Are our sins are forgiven because you made an attempt to go to Confession?

[Malkin71]

After Mass today, I was talking to someone about how I was going to bring up in our Parish Pastorial Council open (name removed by moderator)ut session about having Fr. having more Confession at different hours. Because the Confession times are 11:30 A.M. weekdays.

I mention that the majority of the people are at work during the week and people would like to go before Mass. The reason why is at Palm Sunday this year a person in his early 20’s asked me if Fr.'s around so that he can go to confession. I went to find Fr. and mentioned that someone wants to go to Confession. He told me the he has a Baptism to go to and to tell him to come during the week.

My mouth dropped when he told me that! I was think here is a soul that wants to redeem himself and he is turning him away? I know Palm Sunday Mass is longer than usual. Our usual Sunday Mass is 30 min. Any Catholic who normally attends Mass knows that Palm Sunday Mass is longer because The Passion is read at Mass.

I brought up a senareo, what would have happened to the soul if God forbid that something tragic would have happened and he did not receive Confession? The person said “God would have forgave him because he attempted to go to the Sacrament of Confession!” I was shocked at the persons answer.

This is true I am not making this up!

The question that I am asking is … “If you make an attempt to go to Confession and the Priest refuses to hear because he has something to do but you don’t go and God forbid something tragic happens afterwards. Are your sins forgiven and do you go to Heaven?”

 

[datingtrappists]

From the Catechism: “1484 Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession.” emphasis mine

What it is saying in a nutshell, is that God can forgive someone who is repentant and sorrowful for their sins outside of the confessional (especially if there is some grave and good reason why someone can’t make it to confession), but that one can only receive absolution in the confessional. Absolution makes the forgiveness “official”, so to speak… I suppose one cannot be absolved without being forgiven, but one can be forgiven without being absolved… Though I can not find them right now, I do believe there are other Catechism paragraphs that further explain this.

In either case, I would recommend perhaps talking directly to this priest about the need for more confession times… if that doesn’t work, then go to the pastor. I am unsure where else to go after that, but I’m sure there are others who can guide you in perhaps having more scheduled confession times.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

After Mass today, I was talking to someone about how I was going to bring up in our Parish Pastorial Council open (name removed by moderator)ut session about having Fr. having more Confession at different hours. Because the Confession times are 11:30 A.M. weekdays.

I mention that the majority of the people are at work during the week and people would like to go before Mass. The reason why is at Palm Sunday this year a person in his early 20’s asked me if Fr.'s around so that he can go to confession. I went to find Fr. and mentioned that someone wants to go to Confession. He told me the he has a Baptism to go to and to tell him to come during the week.

My mouth dropped when he told me that! I was think here is a soul that wants to redeem himself and he is turning him away? I know Palm Sunday Mass is longer than usual. Our usual Sunday Mass is 30 min. Any Catholic who normally attends Mass knows that Palm Sunday Mass is longer because The Passion is read at Mass.

I brought up a senareo, what would have happened to the soul if God forbid that something tragic would have happened and he did not receive Confession? The person said “God would have forgave him because he attempted to go to the Sacrament of Confession!” I was shocked at the persons answer.

This is true I am not making this up!

The question that I am asking is … “If you make an attempt to go to Confession and the Priest refuses to hear because he has something to do but you don’t go and God forbid something tragic happens afterwards. Are your sins forgiven and do you go to Heaven?”

One must not assume that their sins are forgiven for attempting to go to Confession. A priest should hear a Confession when asked, this may mean having to wait a little while for the person asking if the priest is about to enter a wedding or Mass.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

God can work outside the sacraments to forgive sin, but we are assured of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Sacrament also reconciles us with the Church. Even if we are truly sorry for our sins (and God may have forgiven us), we must go to confession before receiving Communion if we have committed a serious sin.

