Preparation for Confession and Communion

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Preparation for Confession

Post by 尼古拉前执事 »

THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF TRUTH

By Saint Nicolas Varzhansky

CONCERNING THE HOLY CROSS OF CHRIST
PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION

DURING GREAT LENT, and the other fasts of the Church Year, it is customary for all Orthodox Christians to go to confession to their priest. Properly this should be done several times a year, the exact frequency depending upon how often one is blessed to receive the Holy Mysteries and on the counsel and blessing of one's spiritual father. As a preparation for this sacramental confession and to help one examine one's conscience before coming to confession, the following questions are sometimes distributed in parishes and, although of course the list is not exhaustive, it may be a help to those of our readers who are Orthodox Christians.

Sins Against God

Do you pray to God in the morning and evening, before and after meals?

During prayer have you allowed your thoughts to wander?

Have you rushed or gabbled your prayers? or when reading in church?

Do you read the Scriptures daily? Do you read other spiritual writings regularly?

Have you read books whose content is not Orthodox or even anti-Orthodox, or is spiritually damaging?

Have you pronounced the name of God without reverence, joking? Have you asked God's help before starting every activity?

Have you made the sign of the Cross carelessly, thoughtlessly? Have you sworn? Have you murmured against God?

Have you sinned by forgetting God?

Have you been slack in attending church?

Have you consecrated even part of the feast days, particularly Sundays and the Twelve Great Feasts, to God?

Have you tried your best to attend church on these days? or have you spent them more sinfully than ordinary days?

If unable to attend church for some reason, have you nonetheless tried to devote some part of these days to prayer and spiritual reading?

Have you joined with people not of the Faith in prayer, or attended their worship services?

Have you kept the fasts?

Have you behaved irreverently in church, or before the clergy and monastics?

Have you laughed or talked in church, or moved about unnecessarily, thus also distracting other people from prayer?

Have dressed modestly and in a becoming manner when in church?

Have you tried to pay reverent attention to the readings, hymns, and prayers in church?

Have you striven to pray with the service, crossing yourself, etc., or have you rather simply stood and day-dreamed?

Have you prepared for the services beforehand, looking up the Scriptural readings, making sure you have the texts to follow the service etc., especially if the service will be in a language you do not readily understand?

Have you ever left church after the Divine Services, and particularly after receiving the Holy Mysteries and immediately engaged in light talk and thus forgotten the blessings and graces you have received?

Have you been ashamed of your Faith or the sign of the Cross in the presence of others?

Have you made a show of your piety?

Have you used your Orthodox Faith or its teachings merely to browbeat others or belittle them?

Have you used it as a shield or excuse for your own inadequacies rather than humbling yourself?

Have you believed in dreams, fortune telling, astrology, signs and other superstitions?

Do you give thanks to the Lord for all things?

Have you ever doubted God's providence concerning yourself?

Do you at least try to perceive His purpose in all the things that come upon you?

Sins Against Your Neighbours

Do you respect and obey your parents?

Have you offended them by rudeness or contradiction?

(These two apply also to priests, superiors, teachers and elders.)

Have you insulted anyone?

Have you quarreled or fought with anyone? Have you hit anyone?

Are you always respectful to old people?

Are you ever angry, bad tempered or irritable?

Have you called anyone names? Do you use foul language?

Have you derided any that are disabled, poor, old or in some way disadvantaged?

Have you entertained bad feelings, ill will or hatred against anyone?

Have you forgiven those who have offended you?

Have you asked forgiveness from those whom you have offended?

Are you at peace with everyone?

Have you left the needy without help when you could have helped?

Have you attended the sick or elderly when they have asked you to do so?

Have you shown kindness and attention to all, remembering that God is expecting just such an attitude from you?

Have you hit animals without a cause or been cruel to them, or neglectful of those in your care?

Have you stolen anything?

Have you taken or used other people's things without asking?

Have you kept money or things that were lent you without returning them?

Have you wasted your employers' time or resources? Have you taken things from work for your own use, used the firm's phone or other facilities for your own purposes without permission or repayment?

