I can recommend an excellent book on the Biblical principles behind confession - by Scott Hahn, who converted IIRC from the Presbyterian Church. Lord, Have Mercy. He has written a lot of books, and he stands as sort of a "bridge" for new Catholics (or even old Catholics) to understand traditional doctrines from a Biblical point of view.
Anyhow, to cut to the chase, here's the deal on confession as I understand it from a scriptural point of view. Christ gave specific authority to the apostles to hear and pardon sin in his name: John 20:23 "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
When you go to confession, you aren't confessing "to a man" i.e. the priest - you are instead confessing to God, through the method that Christ himself appointed. The priest is Christ's official stand-in, who may offer advice and counsel, who will usually give a small penance (an act for you to perform to show your true contrition and make some small recompense for the offense - it may be to God as in saying a number of Our Fathers or Hail Marys, or it may be to the person offended as in returning something that was stolen or making amends for harsh words). But it is God that hears the confession and God's power that pardons the sin.
Since the Episcopal church officially has "auricular confession" but nobody ever uses it, I had never gone to confession before we converted. The first time is the worst! I was very nervous and had a long list which I did NOT want to lose ("OMG! I left my sins in the Kroger!") But the priest was very kind and patient, and I can't explain how good it felt to get all those lifelong things I STILL felt rotten about straightened out. The only thing I can say is that I felt heavy as lead going in, and light as air coming out.
I think that auricular confession forces you to really THINK about what you have done wrong, who you have hurt, and what you can do to change. Just standing up and reciting the words of the General Confession during the Episcopal service does not require one to think about EXACTLY what you have done wrong, or how to fix it.
Hope that helps!
Since the Episcopal church officially has "auricular confession" but nobody ever uses it, I had never gone to confession before we converted. The first time is the worst! I was very nervous and had a long list which I did NOT want to lose ("OMG! I left my sins in the Kroger!") But the priest was very kind and patient, and I can't explain how good it felt to get all those lifelong things I STILL felt rotten about straightened out. The only thing I can say is that I felt heavy as lead going in, and light as air coming out.
At your first confession, do you try to go back and confess everything that you know you have done? How specific is it? Can I say "I have lusted after lots of women" or do I have to list every one? That could go on all night. LOL.
Anyway, I am actually very eager to confess.