 

[ProVobis]

God can work outside the sacraments to forgive sin, but we are assured of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Sacrament also reconciles us with the Church. Even if we are truly sorry for our sins (and God may have forgiven us), we must go to confession before receiving Communion if we have committed a serious sin.

I believe mortal sins are forgiven with an act of perfect (sorrow for offending God more than fear of punishment) contrition with intent to seek confession at the first opportunity. But as been mentioned, nothing can be assumed. Whether mortal sins are forgiven or not outside confession, confession of mortal sin is always required BEFORE receiving communion.

That said, I’ve seen at least once or twice where the priest leaves the confessional and allows everyone in line to receive communion and then come back later to complete the confession. I’m not sure of the licitness of that.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I believe mortal sins are forgiven with an act of perfect (sorrow for offending God more than fear of punishment) contrition with intent to seek confession at the first opportunity. But as been mentioned, nothing can be assumed. Whether mortal sins are forgiven or not outside confession, confession of mortal sin is always required BEFORE receiving communion.

That said, I’ve seen at least once or twice where the priest leaves the confessional and allows everyone in line to receive communion and then come back later to complete the confession. I’m not sure of the licitness of that.

It’s not, but the people may not be in the wrong if they do not know any better.

 

[ready]

If a sinner makes an act of perfect contrition and is resolved to go to confession ASAP they needn’t fear going to hell. God has forgiven them with that perfect act of contrition. The problem arises in the very act of perfect contrition itself. Whether it was indeed a perfect act of contrition is the problem.

But a sinner isn’t forgiven just because he made an attempt to see a priest. He needs absolution or he at least has to make an act of perfect contrition and confess his sin to a priest ASAP.

 

[Malkin71]

If a sinner makes an act of perfect contrition and is resolved to go to confession ASAP they needn’t fear going to hell. God has forgiven them with that perfect act of contrition. The problem arises in the very act of perfect contrition itself. Whether it was indeed a perfect act of contrition is the problem.

But a sinner isn’t forgiven just because he made an attempt to see a priest. He needs absolution or he at least has to make an act of perfect contrition and confess his sin to a priest ASAP.

What about Mortal Sins? Venial sins are forgiven during the Confetitor when you go to Mass.

 

[ready]

What about Mortal Sins? Venial sins are forgiven during the Confetitor when you go to Mass.

I am referring to mortal sins, Malkin. The information in my last post was passed on to me from Fr. Peter Damien, F.I. in a homily of his. He is a very, very orthodox theologian and priest and I trust what he says. Ask a good priest and he’ll tell you the same thing.

 

[Malkin71]

I am referring to mortal sins, Malkin. The information in my last post was passed on to me from Fr. Peter Damien, F.I. in a homily of his. He is a very, very orthodox theologian and priest and I trust what he says. Ask a good priest and he’ll tell you the same thing.

I agree that the person needs to see a Priest ASAP. The person said otherwise that the intent was there so he is forgiven. This came about because the person said this brings Holy Communion to my Mother and he is the Sascratiarian of my Parish and he is in our Diocesis Deaconate Canidate Class. I get into intresting discussions with him.

 

[ready]

I agree that the person needs to see a Priest ASAP. The person said otherwise that the intent was there so he is forgiven. This came about because the person said this brings Holy Communion to my Mother and he is the Sascratiarian of my Parish and he is in our Diocesis Deaconate Canidate Class. I get into intresting discussions with him.

Yes, but he isn’t forgiven just because he had the intent. It’s a little more complicated than that. However, maybe he had made an act of perfect contrition and decided that he had to see the same priest for some dire reason (instead of seeking out another priest). I don’t really know if that is allowed or not for him to still be protected by the Church and her provisions. An informed priest would know.

 

[ProVobis]

However, maybe he had made an act of perfect contrition and decided that he had to see the same priest for some dire reason (instead of seeking out another priest).

Good question. One of my regular confessors was transferred and it took me a while to find an adequate replacement in whom I could have what I considered adequate spiritual guidance.