Absolution

[friardchips]

If a sinner attends the Sacrament of Reconciliation consecutively three times in a row, confessing the same sin, is the priest during the third visit, supposed to deny absolution, and instead prescribe remedial advice, to help the individual sin in a particular way no more?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

As a rule? I don’t think so. It is possible to sincerely confess the same sin three times in a row. It is possible to sincerely resolve not to commit that sin again three times in a row. I can’t imagine any priest denying absolution to a penitent who is truly sorry for his sins no matter how many times his genuine efforts to avoid these sins fail.

Remedial advice and absolution is not an either-or scenario. A priest can give both.

 

[friardchips]

As a rule? I don’t think so. It is possible to sincerely confess the same sin three times in a row. It is possible to sincerely resolve not to commit that sin again three times in a row. I can’t imagine any priest denying absolution to a penitent who is truly sorry for his sins no matter how many times his genuine efforts to avoid these sins fail.

Remedial advice and absolution is not an either-or scenario. A priest can give both.

Thank you for your clear post! What you said makes sense. Do you know if there is anything in Canon Law, or if there is anything that might come under pastoral advice, which suggests a refusal being necessary as a response to the criteria I put forward?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Not directly. The only thing I could find in canon law that pertains to this is:
Can. 980 If the confessor has no doubt about the disposition of the penitent, and the penitent seeks absolution, absolution is to be neither refused nor deferred.
By this text, one can extrapolate that (1) a penitent seeking absolution for sins he is blatantly not sorry for should be refused absolution, and (2) if the priest doubts the sincerity of the penitent, absolution may be refused or deferred.

I cannot comment specifically on the exact conditions you’ve put forward because I don’t know anything about the sincerity of the penitent, only that (s)he has confessed the same sin three times in a row. I confess some of my sins each time I go to confession. Evidently my confessors don’t doubt the sincerity of my repentance, as I’ve been absolved of these sins every single time.

 

[pianistclare]

Three times in a row (I assume you mean in quick succession or very recent memory) suggests either failure to be completely repentant, or scruples.
Either way, counseling from the priest is good. Absolution isn’t a punch card. We have to cooperate with God’s grace.
:twocents:

 

[FreeEver]

Matthew, Chap. 18, verses 21-22: “Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often must I see my brother do me wrong, and still forgive him; as much as seven times? Jesus said to him, I tell thee to forgive, not seven wrongs, but seventy times seven.”

God Bless and Peace to all.

 

[Gorgias]

If a sinner attends the Sacrament of Reconciliation consecutively three times in a row

What does “consecutively” mean, here? What does “three times in a row” mean?

Are you talking about once a week, on three consecutive weeks? Once a day? Three times, right in a row, on the same day?

confessing the same sin, is the priest during the third visit, supposed to deny absolution, and instead prescribe remedial advice, to help the individual sin in a particular way no more?

There’s too much more to the story than what you’ve written here, I’d suspect – and, of course, if it’s a personal story, then you shouldn’t really be putting it out on an internet forum for all to read.

But, going from what you’ve already written, my guess would be that, if this happened, it means that the confessor doubts the penitent’s firm intent to amend. In other words, if the confessor thinks that the penitent isn’t attempting to avoid the sin he’s confessed (or is continuing to want to embrace the sin), then absolution perhaps isn’t the best course of action. If, in the confessor’s opinion, the penitent needs to try to avoid the sin before making recourse to confession, then perhaps he offers suggestions to the penitent, that will result in the penitent’s (later) ability to at least attempt to avoid the sin.

It’s possible… but not likely, that a confessor might take this course of action…

Hope this helps…

 

[truetofaith]

If you murder someone 3 Confessions in a row…I think the priest may want to withhold absolution until you stop the sin!

 

[Jeannie52]

Three times in a row (I assume you mean in quick succession or very recent memory) suggests either failure to be completely repentant, or scruples.
Either way, counseling from the priest is good. Absolution isn’t a punch card. We have to cooperate with God’s grace.
:twocents:

Very interestingly put!

 

[Jeannie52]

What does “consecutively” mean, here? What does “three times in a row” mean?

Are you talking about once a week, on three consecutive weeks? Once a day? Three times, right in a row, on the same day?

There’s too much more to the story than what you’ve written here, I’d suspect – and, of course, if it’s a personal story, then you shouldn’t really be putting it out on an internet forum for all to read.

But, going from what you’ve already written, my guess would be that, if this happened, it means that the confessor doubts the penitent’s firm intent to amend. In other words, if the confessor thinks that the penitent isn’t attempting to avoid the sin he’s confessed (or is continuing to want to embrace the sin), then absolution perhaps isn’t the best course of action. If, in the confessor’s opinion, the penitent needs to try to avoid the sin before making recourse to confession, then perhaps he offers suggestions to the penitent, that will result in the penitent’s (later) ability to at least attempt to avoid the sin.

It’s possible… but not likely, that a confessor might take this course of action…

Hope this helps…

Agreed.

After the penitent finishes confessing his/her sins the penitent says the Act Of Contrition which is Oh, my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dred the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. ** I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin to more, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

 

[friardchips]

What does “consecutively” mean, here? What does “three times in a row” mean?

Hi. Three times in a row consecutively says twice what I am saying: three times in a row, consecutively!

Are you talking about once a week, on three consecutive weeks? Once a day? Three times, right in a row, on the same day?

Obviously I don’t mean three times in one day! How many people do you know go to confession more than “once a day”?!

