True Reconciliation story.... When I was in college, a friend went to Reconciliation and got yelled at by the priest because she, like me, hadn’t been in years. (Both of us are recovering Catholics). She walked away from the confessional without finishing it. She nor I ever thought twice about doing that again.
I have no problem about asking God for forgiveness. He already knows how screwed up I am. I do have an issue with the being judged by a priest part. Most priests fall far short of the high standards set by Papa Bergoglio.
**I have no problem about asking God for forgiveness.**
Do go back — you never know if God really answers you and forgives your sins. In Confession you do. Just make an appointment with a priest to talk with him in his office.
Let me tell you a story.
There were two guys working in an office; both were Catholic. The first guy went to church regularly and kept asking his friend in the next cubicle to go with him.
He asked and asked and asked.
Finally the second guy said he would att Mass with his friend.
When they got to the Church the first guy noticed that the priest was hearing confessions, and he urged his friend to go to Confession — but he refused.
The first guy went to Confession anyway. After Mass they were in an auto accident and both were killed.
God met the second guy and flased his life in front of him showing him all the Sundays he hadn’t attended Mass and all his other mortal sins — then he sent him away.
The first guy came up to God and asked him if his life was going to flash in front of him too. God’s words to him: “I don’t remember any sins. Come into heaven with me, son.”
Perhaps there is a program for Catholics returning to the Church in your area. That’s another route to take.
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1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
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I do have an issue with the being judged by a priest part.
But you do have a problem with the Sacrament instituted by God Himself, confession.
Better start working on the defense you'll attempt to mount during your particular judgment.
If you went to a quack doctor once and got poor treatment, would that mean that you never will seek medical assistance again from anyone?
If one barber or hair stylist does a lousy job, do you give up on haircuts, or try a different stylist next time? You can tell by looking around that there are good and bad stylists out there, even though they get the same basic training and go by the same hair cutting principles. Same with confessors.
Give your soul a chance to get its regular maintenance, with someone who knows what they are doing. Try again, and you will have pretty good odds of having somebody who understands, cares and offers something to ponder as you go forward.
You wouldn’t give up if your car needed maintenance. You would keep taking it to a different mechanic until somebody knew what to do. Your soul deserves at least that much consideration, and it will last longer than your car!
Also, I asked a priest once how he feels about people coming back to confession after decades away. He said it is one of the most powerful and moving moments of his priesthood, because he can see someone healing, coming back to real closeness to Jesus, to real holy peace. That doesn’t sound like someone who would scold someone for having been away, does it?
Try again.
BUT... The one thing I would caution is that if you go to a confession near a major holiday, the priest and you may feel rushed, because there will be a long line behind you. Better to go in the “off season”.
That is the way it is supposed to work.
Go to Jesus in prayer, confess and ask for forgiveness.
Waiting for a time to go to church and into a confessional area, which as has been noted many do not do for various reasons, is unnecessary.
Jesus is our High Priest and the only intermediary between us and God, and He is always there for us.
you mean Sacrament of Repentance, right? What “reconciliation” are you talking about? A real Catholic would know the difference.