A few question about Confession

[Penance94]

Is it required that a Catholic do the penance given by the priest within a certain amount of time?

If a Catholic is making a general Confession and their estimation of the number of their sins is very far off, either too high or too low, does this affect validity?

A non related question: When it comes to impure thoughts, How is “Full Consent” classified? How does someone know if the fully consented or not?

 

[diggerdomer]

Is it required that a Catholic do the penance given by the priest within a certain amount of time?

If a Catholic is making a general Confession and their estimation of the number of their sins is very far off, either too high or too low, does this affect validity?

A non related question: When it comes to impure thoughts, How is “Full Consent” classified? How does someone know if the fully consented or not?

When you go to Confession, ask the priest these questions. That would be the best thing to do.

Cheers

 

[The_Fool]

Catechism 1459 “…Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must ‘make satisfaction for’ or ‘expiate’ his sins. This satisfaction is also called ‘penance.’” So, if you delay penance then you’re delaying recovery to full spiritual health.

I do not think the validity of a confession is dependent on the estimation of the number of times an offense occurred. You are aware you sinned, you are sorry and seek reconciliation for your offenses. I don’t know about you, but even one transgression feels bad to me, and the awareness that I’m probably going to sin at least once a day isn’t helping. But if I know I sinned in a certain manner even once, I am sorry for all the times it occurs. Although if it bothers you, you can go confess it. I probably would if it was serious enough.

As for “full consent,” I believe that is knowing what you’re doing is wrong and doing it anyway. For instance, you knew that movie was a occasion of sin for impure thoughts, you saw it anyway, you gave your full consent. Now if you were dragged to the movie, or didn’t expect an occasion of sin, then that’s different.

If any of this is wrong, somebody correct me! All, but the first, is my opinion, I think.

 

[Leopard]

…If a Catholic is making a general Confession and their estimation of the number of their sins is very far off, either too high or too low, does this affect validity?..

If the penitent confesses what he honestly thinks is the correct number or a correct estimate, but he is mistaken, this does not affect the validity of the confession.

If the penitent freely and knowingly gives a wrong number or estimate to his confessor, that is lying in Confession. This does invalidate the confession and adds a brand new whopping serious sin to all the previous sins.

If a penitent knowingly confesses a wrong number or estimate out of fear or other mental duress, this could reduce the penitent’s personal culpability and may not invalidate the confession.

 

[LilyM]

In regard to the first question - penance should preferably be done as soon as possible.

Failure through one’s own fault to complete a penance is a fresh sin which might need confession, so that would suggest that one should complete the penance before one’s next confession at least.

Bear in mind that if the priest gives you a penance that you think you won’t be able to do (a prayer that you don’t know, or something) then you can tell the priest so and request a different penance.

In regard to the last question, that’s a matter that really needs a case-by-case analysis - so it’s best to take such a question to the priest in confession.