instead of fifty Hail Marys and 300 candles need to be lit.
It's been eons since I went to confession to a Catholic priest. If I ever went to confession again, I would have to say, bless me father, for I have sinned. My last confession was in a different millennium. How do you think that would grab him?
I don't remember if he ever told me to light candles, but I always got our fathers and Hail Marys to say. I was such a grievous sinner, that one day, the priest almost didn't forgive my sins. I was scared. He must have thought I was the king of mortal sins.
I didn't mind committing mortal sins, but I didn't mess with the big M (mortal sin of sacrilege) Finally he gave in, and forgave my sins. After that, I was never very honest, when confessing my sins to the priest. I think the guy was getting his jollies, listening to my sins, so when he asked me about my sins, I just lied to him. It got easier to lie to the priest, but he DID say my sins were forgiven, so I thought it was ok to lie to him in the confessional. I began to think it was ok to fool the priest, because he would forgive my sins anyway. I figured I could do whatever I pleased, because the priest would always forgive me anyway.
I don't think he ever told me sin no more, just go in peace. Oh well, I don't go to confession any more. More than likely, I never will. 😀
You; me and thousands of other publicans; too!