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Racaela Fultz
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| Joined: | Sat Aug 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 146 |
| First Name: | Racaela | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Nondenominational, will be Catholic Advent 2007 |
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Posted: Wed Sep 19th, 2007 01:22 am |
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I just made my first confession, and it was wonderful. I just wanted to share that with everyone. Why would anyone NOT want to go to confession? There is something wonderful and reassuring about thinking through your sins, telling them to a wise man of God, and then hearing him say that you are forgiven and provide advice and insight. And this priest was spot on. I think I'm floating!
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"To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant" - Cardinal Newman
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heardclarke
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| Joined: | Mon Apr 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | Dallas Area, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 197 |
| First Name: | Lisa | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Episcopalian; confirmed RC Easter 2005 |
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Posted: Wed Sep 19th, 2007 08:07 am |
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Yes, it's scary every time I do it, but it feels so good afterward...like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Congratulations!
Lisa
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Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1212 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Sep 19th, 2007 11:56 am |
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I am so happy for you Racaela! It is truly a divine experience to confess your sins verbally and hear you are forgiven. And you are right, it does make us sit for awhile and think about what we've been doing lately. Going through a good examination of conscience is not something I was ever taught before. I guess it was assumed that we would feel guilt whenever we did something wrong, but I never thought about pride or vanity too much, or giving way to anger. Now I have much better guidance in each day's actions, and knowing that I will have to confess something has been a good deterrent for not doing it! 
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lifetone
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 4th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 35 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Methodist, Baptist, Wiccan/New Age, Pentecostal, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 15th, 2008 11:06 am |
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Hi guys! Me too. I posted here before that I was so nervous about it, and actually was asking all my friends to pray for me and it was so blessed. Honestly, I'd been thinking of it as something I "had" to do and maybe the Catholic Church would be like No Not You once the priest heard all the worst and for him to say you are forgiven, so awesome!
It's sad I can't share all this with my current Christian friends. Normally I'd be like God blessed me so much. It sucks that this is "an issue" so when I try to do as I'd normally do and be like God so blessed me and you should try it they think I'm trying to convert them or something. Well in this case I guess it would be true since I don't know a Protestant church that does this and even then they wouldn't have the authority.
Because this sacrament is such an issue, I know. But now that I've done it, it's like ... oh, I get it, to hear a human being say the words verbally to you after you've verbally said the horrible things you've done. It's not like, and I know the Catechism doesn't teach I *must* go to a priest before God will forgive me, like all those horrible things people say about the Church.
It's more like this is an awesome privilege to be able to do that. AND it tells me in my heart that I really admit this is wrong, and told someone that. And anyway so awesome, I had to share. 1 more week to go! Thank God for His wonderful grace.
God bless! Anne
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Intercessor
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 859 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 15th, 2008 01:26 pm |
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Anne, I rejoice with you. It is painful not to be able to share these experiences with Protestant family and friends. I understand your feelings.
Another great thing about confession is that we are also restored to a right relationship with the Church, our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we also wound with our sins. During the Sunday Mass, when we sing the Gloria as one Body, I always rejoice that, through confession, I have been prepared to stand together with my brothers and sisters and sing to our Lord. The priest represents the Church as well as the Lord; I am at peace with both.
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"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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Racaela Fultz
Member
| Joined: | Sat Aug 4th, 2007 |
| Location: | Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 146 |
| First Name: | Racaela | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Nondenominational, will be Catholic Advent 2007 |
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Posted: Sat Mar 15th, 2008 03:02 pm |
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Random note. I just found out that the girl who was my best friend until I was ten - we grew up in the same church together - is converting this Easter. Her parents are anti-Catholic just like mine, and our church is made up of ex-Catholics, and I really haven't talked to this girl (Emma) in ten years. And then she emailed me out of the blue.
We had signed each other's baptismal cirtificates when we were baptized at seven, and she had seen my name when getting it to give it to the Church. She wondered what I would think of her conversion, looked me up on facebook (a college networking service) and lo and behold, I was already Catholic myself!
What an encouragement!
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"To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant" - Cardinal Newman
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 859 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 15th, 2008 09:24 pm |
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Racaela, you must have been thrilled to get this news. I'm glad each of you will have the other as a companion (even if by email) for the continuing journey.
Becky
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"If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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MysticalRose128
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Posted: Sun Mar 16th, 2008 12:43 am |
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Racaela ... aren't we so blessed to have the sacrament of penance???? Just another visible sign of God's love for us!!
I attended Catholic school through the 8th grade. As a kid, I was taught that when the priest is hearing our confession, he is Christ, sitting right there with us, listening to us tell Him directly that we're sorry for hurting Him. I didn't quite "get it" when I was a kid, but as an adult, I have come to truly appreciate that teaching! I go to confession as frequently as possible, and each and every time I do, I go with the confidence that I am speaking one-on-one with God, and He through the priest to lowly me. I am always awestruck. I will pray that you will continue to keep that "floating" feeling after confession. I've been a Catholic for over 40 years -- and I still get that feeling, too!!
Hugs to you!
Judi
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Mater Dolorosa, cause of our joy -- pray for us!
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lifetone
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 4th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 35 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Methodist, Baptist, Wiccan/New Age, Pentecostal, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Mar 17th, 2008 11:52 am |
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Racaela, that is so awesome! It gives me hope too. Maybe some of my friends will come around too, God willing. It's amazing how He works isn't it?
God bless!
Anne
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Mar 17th, 2008 12:02 pm |
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Racaela Fultz wrote: I just found out that the girl who was my best friend until I was ten - we grew up in the same church together - is converting this Easter.
You've read that I use the phrase "faith journey". One of the great things about a trip is the people we meet. We travelled 4500 miles to England in the early 90's, and on the street near Harrod's we met a family that lives about a mile away from us.
You never know who you will meet on a journey but you know it will make the trip interesting. Invite her to the forum!
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1227 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Mar 17th, 2008 06:22 pm |
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It's great for new Catholics to share with others in similar situations what a blessing confession is (as well as other aspects of the Catholic faith that many are leary of, before they learn that they are good and helpful things).
The devil does his best to run down every good thing. In a sense, then, all the disinformation, and "horror stories" are yet another confirmation of the truth of Catholicism.
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I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 1900+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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ordinary means
Member
| Joined: | Sat Mar 8th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | andy | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic in name only, now Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Mar 18th, 2008 04:50 am |
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I just wanted to encourage you to continue to use the sacrament. Often! In this, your second lenten season, I pray that you have started to work on your soul with renewed vigilance. Remember the beatitudes, what you failed to do this lent. Seek the Lord!
Peace
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Marcia
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| Joined: | Tue Feb 26th, 2008 |
| Location: | Butler, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 31 |
| First Name: | Marcia | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Christian Missionary Alliace, Evangelical Free, Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Mar 18th, 2008 10:36 am |
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I was also terrified when I made my first confession. I remember actually shaking but it was fantastic! My priest recommended that I go to confession once a month until I felt more comfortable and that definitely helped. I love going to confession now because it makes me feel so good.
Like you, I feel bad that I can't share my experiences with my family. My husband was born and raised Catholic, but probably hasn't been to confession since he was confirmed because he doesn't believe in it. I wish that I was able to come home and tell him how good I feel because I went to confession.
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Marcia
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