Ask a Priest Anything...about Confession!

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m sure Father will answer you, but FWIW, it’s not unusual to confess while still in a state of grace for those of us who do certain devotions requiring confession within X days. The devotion doesn’t give you a waiver from the confession if you happen to be in a state of grace when it’s time for you to go.
You simply go to confession and mention some venial sins. Everybody commits venial sins daily so it’s not hard to come up with a few.

Also, my experience has been that you can’t “go to confession and say you have nothing to confess” as I did that once when I was a child and the priest let me know not to do that and further suggested I probably hadn’t examined my conscience well enough.
You have to mention at least one sin or the priest can’t absolve you. Like I said it is not hard to come up with a venial sin or two.

 

[DarkLight]

I asked a while back (back before we scared off Don Ruggero) what happens if one goes to confession and finds out what one intended to confess isn’t actually a sin. The answer was that one can confess something else, even something one may have mentioned previously in confession. Of course this wouldn’t be advised for the scrupulous. I should mention that the issue in question regarded a specific blind spot and not general scrupulosity.*
*
Short version: it took me a while to figure out that treating unreasonable, manipulative people like unreasonable, manipulative people isn’t actually a sin. No matter how you’re related to them.

 

[InThePew]

I asked a while back (back before we scared off Don Ruggero) what happens if one goes to confession and finds out what one intended to confess isn’t actually a sin.

When someone comes to me with something that clearly isn’t a sin (missing mass when sick is a classic example), I don’t say to them “that’s not a sin” because I want to respect the time and trouble and humility they’ve taken bring it to confession. I’ll provide a gentle explanation (like God doesn’t expect us to do more than we’re capable of) and give them absolution. More often though, it’s things that might seem trivial or trifling to me but which are obviously troubling them and it would be disrespectful of me to simply dismiss it as being “not a sin”.

 

[DarkLight]

When someone comes to me with something that clearly isn’t a sin (missing mass when sick is a classic example), I don’t say to them “that’s not a sin” because I want to respect the time and trouble and humility they’ve taken bring it to confession. I’ll provide a gentle explanation (like God doesn’t expect us to do more than we’re capable of) and give them absolution. More often though, it’s things that might seem trivial or trifling to me but which are obviously troubling them and it would be disrespectful of me to simply dismiss it as being “not a sin”.

To be fair I think the priest put it a little better than that in the inspirational incident.

In my own case…I have, shall we say, a very interesting family. The reassurance that protecting one’s self from abuse isn’t sinful was the right move. I think in that case, looking back, it was most important that I get the reassurance that God would not be angry that I was trying to keep myself safe, even if it involved actions that might be sinful in most other circumstances.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’ve had a couple confessions in the last few years where I mentioned something that I thought might be a grave sin and the priest told me it was not a sin at all. In both cases the priests were very direct in saying “That’s not a sin, because XYZ” but also very kind. I found their response helpful from a standpoint of shaping my conscience going forward. But that’s just me.

In both cases I also had other sins I could mention, so I wasn’t left with nothing when the priest said “not a sin”.

 

[annad347]

I have a question that I’m not sure will be offensive or not… its not a bad question but it might be taken the wrong way… is it possible to ask in private so you can tell me if I can post it here or not?

 

[edward_george1]

Go ahead and send me a PM. I’ll see if I can get to it.

My apologies to all for not being on top of questions, public or private, lately. It’s been really busy here. And my thanks to @InthePew for picking up my slack.

 

[Mtatum1958]

A big thanks to you and @inthePew for the willingness to put yourselves out here. I’ve seen answers to questions I didn’t think I had.

 

[AussieGirl]

Fair enough I’m not suggesting I myself will ever have reason to believe that I am without sin. Was just wondering.

 

[AussieGirl]

Still, an overly legalistic or literal focus on moral versus venial can be unhelpful since there’s a risk of losing sight of the simple fact that all of our sins impair our relationship with God and others. In other words, the sacrament isn’t only for the “big stuff” and, since little problems can all too easily grow into bigger ones a holistic approach is sin is in some way more helpful.

Thank you Sometimes I lose sight of the forest for the trees.

In some ways, both and. We’re acknowledging our sinfulness and need for forgiveness as well as our generally flawed character which tends too often to lead us into sin. That said, the confiteor shouldn’t be confused with the sacrament of reconciliation. While there is obviously a penitential element to it, it’s more about humbly acknowledging our need for help as well as our role in helping others - in a word charity - which of course draws us closer to the Lord.

Wow, more and more I’m seeing the importance of the Body of Christ!

 

[phaster]

I have offered similar threads before in the Lounge, but this one I will open up to the general public.

What is it you’d like to know about confession? I will answer questions, with two caveats:

1. I will not answer questions that arise from scrupulosity, as this will not be helpful.
2. I will not violate the sacramental seal, directly or indirectly. Obviously.

-Fr ACEGC

Fr

any thoughts or opinions about Pope Francis and the idea of ecological sins

Catechism will be updated to include ecological sins, pope says | National Catholic Reporter

 

[Yarb]

Thank you.

 

[Haru]

Thanks for opening this thread Father I’m late to the party and I’m sorry if these questions were already asked by someone else, in which case you can skip answering them.

Here is what I’d like to ask

1. If I’m not sure if something I’ve done is a sin (I’m still debating if it’s right or wrong) and I go for confession and don’t confess that act. Would I be commiting sacrilege by “keeping the sin to myself” ?
2. Beside the obvious sins that are grave, can you please you recommend a way to judge whether a sin is a grave matter or not?
3. Please talk about reparation for our sins and what role does penance play in reparation? After confession and penance what else do we do to make ammends? (aside from spending time in purgatory) Some people say “embrace suffering as reparation for your sins” is the only way?

