Confessing details

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Christ_Conquers

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In past confessions i don’t think I’ve always given the circumstances to curtain sins, but I’ve had the right intention. If i had the right intention, and wasn’t trying to hide anything, am I supposed to confess these details now?
 
Depends on what one means.

Venial sins may be omitted and there is not some particular aspect that must be mentioned regarding such.

Mortal sins are to be confessed in number and kind (and not “general” kind but specific --like fornicatio, murder etc)

The circumstances needed are basically those which effect the kind.

Examples:

One steals a gold chalice. It needs to be said that it was the chalice from church. For such makes the serious theft also sacrilege.

One murders a person. That person was ones brother (etc). That needs to be said.

Sexual acts of an unmarried person with another unmarried person is a different kind when one of them or both of them are married (to someone else…)

If one omitted in good faith that such was with a married person or the murder was of ones parent etc (one did not realize one had to say such …and thought one was then making a good confession and was contrite etc) --then when realized that would be mentioned in the next confession–just as would a forgotten mortal sin.

The confessor can assist one.

(I will add for some readers who struggle with scruples – best to discuss ones case with ones *regular confessor *-for often they can seek to try to “re-confess” all sorts of unneeded things…)
 
Bookcat said:
The confessor can assist one.
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All of what Bookcat said was good, but I wanted to make sure this point did not get lost. If you have questions, ask the priest next time you go to Confession, and he will guide you.
 
Christ_Conquers said:
In past confessions i don’t think I’ve always given the circumstances to curtain sins, but I’ve had the right intention. If i had the right intention, and wasn’t trying to hide anything, am I supposed to confess these details now?
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Bookcat has it right. 👍

If you confess all mortal sins by number and kind, you’re good. If you didn’t realize that the circumstances might be important and the priest didn’t ask for additional information, then I wouldn’t worry about it. Since venial sins don’t technically need to be confessed (although it’s good to confess them) I wouldn’t worry as much about circumstances - and it’s been my experience priests don’t tend to ask follow up questions about venial sins anyhow.

If you think the circumstances might be really important (for example, you confessed to stealing, but not that you took from the collection basket,) then I would go back. If it’s less clearcut, maybe make an appointment with a good confessor so you can be better prepared for future confessions.
 
silicasandra said:
If you didn’t realize that the circumstances might be important and the priest didn’t ask for additional information, then I wouldn’t worry about it.
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To clarify some would need though to be brought to the next confession…once one realizes it.
 
Thanks for all the replies! Their not really big things, for example, would i have to say what kind of person impure thoughts were towards? also, i’m worried that in past confessions i just went because i felt bad and not because i was truly sorry, but i didn’t realize that then, and even now i’m not even completely sure that i wasn’t really sorry. but i keep going back and forth as to whether i should confess it. i’m definitely scrupulous about these kinds of things so that makes it even harder. i want to make a good confession tonight though.
 
Christ_Conquers said:
Thanks for all the replies! Their not really big things, for example, would i have to say what kind of person impure thoughts were towards? also, i’m worried that in past confessions i just went because i felt bad and not because i was truly sorry, but i didn’t realize that then, and even now i’m not even completely sure that i wasn’t really sorry. but i keep going back and forth as to whether i should confess it. i’m definitely scrupulous about these kinds of things so that makes it even harder. i want to make a good confession tonight though.
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The mention of potential scruples would bring the importance of having a “regular confessor” who knows you and such difficulties and can judge how to advise you.

Remember imperfect contrition suffices (such as fear of hell…) in confession. Discuss your difficulty with the confessor.

Catechism: 1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.

(scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII)

A “regular confessor” is the age old practice in dealing with scruples. He can tell you if you struggle with such and can guide you.
 
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