and afterwards my sponsor takes me to the Father and I told him the story and he goes this means your ready to open up and build closer relationship with God. I didn't know what that meant at the time but I'm so grateful that God allowed me to start going to confession. It has changed my life so much!

My little Catholic mission our priest only has 15 minutes for confessions, so I go for confession in the next town where they have an entire day for confessions.

My question was just posted tonight Oct 8, 2022

Confession and the Eucharist are the two greatest sacraments (if you have to pick two, they are all great btw). I couldn't live without both.

Confession is 100 times more powerful than an exorcism…

I find pretty much every time I go to confession I am much harder on myself than the priest is. He is always understanding and compassionate, while also pushing me to pray harder, and to love more. Satan works hard to make us hate ourselves, but God will always love us more than Satan can hate

“Smokin crack, and killin rabbits?” What part of Arkansas are y’all in? 😂😂😂. Seriously, I live in Arkansas and there are some parts of the state that, that fits. 😂😂

❤️

Pray also for the Priest you are going to confess your sins for God's blessings for both per one Priest I listened to on how to make a good confession.

I am reading this again May 11,2023. where can I get information on the missionaries of Mercy? I believe Ryan said he would put it in the show notes?

Smoking crack and killing rabbits…too funny. I love this show!

I had to change my work schedule to accommodate for being available to go to confession and going to RCIA in September. I wish I had seen this before I went to my first confession after my reconciliation. Looking back, I know I sounded like such a noob🤦. I know I've seen the Examens in the Hallow app, but it didn't occur to me that's what they were for. 🌠The More You Know🌠

Even if it's not technically a sin, if it's something you feel bad for doing , confess it anyway.

I'm good. When I was a kid the nuns best the hell out of me, along with hell sin went with it.

Thank you for bringing up Exodus 90..... Do you have anything for us women, like Fiat 90 link?

I have often wanted to really confess and discuss thing's I need to clarify, yet I've been stopped, before I had finished saying what I needed too. Several times this has happened, so what else can I do ?

Walking with the Holy Spirit all day long, unfortunately my sinful humaness presents itself too. The Holy Spirit convicts me on the spot and I acknowledge my sin and confess on the spot. Praying throughout the day more times then not I confess before my prayers. I tend not to remember every sin for confession so I tend not to go to confession unless I remain deeply troubled over a particular sin committed or potential sin lurking unable to let go. Prefer appts, it makes it real. I believe there is no right way or wrong way in confessing sins.

Time now is 5.39pm