Lengthy sins and confession

[Alexei B.]

I've been meaning to confess a particular sin for quite some time, but it's a very complicated one: a full description would require, perhaps, half-an-hour of discussion. Unfortunately, I'm very bad at face-to-face conversation, and not too great at translating difficult concepts into Russian -- something that I would have to do on-the-fly.

Would it be permissible to mail or e-mail the priest a full description of my sin, so that during confession, I could simply reference the summary instead of retelling it fully?

[Father David Moser]

Would it be permissible to mail or e-mail the priest a full description of my sin, so that during confession, I could simply reference the summary instead of retelling it fully?

That would depend on your confessor - you should ask him if this would be OK. For my part, I have some spiritual children who are somewhat distant and in some cases they do send me their confession written out by mail. It is something that works pretty well actually. More often though I will have people come to confession with their confession written out and they will then read it off. Some of the Russians in my parish do this specifically so that they don't have to translate into English in their heads "on the fly" so it seems to me that you could simply take your written confession with you when you go to make your confession and read it off. But, as I said before, ask your confessor how you should handle this situation.

Fr David Moser

[Nicolaj]

Dear Brethren!

I have learned that the Fathers say that every sin has a concrete name! We should name them by this name! It is of no importance or meaning why and how etc. you did this thing. It is of no importance if you think it is a bad sin or a less sin. The only thing important is to name it and to repent it earnest.

Or did Jesus asked the adulteress why she had done it? Did he asked the thief at the cross why? No, but it was enough that he repented what he had done!

The Fathers also tell that when you go to confess your sins, satan will be upset about this. And you will feel uncomfortable and you may sweat. This are things I can confirm, but how much better it is afterwards! Tears of joy, and peace again. A little taste of what heaven is like...

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj.

[Father David Moser]

Dear Brethren!

I have learned that the Fathers say that every sin has a concrete name! ...
The Fathers also tell that when you go to confess your sins, satan will be upset about this. And you will feel uncomfortable and you may sweat.

I would be interested in seeing the patristic references here - it always is helpful to provide my spiritual children with various things that will help them prepare for confession. Where did you find these citations?

Fr David Moser

[Karena Hryniuk]

Dear Brethren!

I have learned that the Fathers say that every sin has a concrete name! We should name them by this name! It is of no importance or meaning why and how etc. you did this thing. It is of no importance if you think it is a bad sin or a less sin. The only thing important is to name it and to repent it earnest.

Or did Jesus asked the adulteress why she had done it? Did he asked the thief at the cross why? No, but it was enough that he repented what he had done!

The Fathers also tell that when you go to confess your sins, satan will be upset about this. And you will feel uncomfortable and you may sweat. This are things I can confirm, but how much better it is afterwards! Tears of joy, and peace again. A little taste of what heaven is like...

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj.

Adding a few notes to your above post Nicolaj. In regards to confessing it also helps if one has a Spiritual Father and if even more blessed, carry on a well developed relationship with him. If he hears regular confessions from a parishioner he should hopefully feel comfortable enough to guide them accordingly; asking all neccessary questions before blessing to receive communion or granting a penance. On the other hand if there is a sin committed of a more serious nature that requires further attention, it might be an idea to bring it to the Priest by another means..possibly by phone or appointment at a time outside of confession. We need to use some of our own discretion here but this is primarily something for him to decide.

If one confesses with words like "idle talk" or "impure thoughts" the priest may ask to elaborate if he feels necessary. It is our responsibility to confess our sins but also the Spiritual Fathers responsibility to assess the situation accordingly. They are God's chosen ones feeding the flocks and guiding our souls, this we must trust above all else.

Sweat? Im sure we all have our own unique list of symptoms during confession. But along with Fr. David Id also be interested in any references.

Voiictiny Voskres!
~Karena

[Paul Cowan]

Nicolaj said

I have learned that the Fathers say that every sin has a concrete name! We should name them by this name!

My priest says the same thing. Whereas many in the PC church will lay claim to their cadillac and house in Beverly Hills in the name of Jesus, we are told to lay claim to our sins and confess them specifically. If we cannot be specific how can we be forgiven of them?


I would be interested in seeing the patristic references here

His name is Father Matthew :)

Not only do we have to confess but we must make resititution for our wrongs. If I say I found $5.00 on the floor, that is not bad. If I say I found $5.00 on the floor after I took out of my co-workers desk drawer, that is wrong. I then MUST give it back. And apologize.

Just because we apologize does not mean we will be forgiven nor will that person have to engage with us in the future. I am sorry I attacked your daughter does not mean you will be allowed to be friends with the family again.

Sorry, I got carried away. Forgive me.

Paul

[Kyrill Bolton]

John Cassians in the "Institutes" lists gluttony, fornication, covertouness, anger, dejeciton, acciie, vainglory and pride. He has a chapter about each.

Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco in his "Brief Confession before a Spiritual Father" lists
idle talk, saying unseemly things, condemnation of others, laughter, scorn, self-love, insubordination, love of glory, pride, love of honour, envy, gluttony, anger, love of sensual pleasure, slander, over-eating, inattention, drunkenness, listlessness, attachment to things, negligence, love of money, carelessness, vainglory, resentment and remembering wrongs, laziness, disobedience, acceptance of lustful and grumbling impure thoughts, self-will, missing church services, reproaching others, dozing and sleeping in church, evil speech, neglect of prayer, lying, concealing sins at confession

[Paul Cowan]

John Cassians in the "Institutes" lists gluttony, fornication, covertouness, anger, dejeciton, acciie, vainglory and pride. He has a chapter about each.

Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco in his "Brief Confession before a Spiritual Father" lists
idle talk, saying unseemly things, condemnation of others, laughter, scorn, self-love, insubordination, love of glory, pride, love of honour, envy, gluttony, anger, love of sensual pleasure, slander, over-eating, inattention, drunkenness, listlessness, attachment to things, negligence, love of money, carelessness, vainglory, resentment and remembering wrongs, laziness, disobedience, acceptance of lustful and grumbling impure thoughts, self-will, missing church services, reproaching others, dozing and sleeping in church, evil speech, neglect of prayer, lying, concealing sins at confession

At the beginning of confession in my parish my priest has us read an index card that pretty much lists all the above just in case we need help in remembering our sins we have not quite prepared for we actually got to confession. These are like brain ticklers to help us remember our MANY sins we need confession for.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

St Dmitri of Rostov's 'Brief Confession' also is very helpful.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Effie Ganatsios]

The information here is very helpful :

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/confession.aspx

[Nicolaj]

I would be interested in seeing the patristic references here - it always is helpful to provide my spiritual children with various things that will help them prepare for confession. Where did you find these citations?

Fr David Moser

Dear Father,

Being the first among sinners I am not worthy at all to be saved by the Lord and to receive the Blessings of Orthodoxy. But as I have experienced all this and more on my own body, heart and soul, I must talk about it as that more will be saved.

I found many in the scriptures of Hl. Theophan the Recluse, especially The Path to Salvation. For more I have to look over my notes, this will take a few days but I will post the results here!

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Father David Moser]

I found many in the scriptures of Hl. Theophan the Recluse, especially The Path to Salvation. For more I have to look over my notes, this will take a few days but I will post the results here!

Nikolaj,

I am not looking for lists of sins - those we have in abundance. What I was asking about was the statement that "every sin has a concrete name" Where is the citation for that? We know that there are many sins and that it is best to confess our sins by name when possible - but it is something quite novel to assert that every sin can be named.

Fr David Moser

[Nicolaj]

Please forgive me! My dumb brain meant that you wanted to know where it is said about the inconvenience the body feels and shows! Sorry.

It is said that the sins have concrete names and that we shall name as they are in the Orthodox Prayerbook (Молитвослов) as in use by the church here. It is there said that Johannes Chrysostomos said that every sin has to be named. You can also look up at Alexander Schmemann in his book On confession and communion (I only have it in Russian). Further on in the book by Theophan the Recluse and also in Книга о Серкви by Michael Dudko and Andrej Lorgus. And in The way of the Russian Pilgrim, Second Book, First Lektion where he prepares for confession.

I also confess this way and my father hasn't had any complains the way I do it. Why should I read long on where it happened and why it happened and perhaps it wasn't my fault entirly..

Please explain me why, in your opinion, it is not possible to name every sin?

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Father David Moser]

Please explain me why, in your opinion, it is not possible to name every sin?



You made an absolute statement - that every sin has a name. I do not necessarily agree with that statement...

...because there are an infinite number of ways to sin. Thus I do not think that it is possible in an abstract sense to give a name to every way you can sin. Otoh, in a functional sense, we can certainly name every sin that we can recall having committed - but even then what about those sins that you don't know (sins known and unknown) or sins of which you are in ignorance. Thus it is not even possible to name every way in which you have personally sinned.

On a more abstract note, it is certainly possible to say that there is only one sin - to fall short of the glory of God - and that we miserable fallen creatures have devised an infinite number of ways to commit that same sin over and over again and we use our creativity not to glorify God, but to find new ways to commit that sin.

Fr David Moser

[Nicolaj]

You made an absolute statement - that every sin has a name. I do not necessarily agree with that statement...

...because there are an infinite number of ways to sin. Thus I do not think that it is possible in an abstract sense to give a name to every way you can sin. Otoh, in a functional sense, we can certainly name every sin that we can recall having committed - but even then what about those sins that you don't know (sins known and unknown) or sins of which you are in ignorance. Thus it is not even possible to name every way in which you have personally sinned.

On a more abstract note, it is certainly possible to say that there is only one sin - to fall short of the glory of God - and that we miserable fallen creatures have devised an infinite number of ways to commit that same sin over and over again and we use our creativity not to glorify God, but to find new ways to commit that sin.

Fr David Moser

Thank you dear father for learning and explaining me where I felt short! Thank you again for given some light for my sometimes hot-blooded heart. And sure you are right teaching me, an numb sinner living on the dark side. please remember me in your prayers as I will allow me to remember you, thanking the Lord he send you to give me the right teachings.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj