How to properly prepare for confession, as well as a list of sins for women and men

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The most important thing for the health of the human soul is awareness of one’s own sinfulness and sincerity of repentance.

How a person can see and realize the sins he has committed, what he needs to do to repent, the features of the first confession.

These and many other questions regarding spiritual healing will be answered in this article.

What is confession?

Confession is a sacrament given to people to enable reconciliation with God.

A person, having comprehended his sins and lamenting, tells the Almighty about them, and the priest, being nearby, reads a prayer of reconciliation, asking for forgiveness to the repentant.

The first confession is very important for a person: it means the initial meaningful step towards faith.

But it takes a lot of time, so before you begin, you must first agree with the priest so that he can schedule the time and be able to perform the sacrament without haste.

For conscious and complete repentance, it is recommended to make a list of confessed sins, writing them down in a notebook so as not to get confused.

You can write them in a note and give them to Father. But such repentance is not welcomed, so resorting to such an opportunity is allowed only as a last resort.

It is important to list your own meaningful sins, and not repeat the list from the memo given to help the repentant.

On the issue of confessing to a crime

Confession involves admitting all sins . Even including actions that have legal consequences for the penitent.

According to the secret of confession, the main provisions of which are even enshrined in the law, the testimony of a priest in court will not be valid. Therefore, if a person has enough moral strength, he can confess even to the most terrible deeds .

However, this does not mean that the priest will treat the confession of a crime normally and immediately absolve the sin. The priest may suggest that a person confess to the police.

If a serious offense has taken place, then you need to talk about it not casually and not limiting yourself to general words. The priest must understand how serious a person’s sin is.

An example would be the following confession options:

1. Father, at one time I committed a serious sin. I worked at a company in the accounting department, and the director persuaded me to commit a major theft of money. Perhaps because of my actions, many people received low-quality services or goods. I am ashamed that I agreed to do such a thing then. I repent of the crime and I am truly sorry if my actions caused serious problems to anyone;
2. When I was young, I had to deal drugs several times. I didn’t do this on a regular basis, only when I wanted to buy myself a new thing, since I grew up in a rather poor family. I know that this in no way justifies my participation in the drug business. I completely repent and understand the severity of the sin committed;
3. A friend asked me to give false testimony. I couldn’t refuse and because of this another person suffered. Now my conscience is tormenting me more and more, I ask God for forgiveness for this.

How to call sins?

In Orthodoxy there is a rule of confession.

Below are its main points:

• Sins in confession are called briefly, in your own words.
• When listing, nothing should be exaggerated or reduced.
• Talk only about the basics and about yourself, do not condemn anyone, do not blame or make excuses.
• When pronouncing sins, do not think about how to say it correctly in church language. Confession should come from the soul, not the mind.
• When going to confession, you need to realize that you are answering before God and not worry about what the priest will think.
• Repent of serious sins, and not every time utter words about everyday vanity.

The word “repentance” comes from the ancient Greek language and translated means “change of thinking.”

Every day, since time immemorial, humanity commits acts that discredit it before the Creator. But having realized this and set foot on the path of correction, a person entrusts his life to God.

By performing daily prayers and repenting of sins, a Christian takes the path of correction and hopes for God's mercy.

When going to confession for the first time, you must firmly desire to change your life and not sin again. If there is no such confidence, you need to wait with this step.

Getting rid of sin, according to the Holy Fathers, is an integral life feat, and a person cannot accomplish it on his own.

Even an ardent desire to abstain from unsightly actions will not protect a weak sinner.

Only by relying on the help of Jesus Christ, who gave his life for the sins of every person, and having firm faith in God, begin the fight against infirmities.

Before God, any sin is an abomination. But in Orthodoxy there is some division of them, based on the commandments.

The table shows the main list with an explanation:

A complete list of sins is contained in the prayer book in the instructions for those preparing for confession.

After repentance, the priest has the right to assign penance to the penitent: the imposition of a special vow:

• Inadmissibility for a certain period of time from taking the sacrament.
• Reading additional prayers, canons, akathists.
• Giving alms.
• Reading theological books with explanations.
• In-depth study of Holy Scripture with decoding of difficult to understand passages.

Penance is not a punishment, it serves to heal the soul, therefore it is accepted with joy and gratitude, like expensive medicine.

Moreover, it is imposed not for life, but for a certain period of time.

Note! A penance imposed by one priest cannot be removed by another, and failure to comply is equivalent to a mortal sin.

