Question and Answer – I Have Not Confessed for Several Years
Between the Magazine and the Readers
(From the questions answered in the Friday meeting at the Cathedral and sent to the magazine).
1. Question
I have not confessed for several years; how can I possibly enumerate all my mistakes throughout these years in order to confess them? And what happens if I forget something?
The Answer
There is no doubt that there are certain sins that have a particular effect on your inner self, which you cannot forget because of their importance, their seriousness, or because they have a special character. These you will mention as they are.
As for the rest of the ordinary and passing sins, divide them into categories and try to gather them under headings, such as sins of thought and heart, sins of the tongue, sins of the senses, sins of deeds, sins related to your relationship with God, with people, and with yourself… Then address each of these in detail. For example, sins of thought include thoughts of fornication, doubt, revenge, love of the world, condemnation of others, envy, blasphemy, etc. Try to remember what you did in the details of each sin. If you committed a sin many times, mention that it was repeated many times, and there is no need to explain the details of each time separately unless there is something distinctive in some of them that troubles your conscience.
Tell your confessor everything you remember. And if you forget something, do not be distressed: whenever you remember it again, confess it. And out of fear of forgetting, do not delay your confessions again. And the Lord be with you. We thank God that you have returned to confession…
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A question to His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Kiraza Magazine, fifth year – issue nine, 30-11-1974.
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