Just don't do what I did at my very first confession, in the Third Grade. You know how little kids like to recite things in a loud, sing-song voice, like when they say the Pledge of Allegiance? Yes indeedy, my sins were on parade, wafting out of the confessional and into the ears of my giggling classmates. Alas, I was never known for having an "indoor voice." Good for starring in "Gypsy", bad for the Confessional.

Make a list. Be thorough. Keep in mind that venial sins are erased in Communion, so use confession for the more serious stuff. If the venial sins are habitual, then certainly bring them up in confession, because they do, indeed, add up.

For instance -- I had a problem with profanity (loud, colorful, frequent, and occasionally blasphemous) that I used to confess. Oddly enough, when I started praying the Rosary regularly, it went away almost completely. I swear only very infrequently now (I used to border on an Eric Cartman with Tourette's level of profanity (if you saw that episode)).

Another important part of it which is seldom mentioned is forgiving others. I had in my life 3 or 4 people who truly hurt me; and I'll tell you, the Lord was not joking when he said "as we forgive those who trespass against us". I have never felt forgiveness more than after forgiving someone, and simply letting go of old wounds. Do this in advance of confession.

Stuff you forget is forgiven, but if you remember it after the fact, try to mention it next time. You never get all of it; invariably there's stuff you miss, or remember 15 minutes after confession. Don't agonize over it, just save it for next time.

Think of it this way -- Christ has already forgiven it. Confession is just you picking up the gift he has already left for you. He's done the work; we get the benefit just by being honest with him. The sins we confess are the claim check.

Even stuff you don't mention is forgiven, so don't go in with a list. Hit the highlights, and tell the priest what you think you need work on and ask for guidance. If there's a glaring pattern, they'll offer it anyway. The Abbot's right: you'll never remember all of it, so do try and bring it up next time if you forget something. Also, learn the Act of Contrition. I'm sure they already covered this in RCIA, but if they haven't, it'll be in the back of the missal. It's usually next to the prayer to St. Michael. ;)

I don't know if they'll give you the choice (some churches don't, simply because they only have old time confessional booths) but I would recommend avoiding Face to Face confession if it's an option. Keep that screen between thee and the priest, as it's a much less daunting process without the priest staring you down. ;)

You'll do fine. And you'll feel SOOOO good when you're done. Your soul will be lighter. It's amazing.

I do, however, want to hear what your penance was. Heh.

Robbo's got to go to the woodshed...heh,heh...

Look, the morning I did it, I thought for sure I was going to be struck down with lightning and if for some miraculous reason I wasn't, then, Mr. P certainly would be...Terrified does not begin to describe the feelings that morning.

However we both emerged, alive and, more important, forgiven.

Now, here's where I'll give you a little hint but don't tell anyone -ok?- be sincere but remember because you were a Protestant and more importantly 'Episcopalian'---sssshhhh this is totally top secret---the Church views you, prior to becoming Catholic--as a wet smack and a total loss-- remember I speak from experience. You are possess what is known as a malformed conscience because the priests in the Episcopal Church teach things (most sincerely too) like life without birth control is unthinkable... abortion is A-Ok...sex outside of marriage is A-Ok, sex with the same sex is better than with the opposite sex...what's adultery? never heard of it? Divorce..why that's what used to happen in Mexico if you didn't drink the water and baptism, hey,that's for those who speak in tongues, etc, etc....

The priest will be so pleased you've had the courage to come to the confessional and participate in the sacrament of reconcilliation. Besides, he's heard everything, you can't surprise him, I think. He will give you great advice and also advice on how to make good confessions. For your penance, you'll probably get 2 or 3 decades, a sincere meditation or something like that because the confessional is not so much about receiving the penance, it's about admiting the errors and saying you won't do it again.

But you will find with some sins you will do them again and you confess to the priest this is a repeat...and then the next time this is a repeat of a repeat. But do be careful, and you must avoid scrupulosity (sp?). That's what took Luther down.

In the begining, I went face to face but found the old fashioned way much more preferable.

Robbo: well, enjoy yourself. I just went to confession when on my first retreat in 25ish years, and I have to say it was a good thing.

I may have mentioned this before, but let me give you the Official Secret Decoder Ring Confession Guide that all priests learn when they are in training: the number 3. No, not the Holy Trinity. The third thing that you hear. For some reason, it seems that a typical confession goes something like this: I took the Lord's name in vain, I have been rude to a co-worker, and oh yeah I founded Enron and stole gazillions from widows. So priests learn to just skip the first two and wait patiently for the third.

Now, I'm sure that you're going to be tempted to somehow muck with this system. One obvious way is to start off strong with your first two and watch the padre - by now sitting goggle-eyed and white-knuckled - wait to see what stunning atrocity awaits behind door #3. But many other options abound. FYI, though, it is considered bad form to confess the sins of others - even wayward souls like Steve-O.

Divide it up into categories and try to push through quickly or you'll be there all night.

You could bring a little crib sheet along with just the categories listed so you can stay on target.

Be at peace! Be at peace! Be at peace!

You've already gotten lots of good advice, so that's all I'll proffer myself. I make a habit of going every other week, and yes, I get nervous every time. But what mercy, what kindness I experience in the confessional, and how much lighter my soul feels on leaving!

I much prefer confessing behind a grille, but that option's not available here in France. I'll remember you in my prayers, and am terribly excited for you...