confessing details

[constantconvert]

I was thinking back to my first confession (as an adult, not a child), and I realize that some of the mortal sins I committed, I didn’t really confess kind or number, and the confessor didn’t ask. I’m wondering if I should go back and give details, because a couple of them were biggies, in my mind, though re-confessing is about the last thing I want to do.

 

[Bookcat]

We are *obliged to confess all mortal sins in number *(now many–which may need to be an approximation if one does not know how many -one approximates according to what one does know…10-15x, few x, many x, around once a month for the last 2 years) and *kind (*fornication, masturbation, looking lustfully, murder) and that which changes the kind ( species) such as it was a chalice one stole --or it was your brother you murdered.

Now lets say one has not hidden mortal sins in the past but sought to confess all one knew one had to confess (if one hid such --that is a bigger problem to address with the Priest in confession)

What is one to do if one remembers a mortal sin (grave matter, full knowledge committed with deliberate consent) that one has not confessed? Or that one confessed a mortal sin but forgot to say it was 3x. Well one is obliged to confess it. So that is what one does.

So yes if they were mortal – one confesses them.

Number and kind are not “details” they are part of the confession of mortal sins. Now some may seek to give “unneeded details” – one does not need to give unneeded details of the sin…

Jimmy Akin of CA jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

(Now some readers out there struggle with scruples (scrupulosity) in this area and can start to want to confess all sorts of un-needful things etc etc --they need to have a regular confessor to direct them. And their confessor may need to give them directions that others would not follow --due to their scruples)

Know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd --he loves you and desires to give us true life!

Confession being one way he does such!

 

[LaSainte]

I generally never remember the number of times I committed a certain sin, especially if it was long ago or over a period of time. But I DO let the priest know if it is habitual. For example, I might say “I tend to do x” or “I have done x many times.” I think that is what they are really looking for. The priest needs to know if this is an ongoing issue or a one time thing. Personally, I think as long as you are clear on that point, the exact number (unless you actually remember that you got drunk 72 times) is not particularly important. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[ChibiViolet]

I was thinking back to my first confession (as an adult, not a child), and I realize that some of the mortal sins I committed, I didn’t really confess kind or number, and the confessor didn’t ask. I’m wondering if I should go back and give details, because a couple of them were biggies, in my mind, though re-confessing is about the last thing I want to do.

You might have to confess them all over. You will have to do so if you have** deliberately withheld** any mortal sins and or any important details that add gravity to the mortal sins. For instance, killing a family member is worse than killing a stranger and lusting after someone five times is worse than only doing it once. If you can’t remember exact numbers, don’t worry about it, but say something like “about five times,” or “a few times.”

If you didn’t know it was of grave matter to withhold such information, than you will still have to confess this in your next Confession, but you can still receive the Eucharist until that time, assuming you don’t commit any other mortal sins.

 

[Catholic_Wife]

I was thinking back to my first confession (as an adult, not a child), and I realize that some of the mortal sins I committed, I didn’t really confess kind or number, and the confessor didn’t ask. I’m wondering if I should go back and give details, because a couple of them were biggies, in my mind, though re-confessing is about the last thing I want to do.

I would suggest you make an appointment to speak with your priest about this matter. Tell him what you have said here: that you realize that you didn’t confess number or kind of the mortal sins during that first “adult” confession, and that the priest didn’t ask you for the details (number and kind). HE can guide you best in what you should do, and can hear your “revised” confession, if needed, at that time.

 

[Michael_Allen]

I was thinking back to my first confession (as an adult, not a child), and I realize that some of the mortal sins I committed, I didn’t really confess kind or number, and the confessor didn’t ask. I’m wondering if I should go back and give details, because a couple of them were biggies, in my mind, though re-confessing is about the last thing I want to do.

If you think that it will continue to worry you then I can see how you might benefit from going back.

