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**maxfreemann** · 01-12-2011, 10:30 PM

Caleb,

For me first confession was like this. I phoned Father and said I wanted to confess. He said come at 3 o'clock. I turned up. We went into the chapel (he has a chapel in his attic). We stood beside the Cross, I faced it. Father said some prayers, not long, maybe 2 minutes, I can't remember them. I then read, yes read, my list of sins - good point this you will be too nervous to do any remembering - which took quite a while, maybe 10 minutes. I had added a general confession to the end of my list, I think it was from St John of Kronstadt. because I was scared of missing something important. Father asked if there was anything else I wanted to say. I said "no". Then he said to kneel down, and he placed his stole (epitracheon?) over my head, and said the absolution. I cried a bit. Then I stood up, he said "well done brother" and hugged and kissed me, which was welcome, I can tell you. Then he left me to pray until I wanted to leave.

I don't have any idea if this is typical, I suspect that every case is different, but I don't presume to think that I'm an exceptional sinner.

My experience now is that Father just listens, he sometimes asks a question or two, he knows what my problems are. I think he comes prepared with useful suggestions, but they might just occur to him as the Spirit leads. It is not like an interrogation, he is only there as a witness and an advisor. We don't confess to the priest, we confess to Our Lord, the priest is there to help us get it out.

He doesn't do confessions during the Liturgy, like some places, but just about any other time. Once we were working on some hanging new icons, I said "could I confess when we finished", he said, "let's do it now", got out the Epitracheon, and we did it just as we were, before the icons we had just hung. I'd like to say it gets easier, but it doesn't.

Love,
Richard.

01-12-2011, 10:30 PM	#6
maxfreemann Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 465 Senior Member	Caleb, For me first confession was like this. I phoned Father and said I wanted to confess. He said come at 3 o'clock. I turned up. We went into the chapel (he has a chapel in his attic). We stood beside the Cross, I faced it. Father said some prayers, not long, maybe 2 minutes, I can't remember them. I then read, yes read, my list of sins - good point this you will be too nervous to do any remembering - which took quite a while, maybe 10 minutes. I had added a general confession to the end of my list, I think it was from St John of Kronstadt. because I was scared of missing something important. Father asked if there was anything else I wanted to say. I said "no". Then he said to kneel down, and he placed his stole (epitracheon?) over my head, and said the absolution. I cried a bit. Then I stood up, he said "well done brother" and hugged and kissed me, which was welcome, I can tell you. Then he left me to pray until I wanted to leave. I don't have any idea if this is typical, I suspect that every case is different, but I don't presume to think that I'm an exceptional sinner. My experience now is that Father just listens, he sometimes asks a question or two, he knows what my problems are. I think he comes prepared with useful suggestions, but they might just occur to him as the Spirit leads. It is not like an interrogation, he is only there as a witness and an advisor. We don't confess to the priest, we confess to Our Lord, the priest is there to help us get it out. He doesn't do confessions during the Liturgy, like some places, but just about any other time. Once we were working on some hanging new icons, I said "could I confess when we finished", he said, "let's do it now", got out the Epitracheon, and we did it just as we were, before the icons we had just hung. I'd like to say it gets easier, but it doesn't. Love, Richard.
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