Modern priests rarely resort to such a measure, seeing a person’s weak faith and fearing that such actions will push him away from the Church.

Many consider confession and acceptance of the Holy Mysteries of Christ to be a single action. This is a misconception.

Communion is the main sacrament given to the Orthodox Christian by God.

It is performed at every Liturgy. Confession is accepted from the believer as needed, but at least once a month.

Basic sins: seven types

It is impossible to list them all; here we have collected the main and most “popular” violations.

Gluttony

If the first place for you is not spiritual, but carnal food, non-compliance with existing fasts and an inclination to overeat.

Fornication

This includes adultery, lustful thoughts and lustful thoughts.

Love of money

It is observed in those who admire their property. Dreams of getting rich and does not help the poor and needy. This type of sin includes theft and robbery for enrichment.

Anger

Absolutely everyone experiences it every day. The only difference is the degree of manifestation of irritability. Rage, shouting, quarrels and arguments are evidence of it. The priests classify murder and incitement of hatred as anger.

Sadness

The list of violations includes lack of gratitude to God, impatience and murmuring.

Dejection

Laziness and refusal of church rituals and rules are a serious sin. If you have given up prayer, stopped going to church and do not follow God’s established rules, you should repent in despondency. Laziness manifests itself in drowsiness and reluctance to work, in constant celebrations and bitterness, leading to despair.

Vanity

Every second Russian who wants to gain fame and fame suffers from this. Excessive attention to appearance, pursuit of celebrity and guile. The path to achieving fame is hypocrisy and deception, envy and pretense.

Pride

Refusal from simple worldly life, contempt for others and high demands on them. Unbelief and following carnal pleasures, leaving the love of God, humility and repentance.

List of sins for women

In addition to the general ones listed, sins are divided into male and female.

Below is a sample penitential list for women:

1. Failure to comply with the rules of behavior in the Temple, attending services in trousers and without a headdress.
2. Having sexual intercourse before marriage.
3. Termination of pregnancy, thoughts of this type and advice to others.
4. Reading books and watching pornographic videos.
5. Creation and encouragement of gossip, gossip, laziness towards responsibilities, etc.
6. Refusal to help one's neighbor.
7. Participation in magical rituals.
8. Denial of thoughts about old age, thoughts of suicide.
9. Excessive exposure of areas of the body.

Sins that are not obvious to modern man

A believer who rarely attends church may not know that sinful acts include not only theft and murder, but also, for example, following superstitions, sex before marriage, etc.

Such actions in confession can be stated something like this: “Father, in my youth I was sexually active before marriage. Having become pregnant by a man I didn’t know, I was forced to have an abortion. I was afraid that I would condemn my child to a life of poverty and fatherlessness. Years later, I realized these sins and now I often regret that I killed my unborn child and led a prodigal life.”

It is not necessary to carefully prepare for confession and compose a detailed speech. This is not a report to the authorities, but a cleansing of the soul and an opportunity to resolve doubts about actions that have troubled a person for many years.

After receiving forgiveness from the priest, many feel much better, and they try to avoid previous mistakes.

List for men

For men who appear for confession, in addition to the listed sins, you should pay attention to:

1. Poor performance of one's duties.
2. Conversations in the Temple during prayer.
3. Reluctance to perform military service.
4. Refusal to help the person asking.
5. Mockery of the sick and wretched.
6. Indulgence of intimate lusts, drunkenness, gluttony.
7. Carrying out thefts and thinking about appropriating someone else's property.
8. Weakness of faith, tormented by doubts.
9. Rudeness, participation in fights.
10. Rudeness, impudence.

Children's sins are shared, including teenagers:

1. Neglect of studying.
2. Lie.
3. Manifestation of laziness.
4. Disobedience to elders.
5. Deception.

When confessing, you should not list the sins verbatim according to the list presented; it is enough to say it from the heart in your own words.

In addition to personal ones, the Russian Orthodox Church annually performs a rite of nationwide repentance for the sin of regicide.

How to prepare for confession?

According to the teachings of the church, on the third day after death, the human soul goes through twenty ordeals for each sin committed, and without repentance it will not be able to overcome these obstacles.

A sincere confession is a dress rehearsal before the Last Judgment of God.

To properly prepare you need to:

• Read special Orthodox literature that explains the sacraments of confession.
• Reflect on your actions, do not look for excuses.
• Conduct a daily analysis of your day with records of bad deeds committed.
• Before repentance, forgive offenses and ask for forgiveness.
• Three days before the sacrament, read special prayer rules at night.
• If you cannot identify your own sins, turn to a church minister for help.