I love Friday morning’s because we have psalm 50(51) in morning prayer. That is such a superb psalm of contrition. I love the lines…

*Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. *

And…

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

To know that Psalm is to know the loving forgiveness of God, I believe.

When it comes to confession to a priest I like the Anglican maxim “all may, none must, some should”. There are times, IMO, that people need to unburden and hear forgiveness, which we already have in Christ on the cross, proclaimed personally and intimately, but it seems sad if people don’t feel forgiven apart from confession to a priest.

God bless +

 

[Sister_Terese]

We are *obliged to confess all mortal sins in number *(now many–which may need to be an approximation if one does not know how many -one approximates according to what one does know…10-15x, few x, many x, around once a month for the last 2 years) and *kind (*fornication, masturbation, looking lustfully, murder) and that which changes the kind ( species) such as it was a chalice one stole --or it was your brother you murdered.

Now lets say one has not hidden mortal sins in the past but sought to confess all one knew one had to confess (if one hid such --that is a bigger problem to address with the Priest in confession)

What is one to do if one remembers a mortal sin (grave matter, full knowledge committed with deliberate consent) that one has not confessed? Or that one confessed a mortal sin but forgot to say it was 3x. Well one is obliged to confess it. So that is what one does.

So yes if they were mortal – one confesses them.

Number and kind are not “details” they are part of the confession of mortal sins. Now some may seek to give “unneeded details” – one does not need to give unneeded details of the sin…

Jimmy Akin of CA jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

(Now some readers out there struggle with scruples (scrupulosity) in this area and can start to want to confess all sorts of un-needful things etc etc --they need to have a regular confessor to direct them. And their confessor may need to give them directions that others would not follow --due to their scruples)

Know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd --he loves you and desires to give us true life!

Confession being one way he does such!

Bookcat: You are 100% correct. And spot-on about scrupulosity. That is why it is important to have a regular confessor.

 

[Edmundus1581]

I would suggest you make an appointment to speak with your priest about this matter. Tell him what you have said here: that you realize that you didn’t confess number or kind of the mortal sins during that first “adult” confession, and that the priest didn’t ask you for the details (number and kind). HE can guide you best in what you should do, and can hear your “revised” confession, if needed, at that time.

I agree completely, except that I think no appointment is necessary - just turn up in the normal confession time. The first priest absolved his sins without further questions. If the OP thinks his confession was inadequate (which is not uncommon) then he should simply ask the priest, or another, in normal confession time. Such questions are common.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Here is a similar question in Ask An Apologist, except that it involves not just one such confession, but several of them. The advice is still to ask a priest, in confession…

See “Do I need to re-confess”, by Fr. Serpa.

Question:

…
Sometimes in my past, I would visit the Sacrament of Reconciliation and give what I thought to be an ‘adequate’ Confession; but thinking back, I feel like I made some rather serious omissions.** While I don’t think I ever left any grave sins entirely out, I rarely/never mentioned the frequency that I performed my sins (even mortal) and I also feel like I downplayed some of their seriousness. **This has been bothering me a lot lately…
…

Answer:

…
I suggest that you mention the above to the priest the next time you go to Confession. That should take care of it. …

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

And “Should I re-confess my sin?”

Question:

… I confessed something and was slightly vague on exactly what it was. The priest didn’t press me further on it…

Answer:

Let it alone. [That] Confession was valid and the sin was forgiven.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

 

[constantconvert]

In looking around, I found this article by Jimmy Akin which addresses what I’m talking about. He says that in confessing number and kind, you don’t have to go into specifics as long as you communicate the type of sin it is to the priest. And seems to indicate that if the priest has doubts as to what you are confessing, he can ask for clarification. Unless of course the sin is somehow compounded. For example if you say you stole money-- maybe you pick-pocketed or embezzled or counterfeited, that would be one thing, but if you robbed a bank at gun point, there is additional sin (ie, threatening someone with a gun). Those probably aren’t very good examples, the ones he uses are better, but you get the point.