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Thanks, I'll chec out that book.

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.

What you are speaking of is a general confession which covers your whole life or a long time period. This and all you need to know about confession is covered in this great little booklet:

Confession It's Fruitful Practice

I keep a bunch of them to give out to anyone thinking of returning/entering the Church.

First confession is a little different as a convert, because you DO have a lot of ground to cover. In an "ordinary" confession you ARE expected to tell the priest your sins "by kind and number," but as you note that's hard to do for 47 years' worth (in my case).

In most cases, since you let the priest know that it is a first confession ("Bless me Father for I have sinned. This is my first confession. I accuse myself of the following sins . . . ") the priest will lead you through the process. The priest that my husband made his first confession to actually has a special method for first confessions, which makes it very easy.

My method, FWIW, was to start with the mortal sins and check off the ones that seemed to me to be a particular problem in terms of severity or frequency. I put those at the top of the list, and I did try to give some idea of frequency, even if it was only "I have always had a problem with . . . " Because my list was so long, I stuck mainly to mortal sins, although I did confess some venial sins that are a particular recurring problem for me, such as losing my temper and detraction.

There are plenty of "Examination of Conscience" guides circulating around the internet. Here and here are a couple that I have found helpful.

At your first confession, do you try to go back and confess everything that you know you have done? How specific is it?

I was a lapsed Catholic who had been away from the Faith for approximately 24 years. The priest who heard my first confession in years walked me through the ten commandments asking yes or no questions relevant to each commandment. For example, the commandment regarding murder, he also asked about anger. I did not have to describe each and every sin that I could recall.