Human relationships are never simple. When in the company of other people, you must be able to show respect, patience and love for your neighbor.

Do unto people as you would have them do unto you, may God help you.

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Preparing for confession. List of sins for confession

October 26, 2021, 19:49
The sacrament of confession is a test for the soul. It consists of a desire to repent, verbal confession, repentance for sins. When a person goes against the laws of God, he gradually destroys his spiritual and physical shell. Repentance helps to cleanse yourself. It reconciles a person with God. The soul is healed and receives strength to fight sin. Confession allows you to talk about your wrongdoings and receive forgiveness. In excitement and fear, you can forget what you wanted to repent of. The list of sins for confession serves as a reminder, a hint. It can be read in full or used as an outline. The main thing is that the confession is sincere and truthful.

Sacrament

Confession is the main component of repentance. This is an opportunity to ask for forgiveness for your sins and to be cleansed of them. Confession gives spiritual strength to resist evil. Sin is a discrepancy in thoughts, words, and actions with God's permission. Confession is a sincere awareness of wicked actions, a desire to get rid of them. No matter how difficult and unpleasant it may be to remember them, you should tell the clergyman in detail about your sins.

This sacrament requires a complete relationship between feelings and words, because the everyday listing of one’s sins will not bring true cleansing. Feelings without words are as ineffective as words without feelings. There is a list of sins for confession. This is a large list of all obscene actions or words. It is based on the 7 deadly sins and 10 commandments. Human life is too diverse to be absolutely righteous. Therefore, confession is an opportunity to repent of sins and try to prevent them in the future.

How to prepare for confession?

Preparation for confession must take place several days in advance. You can write a list of sins on a piece of paper. You should read special literature about the sacraments of confession and communion. One should not look for excuses for sins, one must recognize their wickedness. It is best to analyze your every day, analyzing what was good and what was bad. This daily habit will help you be more attentive to your thoughts and actions. Before confession, you should make peace with everyone who was offended. Forgive those who offended. Before confession, it is necessary to strengthen the prayer rule. Add to the nightly reading the Canon of Repentance, the canons to the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel.

One should separate personal repentance (when a person mentally repents of his actions) and the sacrament of confession (when a person talks about his sins in the desire to be cleansed of them). The presence of a third party requires a moral effort to understand the depth of the offense and, through overcoming shame, will force you to look more deeply at the wrong actions. This is why a list of sins is so necessary for confession in Orthodoxy. It will help to identify what was forgotten or wanted to be hidden. If you have difficulty compiling a list of sinful actions, you can purchase the book “Full Confession.” It is in every church shop. There is a detailed list of sins for confession and the features of the sacrament. Samples of confession and materials for preparing for it have been published.

Rules

Is there a heaviness in your soul, do you want to speak out, ask for forgiveness? After confession it becomes much easier. This is an open, sincere recognition and repentance of the wrongdoings committed. You can go to confession up to 3 times a week. The desire to be cleansed of sins will help overcome the feeling of stiffness and awkwardness. The less frequent the confession, the more difficult it is to remember all the events and thoughts. The best option for holding the sacrament is once a month. Help in confession - a list of sins - will prompt you with the necessary words. The main thing is that the priest understands the essence of the offense. Then the punishment for sin will be justified.

After confession, the priest imposes penance in difficult cases. This is punishment, excommunication from the holy sacraments and God's grace. Its duration is determined by the priest. In most cases, the penitent faces moral and correctional work. For example, fasting, reading prayers, canons, akathists. Sometimes the priest reads out the list of sins for confession. You can independently write a list of what has been done. It is better to come to confession after the evening service or in the morning, before the liturgy.

In some situations, you should invite the priest to confession at home. This is done if the person is seriously ill or near death.

How does the sacrament work?

Upon entering the temple, you must line up for confession. During the entire sacrament, the cross and the Gospel lie on the lectern. This symbolizes the invisible presence of the Savior. Before confession begins, the priest may start asking questions. For example, about how often prayers are said, whether church rules are followed.

Then the sacrament begins. It is best to prepare your list of sins for confession. A sample of it can always be purchased at the church. If the sins forgiven at the previous confession were repeated, then they should be mentioned again - this is considered a more serious offense. You should not hide anything from the priest or speak in hints. You should clearly explain in simple words the sins you repent of.

If the priest tore up the list of sins for confession, it means that the sacrament is over and absolution has been granted. The priest places an epitrachelion on the head of the penitent. This means the return of God's favor. After this, they kiss the cross and the Gospel, which symbolizes readiness to live according to the commandments.