Are you obstinate, and do you always try to have your own way?

Have you been inconsiderate of other people's feelings?

Have you tried to have your revenge against those who have offended you?

Have you harboured resentment? Have you deceived people?

Have you gossiped?

Have you told untruths?

Have you judged and condemned others?

Have you taken pains before approaching for confession to be reconciled with all?

Sins Against Yourself

Have you been proud? Do you boast of your abilities, achievements, family, connections or riches?

Do you consider yourself worthy before God?

Are you vain, ambitious? Do you try to win praise and glory?

Do you bear it easily when you are blamed, scolded or treated unjustly? Do you think too much about your looks, outward appearance and the impression you make?

Have you sinned in thought, word or deed, by a look or glance, or in any other way against the seventh commandment? (Adultery, fornication, all extra-marital sexual relationships with others, masturbation, engaging in unnatural sexual acts, fantasizing, pornography, etc.)

Have you envied anyone anything? Have you been over-sensitive?

Have you been lazy? Have you done your duties heartily?

Have you wasted your time, energy or abilities in things that do not profit the soul?

Have you become obsessive about anything? Have you been despondent or listless?

Have you had thoughts of committing suicide?

Have you brought a curse on yourself or others or ill-wished them, being impatient?

Have you a weakness for alcohol? Have you drunk too much, or become dependent on drink?

Have you taken drugs, other than necessary medicines? Have you smoked?

Have you watched television too much or indiscriminately? Have you given yourself up to any other similar pastime which wastes your time and energy and might have harmed you?

Have you been greedy, either with regard to food or to possessions?

Have you indulged in comfort-eating? Have you become accustomed to eating between meals?

Have you been picky about your food, or wasteful of foods, forgetting that so many people are without proper nourishment? Have you been extravagant? Have you been wasteful?

Do you care for and seek first the salvation of your soul, the spiritual life and the kingdom of God, or have you put earthly considerations in the first place?

Is there any other sin, which burdens your conscience, or which you are ashamed to tell?

Anyone preparing for confession must ask God to help his resolve to tell all his sins. A penitent should prepare for confession and collect his thoughts regarding his sins at least a day before confession. The most valuable thing in the eyes of God is the confession of the sin which weighs most on the conscience.

The questions listed are intended to help the Orthodox Christian examine himself and identify the symptoms of his spiritual ills; they should not be taken as some kind of test to ascertain how well we are doing as if there was a certain "pass-mark." Before God's perfections, we shall always fail. It is for that reason that, as believing Christians, we throw ourselves on the mercy of the Lord and do not trust in our own righteousness.

Remember that our sins can never outweigh God's love towards us. Even if we should seem to have failed with regard to all the points mentioned above and more, we should not lose heart but confess our sins unshamefacedly, we should regret the wrongs we have done, be resolved to make amends, and receive whatever remedy our confessor should be guided to lay upon us. Most of all, one should be assured of the blessing of God which these endeavours will bring upon you.

From The Shepherd, Vol. XVI, No. 6, March 1996, pp. 12-17. It is also well worth reading about St. Theodora's journey through the aerial toll-houses as this will bring another perspective to sin in a person's life and perhaps enable the reader to repent to an ever greater degree.

Last edited by 尼古拉前执事 on Mon 18 August 2003 8:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Logos
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Post by Logos »

Thank you Nicholas for posting this helpful list. Here are some additional things on preparing for Confession at this link here:http://www.orthodox.net/confess/index.html My priest was telling us today that it is not our sins that condemn us but our lack of repentance of them.

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Church Rules for Confession and Holy Communion

Post by 尼古拉前执事 »

Church Rules for Confession and Holy Communion
by Archpriest Gregory Naumenko

"If thou desirest, O man, to eat the Body of the Master, Approach with fear, lest thou be burnt; for It is fire."

"Behold, I approach the Divine Communion. O Creator, let me not be burnt by communicating, For Thou art Fire, consuming the unworthy."

Those who desire to partake of Confession and Commune of the Holy Mysteries must prepare properly according to the rules instituted by the Holy Orthodox Church. Namely:

  1. Those who desire to Commune on Sunday, must begin preparation from the previous Monday by at least being continually conscious of the fact that they are preparing to partake of the Most-precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Explanation: In the 32nd chapter of the Typicon (book of Church rules) we find the following rule concerning this: "When one desires to commune of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, it is most proper for him/her to keep properly the entire previous week; to remain in fasting, prayer and complete sobriety from the previous Monday; and then with fear and great reverence accept the Most-precious Mysteries.

  1. Fast according to the rules of the Church.

Explanation: During the entire Great Lent and Dormition Fast, we do not partake of meat, eggs, milk and fish. (Fish is only allowed on the days of Annunciation and Palm Sunday and on Transfiguration during Dormition Fast). During the entire Nativity Fast and Apostles Fast, we do not partake of meat, eggs, milk. It is allowable to lessen the Fast only: in the case of severe illness, for small children, the feeble and elderly, for those with child or feeding an infant.

  1. Be present at and attentively participate in the evening services before the day of Holy Communion.

Explanation: Communion of the Most-pure Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the highest form of communication with the Lord God. Communing is the completion, the culmination of our communion with God. If a person comes to the Chalice not having gone through the podvig of prayer through which he or she comes nearer to God; if he/she does not go through a process of ever increasing interaction with God; then this leap, as it were, from noncommunion to the ultimate level of communion (i.e. Holy Communion), is too drastic. That person is unworthy at that point for the acceptance of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and the Gifts for that person become "Fire, consuming the unworthy." In other words, for such a person, Communion brings not healing, but rather harm. This is why it is necessary to be at the Divine Services preceding Holy Communion, for they are one of the most important forms of interaction with God open to us, and thus an important component of our preparation.

  1. Those (age 7 and older) preparing for Communion MUST receive Holy Confession before partaking of Holy Communion. This is best done at the time designated for Confession on the schedule. This is usually in the evening, prior to the evening service. Those who cannot come for the time scheduled can, as an exception, come to confession following the evening service. Confession in the morning, before Liturgy, is allowable only as an extreme exception for those who can not come in the evening because of the condition of their health or for some other justified important reason.

Explanation: Since we must be in church on the eve of Holy Communion (see#3 above), it is wise for us to partake of confession at that time. In the evening there is no hurry; one can calmly and thoughtfully lay out one's thoughts. In the morning, the priest is busy with the Holy Proskomede, there is little time, and Confession becomes hurried, incomplete. Only extreme need is cause enough to pull the priest away from proskomede for morning confession.

  1. Read at home all the prescribed preparatory prayers out of the prayer book.

Explanation: One must definitely read The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion, which is found on pages 332-378 in the prayer book. Those who have not read these prayers should not partake of Holy Communion. (Those who do not own a prayer book can purchase it at our parish kiosk.) The following should also be read before Holy Communion: 1) Supplicatory Canon to our Lord Jesus Christ (p. 218 in our prayer book) 2) Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos (p. 233 in our prayer book) 3) Canon to the Guardian Angel (p. 249) 4) Akathist to our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ (p.265) or the Akathist to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos (p.290). [Pages cited are from the Fourth Edition - Revised 1986 of the Jordanville Prayer Book]

  1. Ask forgiveness and reconcile yourself with everyone with whom you have had an argument, misunderstanding or any deterioration in relationship. By taking Communion without full reconciliation with everyone we do ourselves great harm.

Explanation: The Church exhorts us to be in peace with everyone through the following words which are written in the prayers preparing us for Holy Communion: "If thou desirest, O man, to eat the Body of the Master, Approach with fear, lest thou be burnt; for It is fire. And when thou drinkest the Divine Blood unto communion, First be reconciled to them that have grieved thee, then dare to eat the Mystical Food."