There’s too much more to the story than what you’ve written here, I’d suspect – and, of course, if it’s a personal story, then you shouldn’t really be putting it out on an internet forum for all to read.

I originally put this post up on the apologist section to no avail. Which is why I was hoping for some objective responses here. Who said this is a personal question? Did I? Please quote the part where i said this is personal? It is a very simple question in which the poster (me) desires a simple and straightforward answer. To a very straightforward question without needing to drag it down into the land of nonsense.

But, going from what you’ve already written, my guess would be that, if this happened, it means that the confessor doubts the penitent’s firm intent to amend. In other words, if the confessor thinks that the penitent isn’t attempting to avoid the sin he’s confessed (or is continuing to want to embrace the sin), then absolution perhaps isn’t the best course of action. If, in the confessor’s opinion, the penitent needs to try to avoid the sin before making recourse to confession, then perhaps he offers suggestions to the penitent, that will result in the penitent’s (later) ability to at least attempt to avoid the sin.

It’s possible… but not likely, that a confessor might take this course of action…

Hope this helps…

This is not what I asked either!

But thank you anyway for your attempts at understanding.

 

[friardchips]

Agreed.

After the penitent finishes confessing his/her sins the penitent says the Act Of Contrition which is Oh, my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dred the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. ** I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin to more, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

Thank you for your response but this does not address my initial question - you seem to be talking about the penitents intentions or sincerity so are you commenting from a priest’s possible perspective and how he might view the penitent’s admission of guilt?

 

[friardchips]

Matthew, Chap. 18, verses 21-22: “Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often must I see my brother do me wrong, and still forgive him; as much as seven times? Jesus said to him, I tell thee to forgive, not seven wrongs, but seventy times seven.”

God Bless and Peace to all.

Thank you for the Scripture quote. It does seem to fit here.

 

[friardchips]

If you murder someone 3 Confessions in a row…I think the priest may want to withhold absolution until you stop the sin!

Sure, this is an extreme example, although I think he’d suggest a remedial course of action after the first time in the case of murdering someone. So could this be said for any mortal sin, after all, mortal sin does kill oneself, spiritually? Maybe the priest can refuse absolution for any mortal sin if the penitent does not fix the issue after repeatedly confessing the same sin time and again at every confession? Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[friardchips]

Three times in a row (I assume you mean in quick succession or very recent memory) suggests either failure to be completely repentant, or scruples.
Either way, counseling from the priest is good. Absolution isn’t a punch card. We have to cooperate with God’s grace.
:twocents:

Thank you Claire. What I mean by ‘consecutively’ is exactly what I said - ‘in a row’. This is not going to be one day after the other because in that case the penitent would need to discuss scruples and such like. What I mean by these terms, is one confession after the other, leaving a normal amount of time between each - say a week or two weeks. And is there anything in Canon Law or pastoral advice that would have the priest deny absolution after the same sin is confessed consecutively, three times, with a normal amount of time between each confession?

 

[friardchips]

Not directly. The only thing I could find in canon law that pertains to this is:
Can. 980 If the confessor has no doubt about the disposition of the penitent, and the penitent seeks absolution, absolution is to be neither refused nor deferred.
By this text, one can extrapolate that (1) a penitent seeking absolution for sins he is blatantly not sorry for should be refused absolution, and (2) if the priest doubts the sincerity of the penitent, absolution may be refused or deferred.

Can. 980 would seem to imply that confessions are taken on a one-to-one basis. As you then explain in (2).

I cannot comment specifically on the exact conditions you’ve put forward because I don’t know anything about the sincerity of the penitent, only that (s)he has confessed the same sin three times in a row. I confess some of my sins each time I go to confession. Evidently my confessors don’t doubt the sincerity of my repentance, as I’ve been absolved of these sins every single time.

You didn’t need the exact conditions as you seem to have found an answer without. Unless of course there are any extra conditions which cause this rule to be deferred which so far only seems to be if the penitent does not seem contrite over the sins according to the priest’s observations. I can see this is important because of course perfect contrition allows for grace through the priest to come to the penitent strengthening him or her in such a way as to cause revulsion over the thought of such and such a sin.

 

[friardchips]

[SIGN]Thank you anyway, Gorgias, I know you mean well![/SIGN]

 

[pianistclare]

Agreed.

After the penitent finishes confessing his/her sins the penitent says the Act Of Contrition which is Oh, my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dred the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. ** I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin to more, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

YES! to Jeannie and Gorgias.
Well stated.

 

[FreeEver]

Thank you for the Scripture quote. It does seem to fit here.

You’re welcome.

To further support St. Matthew, which I don’t believe he needs, another source is Father Charles Conner STL, Ph.D, In my region of the US (Southwest), EWTN has a half-hour show titled, “Grab Your Catechism” televised on Monday evenings which Fr. Charles Connor, STL, Ph.D., of Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary provides an insightful understanding of the Catholic Catechism. Last winter, 2015, he expounded on this issue, wholeheartedly endorsing the need of regular confession especially with reoccurring sins of addiction, emphasizing the 6th and 9th commandments, however, barring none of the other commandments.

Father Charles Conner quoted St. Matthew’s scripture statement.

God Bless and Peace to all.

 

[HelenRose]

If a sinner attends the Sacrament of Reconciliation consecutively three times in a row, confessing the same sin, is the priest during the third visit, supposed to deny absolution, and instead prescribe remedial advice, to help the individual sin in a particular way no more?

It may depend on the sin. Robbing a bank three times in a row may be problematic. Trying over come alcohol or drug addiction may need help over and over until one finally has the strength to overcome this problem.