Preparing for Confession: List of Sins

Confession is intended to comprehend your sin and desire to improve. It is difficult for a person far from the church to understand what actions should be considered wicked. That's why there are 10 commandments. They clearly state what not to do. It is better to prepare a list of sins for confession according to the commandments in advance. On the day of the sacrament, you can get excited and forget everything. Therefore, you should calmly, a few days before confession, re-read the commandments and write down your sins. If it is the first confession, then it is not easy to figure out the seven deadly sins and the ten commandments on your own. Therefore, you should approach the priest in advance and tell him about your difficulties in a personal conversation. A list of sins for confession with an explanation of the sins can be purchased at the church or found on the website of your temple. The transcript describes in detail all the alleged sins. From this general list it is necessary to isolate what was done personally. Then write down your list of offenses.

Sins committed against God

Lack of faith in God, doubts, ingratitude. Absence of a cross on the body, unwillingness to defend the faith in front of detractors. Swearing in the name of God, pronouncing the name of the Lord in vain (not during prayer or conversations about God). Visiting sects, casting fortunes, treating with all kinds of magic, reading and spreading false teachings. Gambling, suicidal thoughts, swearing. Failure to attend church, lack of a daily prayer rule. Failure to observe fasts, reluctance to read Orthodox literature. Condemnation of clergy, thoughts about worldly things during worship. A waste of time on entertainment, watching TV, inactivity at the computer. Despair in difficult situations, excessive reliance on oneself or someone else’s help without faith in God’s providence. Concealing sins in confession.

Sins committed against neighbors

Hot temper, anger, arrogance, pride, vanity. Lies, non-interference, ridicule, stinginess, extravagance. Raising children outside of faith. Non-repayment of debts, non-payment for work, refusal to help those who ask and need. Unwillingness to help parents, disrespect for them. Theft, condemnation, envy. Quarrels, drinking alcohol at funerals. Murder with words (slander, incitement to suicide or illness). Killing a child in the womb, inducing others to have an abortion.

Sins committed against oneself

Foul language, pride, idle talk, gossip. Desire for profit, enrichment. Displaying good deeds. Envy, lies, drunkenness, gluttony, drug use. Fornication, adultery, incest, fornication.

List of sins for a woman to confess

This is a very sensitive list, and many women refuse to confess after reading it. You should not trust any information you read. Even if a brochure with a list of sins for a woman was purchased at a church store, be sure to pay attention to the stamp. There should be an inscription “recommended by the publishing council of the Russian Orthodox Church.”

The clergy do not divulge the secret of confession. Therefore, it is best to undergo the sacrament with a permanent confessor. The Church does not intrude into the sphere of intimate marital relationships. Issues of contraception, which is sometimes equated to abortion, are best discussed with a priest. There are drugs that do not have an abortifacient effect, but only prevent the birth of life. In any case, all controversial issues should be discussed with your spouse, doctor, or confessor.

Here is a list of sins for confession (brief):

She rarely prayed and did not attend church. I thought more about worldly things during prayer. Allowed sexual activity before marriage. Abortion, inducing others to it. Had unclean thoughts and desires. I watched films, read books with pornographic content. Gossip, lies, envy, laziness, resentment. Excessive exposure of the body to attract attention. Fear of old age, wrinkles, thoughts of suicide. Addiction to sweets, alcohol, drugs. Avoiding helping other people. Seeking help from fortune tellers and fortune tellers. Superstition.

List of sins for a man

There is debate about whether a list of sins should be prepared for confession. Some believe that such a list harms the sacrament and promotes the formal reading of offenses. The main thing in confession is to realize your sins, repent and prevent their repetition. Therefore, the list of sins may be a short reminder or absent altogether.

Formal confession is not considered valid, since there is no repentance in it. Returning after the sacrament to your former life will add hypocrisy. The balance of spiritual life lies in understanding the essence of repentance, where confession is only the beginning of awareness of one’s sinfulness. This is a long process consisting of several stages of internal work. The creation of spiritual resources is a systematic adjustment of conscience, responsibility for one’s relationship with God.

Here is a list of sins for confession (brief) for a man:

Sacrilege, conversations in the temple. Doubt about faith, the afterlife. Blasphemy, mockery of the poor. Cruelty, laziness, pride, vanity, greed. Evasion from military service. Avoiding unwanted work, shirking responsibilities. Insults, hatred, fights. Slander, disclosure of other people's weaknesses. Temptation to sin (fornication, drunkenness, drugs, gambling). Refusal to help parents and other people. Theft, aimless collecting. Tendency to boast, argue, and humiliate others. Impudence, rudeness, contempt, familiarity, cowardice.

