Are forgotten sins forgiven?

[dsf11785]

I have heard that if a person goes to confession and forgets a mortal sin, then the sin is automatically forgiven. However, if after the confession, the person remembers that sin, then that person is required to confess that sin. So once the person remembers the sin, it seems, the sin is no longer forgiven. But what if the person has received communion multiple times before remembering the sin? Does the person now also have to confess the sin of receiving communion unworthily multiple times?
Whatever the answer is, can someone send me a reference to the Church’s official teaching on this matter?

 

[underacloud]

Firstly, I’m sorry but I don’t have official references to hand. I will try to find them if someone else doesn’t post them in the meantime.

Yes, forgotten sins are forgiven. Yes, you should still confess them next time if you remember them. But this is done as a sign of your contrition/sorrow for those sins, not because you need forgiveness again. The absolution remains entirely valid.

There is no problem in receiving Eucharist after remembering any mortal sins after a valid confession. As above, the sin is already forgiven and the state of grace restored.

 

[ClayPots47]

I have heard that if a person goes to confession and forgets a mortal sin, then the sin is automatically forgiven.

Correct.

However, if after the confession, the person remembers that sin, then that person is required to confess that sin.

Also correct.

So once the person remembers the sin, it seems, the sin is no longer forgiven.

Not correct. The sin doesn’t become unforgiven, but the obligation to submit the forgotten sin to the keys of the confessional remains. It must be confessed at ones next confession.

But what if the person has received communion multiple times before remembering the sin? Does the person now also have to confess the sin of receiving communion unworthily multiple times?

No. The Communions were valid before remembering the sin, so Communion was not unworthy. Once one becomes aware of the sin, it must be confessed ASAP, but one does not have to confess receiving Communion unworthily because the forgotten sin had been forgiven prior to Communion.

Whatever the answer is, can someone send me a reference to the Church’s official teaching on this matter?

I suspect there are several references that would apply here, but I can’t quote specifics. And I’m not sure where to look, but I would guess the Catechism and/or Canon Law and probably a few other documents. Somebody might know the proper sources. You could always ask a priest.

 

[underacloud]

Here is the relevant official teaching…

Council of Trent: When Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness.

Code of Canon Law: The faithful are bound to confess, in kind and in number, all grave sins committed after baptism, of which after careful examination of conscience they are aware, which have not yet been directly pardoned by the keys of the Church, and which have not been confessed in an individual confession (canon 988 §1).

So the first shows that forgotten mortal sins are still forgiven, while the second shows that they still need to be brought directly to confession.

 

[Bookcat]

I have heard that if a person goes to confession and forgets a mortal sin, then the sin is automatically forgiven. However, if after the confession, the person remembers that sin, then that person is required to confess that sin. So once the person remembers the sin, it seems, the sin is no longer forgiven. But what if the person has received communion multiple times before remembering the sin? Does the person now also have to confess the sin of receiving communion unworthily multiple times?
Whatever the answer is, can someone send me a reference to the Church’s official teaching on this matter?

Here Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers fame addresses the question:

jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

 

[Bookcat]

it must be confessed ASAP
.

One need not seek out confession sooner…

 

[Bookcat]

I have heard that if a person goes to confession and forgets a mortal sin, then the sin is automatically forgiven. However, if after the confession, the person remembers that sin, then that person is required to confess that sin. So once the person remembers the sin, it seems, the sin is no longer forgiven. But what if the person has received communion multiple times before remembering the sin? Does the person now also have to confess the sin of receiving communion unworthily multiple times?
Whatever the answer is, can someone send me a reference to the Church’s official teaching on this matter?

Here Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers fame addresses the question :

jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html