Mortal sins must be confessed, while venial sins should be confessed (but don't have to be). I think you are right to confess them. St John Vianney and St Padre Pio certainly would tell you to confess them. Maybe your wonderful priest was just a little tired that day.
Hope you have a merry Christmas. And thanks to those who posted these examinations.
>>Maybe your wonderful priest was just a little tired that day.<<
Maybe. He was one of 12 Priests pulled in for our Christmas confessions. We all love him because he was a child at our parish, he was assigned to us then moved to another parish. His line was the longest of all.
Along with that, we still go into confessionals. I know many people are comfortable with face to face but I'm not. Many older people are not either from what I can see from our waiting lines. And this was the morning session. The evening session is ALWAYS packed.
More than anything, I was there for the Sacramental Pennance connected with the Plenary Indulgence. I really don't want to just walk in and say, "I'm just here for the Indulgence!" It sounds so shallow.
I am very blessed to be at a parish that offers confessions 1/2 hour before every Holy Mass. Six on Sunday, three on weekdays. While I hear stories of people coming to church for confession and finding no priest, I can go every day. Thank You Holy Lord!
This is a good point! Consider that the pope goes to confession on a very regular basis, as did the saints. Have you ever pondered what type of sins they confessed?
It's so easy to lull ourselves into a false sense of 'clear conscience' because we didn't murder someone, profane a Church or steal money from our employer. And that is what keeps so many catholics away from confession. Think of it this way. If you were to be die tonight, wouldn't you want your soul to be as clean as possible? Reconciliation is a Sacrament that imparts graces.
It took me a long time to return to confession because I sold myself on the notion that I was a "good" person. Now, when I look at Fr. Altier's list of mortal sins, I can see just how delusional I had been. It's an easy trap into which one can fall. After all, our 'pride' is at stake; it's embarrasing to confess our failings. Then again, 'pride' is itself, a sin.
Merry Christmas