http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/04/09/excellent-russianenglish-confession-charts-for-confession-and-preparation-for-confession/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:35:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/04/09/excellent-russianenglish-confession-charts-for-confession-and-preparation-for-confession/comment-page-1/#comment-13078 Natalia Arzhantseva Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:01:35 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=3198#comment-13078 Thank you, Father. Actually, there is, as far as I know, a problem regarding confessing... Priests (at least here - Russia, Belarus...) often stress (sometimes to everyone before starting confession) - that they should speak ABOUT THEMSELVES ONLY. Not about others! This is so widely-spread, unfortunately. People come to the priest & start telling him their stories - on how other people behaved towards them, their insults, how the state is bad, how bad is everything...When the priest asks them what about them - nothing to say is found. Of course, people should have a chance to share their problems somehow, but the difficulty is that they are often determined to do ONLY that, coming to the confession with no their own sins to mention. Or - to metion - i.e.to confess, but NOT repent. Even admitting honestly that they are not going to change anything after confession & taking the Holy Communion, - saying they need to confess...even without the  wish or thought they should change something & try not to repeat the sin confessed. I know how hard it is not to repeat!!! But they say they they will not even try. This all is very sad to the priests. and people feel often offended that the priest refuses to listen how bad other people are & asks to say OWN sins, even if the priest asks this in a very polite & tactful manner... May God help us to confess!!! to start to learn how to do it & start PRACTICING it.   Bless. Thank you, Father.
Actually, there is, as far as I know, a problem regarding confessing…
Priests (at least here – Russia, Belarus…) often stress (sometimes to everyone before starting confession) – that they should speak ABOUT THEMSELVES ONLY. Not about others! This is so widely-spread, unfortunately. People come to the priest & start telling him their stories – on how other people behaved towards them, their insults, how the state is bad, how bad is everything…When the priest asks them what about them – nothing to say is found.
Of course, people should have a chance to share their problems somehow, but the difficulty is that they are often determined to do ONLY that, coming to the confession with no their own sins to mention. Or – to metion – i.e.to confess, but NOT repent. Even admitting honestly that they are not going to change anything after confession & taking the Holy Communion, – saying they need to confess…even without the  wish or thought they should change something & try not to repeat the sin confessed. I know how hard it is not to repeat!!! But they say they they will not even try. This all is very sad to the priests. and people feel often offended that the priest refuses to listen how bad other people are & asks to say OWN sins, even if the priest asks this in a very polite & tactful manner…
May God help us to confess!!! to start to learn how to do it & start PRACTICING it.
 
Bless.

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