The Wedding Blog
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Status Update - Project Conversion
Today we're going to Riverside for a retreat. We meet with Father Rich for two hours, then go to Palm Sunday confession. I hope they stocked up on supplies. If I've got to confess everything I've done wrong in, like, forever, it's going to take a while. Days. Months?
Ellen reminded me that this is no longer called Confession, but Reconciliation. She quizzed me on whether I've learned my lines. How's this: "Bless me father, for I have sinned, it's my first confession. I hope you packed a lunch."
I understand the basis for the confession, it does say in the Bible that bit about "confess your sins to one another." And I comprehend the concept of confidentiality, being an attorney. But confessing to Father Rich makes me nervous. It breaks all the rules I learned early on - kinda like voluntarily telling the teacher you skipped a boring lecture to go to the Res and expecting them not to dock your grade for it.
I mean, to take a totally false hypothetical so as not to incriminate myself, what if I went in and confessed I'd actually been married, like, sixteen times and had seven illegitimate children floating around in foster care? Somehow I suspect he'd find a way not to conduct the wedding, despite the whole "reconciliation" idea.
Fortunately, they're trucking in, like, five other priests. So I think I'm going to go to a different one for the actual confession. My mama didn't raise no fools. (Karie, there's no need to comment on that one. And I gave Gretchen the link, too, so you'd better play nice.
)
Technicalities: I wonder if I have to confess things that aren't a sin for Protestants? If I were Catholic, birth control would be a sin. But for Protestants, it's not only fair game, it's a good idea. A very good idea, speaking in terms of my former marriage. So do I confess it? BTW - I've already admitted to the Diocese that I used it, erm, religiously, so it's not a big deal. I was just wondering. Speaking of the prior marriage, I wonder if I need to confess that as well? I mean, if the Diocese gives me the annulment, then we weren't married, so that makes any sex in that marriage extramarital, no? And how are you supposed to remember every time you swore, or were technically disrespectful to a parent, or pretended to be stupid to get out of a speeding ticket, or coveted you're neighbor's Elie Tahari skirt? This is not going to be easy.
Once this is done, I've got to go to church on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Not sure about Sunday - Is the Saturday Easter Vigil technically the Easter service (like doing Saturday night mass to skip out on Sunday) or is it different?? I know it's different in that it's a vigil, but you get my drift.
Thursday, I'm going to hook up with Ellen at St. Jude's. Friday, I'll commute down to Riverside and attend with Don's mom, since he's going to miss all this religious goodness by being in Texas for USITT. Then Saturday Don comes back - his flight better not be cancelled, he's my sponsor - and we do the whole vigil thing. (Seven readings? Seriously??
After this weekend, though, I should be officially assimilated inducted initiated into the Catholic church, and be able to cross this project off my list.
Ellen reminded me that this is no longer called Confession, but Reconciliation. She quizzed me on whether I've learned my lines. How's this: "Bless me father, for I have sinned, it's my first confession. I hope you packed a lunch."
I understand the basis for the confession, it does say in the Bible that bit about "confess your sins to one another." And I comprehend the concept of confidentiality, being an attorney. But confessing to Father Rich makes me nervous. It breaks all the rules I learned early on - kinda like voluntarily telling the teacher you skipped a boring lecture to go to the Res and expecting them not to dock your grade for it.
I mean, to take a totally false hypothetical so as not to incriminate myself, what if I went in and confessed I'd actually been married, like, sixteen times and had seven illegitimate children floating around in foster care? Somehow I suspect he'd find a way not to conduct the wedding, despite the whole "reconciliation" idea.
Fortunately, they're trucking in, like, five other priests. So I think I'm going to go to a different one for the actual confession. My mama didn't raise no fools. (Karie, there's no need to comment on that one. And I gave Gretchen the link, too, so you'd better play nice.
)Technicalities: I wonder if I have to confess things that aren't a sin for Protestants? If I were Catholic, birth control would be a sin. But for Protestants, it's not only fair game, it's a good idea. A very good idea, speaking in terms of my former marriage. So do I confess it? BTW - I've already admitted to the Diocese that I used it, erm, religiously, so it's not a big deal. I was just wondering. Speaking of the prior marriage, I wonder if I need to confess that as well? I mean, if the Diocese gives me the annulment, then we weren't married, so that makes any sex in that marriage extramarital, no? And how are you supposed to remember every time you swore, or were technically disrespectful to a parent, or pretended to be stupid to get out of a speeding ticket, or coveted you're neighbor's Elie Tahari skirt? This is not going to be easy.
Once this is done, I've got to go to church on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Not sure about Sunday - Is the Saturday Easter Vigil technically the Easter service (like doing Saturday night mass to skip out on Sunday) or is it different?? I know it's different in that it's a vigil, but you get my drift.
Thursday, I'm going to hook up with Ellen at St. Jude's. Friday, I'll commute down to Riverside and attend with Don's mom, since he's going to miss all this religious goodness by being in Texas for USITT. Then Saturday Don comes back - his flight better not be cancelled, he's my sponsor - and we do the whole vigil thing. (Seven readings? Seriously??
After this weekend, though, I should be officially
posted by Me at 7:21 AM
2 Comments:
I heard it ain't a good confession until you make the priest drop his bible in the confessional. I am jealous of that part! Plus, if you go every week, you would be surprised at what you remember (times you swore, etc.) Good luck, or break a leg, or what ever. Your sis.
I have to admit I'd give just about anything to hear that confession! You're going to have the priest dropping his jaw if you have to tell him about high school and the things you (and I) did there! LOLLLL Good luck with the whole thing!
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