 

[InThePew]

• If I’m not sure if something I’ve done is a sin (I’m still debating if it’s right or wrong) and I go for confession and don’t confess that act. Would I be commiting sacrilege by “keeping the sin to myself” ?

No but if you’re genuinely unsure then the best thing to do is confess it.

• Beside the obvious sins that are grave, can you please you recommend a way to judge whether a sin is a grave matter or not?

Informing your conscience from Church teaching is a good start but there’s always going to be grey areas so don’t get too hung up on whether or not something is or is not a grave matter in your particular case. Just take it all to confession!

• Please talk about reparation for our sins and what role does penance play in reparation? After confession and penance what else do we do to make ammends? (aside from spending time in purgatory) Some people say “embrace suffering as reparation for your sins” is the only way?

Suffering can of course be a consequence of sin (we do stuff we shouldn’t do and it comes back to bite us - go figure!) and we need to accept this but there are other (perhaps better) ways such as acts of charity and love towards others - especially those we haven’t hurt.

 

[phaster]

My apologies to all for not being on top of questions, public or private, lately. It’s been really busy here. And my thanks to @InthePew for picking up my slack.

I know it is advent season so lots of things are happening,… but thought I would check in again because I am very interested in exploring and learning more about the idea of ecological sins

Theologians praise suggestion to add ‘ecological sins’ to Catholic catechism

A possible recognition of “ecological sins” in the Catholic Church’s main teaching document would help “sharpen our consciences in matters of ecological abuse,” according to Dr. Christopher Thompson, a leading moral theologian.

cruxnow.com

for context why I believe Pope Francis is considering linking issues of poverty with ecology and hence formalizing the idea of ecological sins,… it is because of climate change denial due to fear, doubt and ignorance of science AND faith

What do you think of climate change? Social Justice

what the Church is doing is recognizing other scientific authorities, and applying moral teachings to those realities sadly Americans do not know much about basic global warming science www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tops.12187 AND all too often people think they smarter than they actually are! [AGW%20denier%20bathroom] this is because the issue is compounded by active resistance [WattsUpWithThat] to the well understood basic science,… www.TinyURL.com/HowBigIsTheEarth …

in other words people (including many faithful) do not seem to fully appreciate that adverse symptoms like air pollution, toxic bodies of water, crop failures due to drought, etc., is a direct result of mankind not caring for creation

Suffering can of course be a consequence of sin (we do stuff we shouldn’t do and it comes back to bite us - go figure!)

If you just confess your sins directly to God, without the physical act of saying them out loud to another person, it’s much, much harder to be accountable.

so do you think Pope Francis is considering formalizing the idea of ecological sins to make catholics do more (and be held accountable) to care for creation

thoughts?

 

[edward_george1]

I’m not exactly sure what “ecological sins” are supposed to be, and I think Pope Francis saying that is probably a political move of some kind. He’s been known to say things that will cause a real stir with the press. The Catechism already covers sins against creation and the failure to be a good steward creation. So if you’ve done that in any particular way, confess it. But the idea of “ecological sins” as is being bandied about these days sounds more like the Pope wants to condemn systemic evils or something. No one person commits systemic evil. We commit personal sins.

 

[phaster]

Fr

thanks for your thoughts on the topic,… was asking because the definition from what I have been reading was still not well defined

It is not known what sort of definition of “ecological sin” would be proposed for the Catechism, but a good place to look would be at the wording proposed by this October’s Synod for the Amazon.

This has rooted ecological sin in the Catechism’s existing treatment of interdependence and solidarity among creatures. The synod referred to ecological sins against God, neighbor, and community, as well as against the environment and future generations.

Theologians praise suggestion to add 'ecological sins' to Catholic catechism

WRT systemic evil vs personal sins

But the idea of “ecological sins” as is being bandied about these days sounds more like the Pope wants to condemn systemic evils or something. No one person commits systemic evil. We commit personal sins.

seems kinda nebulous since we are all connected and a part of the system at large

in other words what my conscience tells me is wrong for some other person might be morally justified because it is the was they earn a living,…

an extreme example would be an individual selling drugs that ultimately cause harm,… let’s consider a Dr. giving an Rx for opioids might be causing as much pain and suffering as an individual w/ out a formal education selling illicit drugs on a street corner

hopefully you get the point I am thinking about,… as I see things the pope is not being political per se, because our individual actions have a collective effect

 

[Kima]

This was certainly useful. Thank you Father.

 

[InThePew]

let’s consider a Dr. giving an Rx for opioids might be causing as much pain and suffering as an individual w/ out a formal education selling illicit drugs on a street corner

If the doctor is prescribing them improperly then his culpability is greater than the dealer on the street corner because a greater responsibility attaches to his position. Certainly, the criminal law would take this view,

as I see things the pope is not being political per se, because our individual actions have a collective effect

This. Papal concern for the environment isn’t a new thing - JPII talked about it, so did Benedict; all Francis is doing to building on what his predecessors have done with a appropriately elevated level of concern. We need to be aware of not just our own actions when it comes to the environment but also those of others and seek to influence them where we can. Granted, I’m not responsible for Company X’s factory discharging pollutants but doesn’t mean I should just ignore it. I am of course responsible for my own actions when, for example, I discharge pollutants from my boat into the waterways.

Disclaimer: I don’t actually own a boat…

 

[DarkLight]

Fairly minor one here:

How important is the question of how many times you committed a sin? I know you’re supposed to say that, but I also note I’ve never been asked or corrected on it, even with going pretty frequently. And some sins I’m not even entirely sure how to quantify the number.