  1. One must approach the Mysteries without having eaten or drunk anything from midnight on.

Explanation: We prepare ourselves with fasting for the partaking of the Holy Gifts. The final period before Communion we intensify our abstention and eat and drink nothing. Those who cannot do without certain medication may take it with Holy Water that morning, but only if this is absolutely necessary. Small children may eat before Communion in the morning. The sick (for example, diabetics) and those who are weak can receive a blessing from their spiritual father (priest) to eat a small amount the morning of Communion.

  1. In the morning, one must come before the beginning of the service, respectfully venerate the icons, light candles, find a spot to stand and be prepared for the beginning of the reading of the Hours. One must listen attentively to the Hours and then the Divine Liturgy.

Explanation: The Hours are a part of the cycle of services. They are also an important part of the process of preparation for Holy Communion for the same reason as was written in the explanation of #3.

  1. Men are forbidden to come to Communion (and at all times inside the church) with their heads covered according to the strict edict of Apostle Paul. Women are forbidden to come to Communion (and at all times inside the church) with their heads uncovered according to the strict edict of Apostle Paul.

Explanation: The Church follows the instruction of Apostle Paul who says in Corinthians 11:4,5: Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth and prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head.

  1. No one should take Holy Communion (or even come to Church) with lipstick on.

Explanation: Besides the fact that such practice is not fit for God's Church, how many pages of our church Holy Gospel have been ruined by kissing with painted lips. How many of the Church vessels, cross, spoon have been treated the same way. Look at our icons at the end of a service. They are covered with lipstick. Even the Holy Shroud, the Body of Christ in the tomb Who suffered for us, has been tainted with lipstick.

  1. After Holy Communion one must stay and listen to the Thanksgiving Prayers after Holy Communion or to diligently read them at home in the prayer book.

Explanation: In Holy Communion we receive a great gift from God. We express our gratitude for God's great act of mercy through these thanksgiving prayers.

  1. At the end of the service, the ones who took Communion carefully listen to the thanksgiving prayers and do not come up to venerate the Cross with everyone else. When the thanksgiving prayers are over, the Cross is brought out to them for veneration. At that time, when one kisses the Cross, it is not customary to kiss the priest's hand.

Explanation: The people who have not taken Holy Communion come up to the Cross immediately and receive a piece of Antidorion, as a consolation that they were unable to take Holy Communion at this Liturgy. The communers, without interruption, listen to the thanksgiving prayers and then venerate the Cross, since they have partaken of the True Gifts and have no need to receive the Antidorion ("instead-of-the-gifts"). We kiss the priest's hand because he imparts Christ's blessing to us. Following Holy Communion we contain Christ Himself, we have joined ourselves to Christ and therefore do not kiss the priest's hand at that time.

  1. Following Holy Communion we piously return home, retain a prayerful peaceful calm, do good works and exert all our efforts not to return to the sins from which we have been cleansed.
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Re: Church Rules for Confession and Holy Communion

Post by Noah »

Can you post anything regarding guidelines for how often one should commune and confess, and something that clarifies whether or not confession is necessary for communion, or just strongly encouraged?

Thanks,
Noah

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Re: Church Rules for Confession and Holy Communion

Post by 尼古拉前执事 »

Nicholas wrote:

4. Those (age 7 and older) preparing for Communion MUST receive Holy Confession before partaking of Holy Communion. This is best done at the time designated for Confession on the schedule. This is usually in the evening, prior to the evening service. Those who cannot come for the time scheduled can, as an exception, come to confession following the evening service. Confession in the morning, before Liturgy, is allowable only as an extreme exception for those who can not come in the evening because of the condition of their health or for some other justified important reason.

I believe the canons say we should go every time we can.

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Post by Gregory »

I believe the canons say we should go every time we can.

Which canons?

Can anyone reference patristic writings concerning confession before Communion? I am not implying there aren't any. However, IMO, frequent Communion is the ideal with confession once a month.

Greg

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Post by sashaedwardovna »

In regard to the three canons and an akathist before Holy Communion, I was wondering: if one receives the Holy Mysteries every week (with a few exceptions, of course) is it permissible to shorten the prayer rule? DIfferent priests have given me fairly ambiguous and different answers, and I was wondering if there was anything more definite.

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