Confession for a child

For a child, the sacrament of confession can begin at the age of seven. Until this age, children are allowed to receive Communion without this. Parents must prepare the child for confession: explain the essence of the sacrament, tell why it is being performed, and remember with him possible sins.

The child must be made to understand that sincere repentance is preparation for confession. It is better for the child to write the list of sins himself. He must realize what actions were wrong and try not to repeat them in the future.

Older children make their own decisions about whether to confess or not. You should not limit the free will of a child or teenager. The personal example of parents is much more important than all conversations. The child must remember his sins before confession.

A list of them can be compiled after the child answers the questions:

How often does he read prayers (in the morning, in the evening, before meals), which ones does he know by heart? Does he go to church, how does he behave during the service? Does he wear a pectoral cross, is he distracted or not during prayers and services? Have you ever deceived your parents or priest during confession? Weren't you proud of your successes and victories, weren't you arrogant? Does it fight or not with other children, does it offend children or animals? Does he snitch on other children to protect himself? Have you ever committed theft or been jealous of anyone? Have you laughed at other people's physical disabilities? Did you play cards (smoked, drank alcohol, tried drugs, used foul language)? Is he lazy or helps his parents around the house? Did you pretend to be sick to avoid your responsibilities?

Recommendations

1) The person himself determines whether to confess or not, how many times to attend the sacrament. 2) You should prepare a list of sins for confession. It is better to take a sample in the church where the sacrament will take place, or find it yourself in church literature. 3) It is optimal to go to confession with the same clergyman, who will become a mentor and will contribute to spiritual growth. 4) Confession is free of charge.

First you need to ask on what days confessions are held in the church. You should dress appropriately. For men - a shirt or T-shirt with sleeves, trousers or jeans (not shorts). For women - a scarf on the head, no makeup (at least lipstick), a skirt no higher than the knees.

Sincerity of Confession

A priest as a psychologist can recognize how sincere a person is in his repentance. There are confessions that offend the sacrament and the Lord. If a person mechanically talks about sins, has several spiritual fathers, or hides the truth, such actions do not lead to repentance.

Behavior, tone of speech, words used to pronounce confession - all this matters. This is the only way the priest understands how sincere the penitent is. Pangs of conscience, embarrassment, worries, shame contribute to spiritual cleansing.

Sometimes the personality of the priest is important for the parishioner. This is not a reason to condemn and comment on the actions of clergy. You can go to another church or turn to another holy father for confession.

It can be difficult to voice your sins. The emotional experiences are so strong that it is more convenient to make a list of unrighteous actions. Father is attentive to every parishioner. If, due to shame, it is impossible to tell about everything and the repentance is deep, then the priest has the right to forgive the sins, a list of which was compiled before confession, without even reading them.

The meaning of confession

Having to talk about your sins in front of a stranger is embarrassing. Therefore, people refuse to go to confession, believing that God will forgive them anyway. This is the wrong approach. The priest acts only as an intermediary between man and God. His task is to determine the measure of repentance. The priest has no right to condemn anyone; he will not expel a repentant person from the church. During confession, people are very vulnerable, and clergy try not to cause unnecessary suffering.

It is important to see your sin, recognize and condemn it in your soul, and voice it before the priest. Have a desire not to repeat your misdeeds again, try to atone for the harm done through acts of mercy. Confession brings revival of the soul, re-education and access to a new spiritual level.

Sins (list), Orthodoxy, confession imply self-knowledge and the search for grace. All good deeds are done through strength. Only by overcoming yourself, doing works of mercy, and cultivating virtues in yourself, can you receive God's grace.

The meaning of confession lies in understanding the typology of sinners, the typology of sin. At the same time, an individual approach to each repentant is akin to pastoral psychoanalysis. The sacrament of confession is the pain of awareness of sin, recognition of it, the determination to voice and ask for forgiveness for it, cleansing of the soul, joy and peace.

A person must feel the need to repent. Love for God, love for oneself, love for one's neighbor cannot exist separately. The symbolism of the Christian cross - horizontal (love for God) and vertical (love for oneself and one's neighbor) - lies in the awareness of the integrity of spiritual life, its essence.

https://www.syl.ru/article/181867/new_podgotovka-k-ispovedi-spisok-grehov-dlya-ispovedi

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