Confession after Communion - What to confess?

[GlorytoJesus]

It is my understanding that when we receive the Eucharist, our venial sins are wiped away. I want to go to confession at a certain parish, and my only opportunity would be to go after Mass.

If I have just received Communion, then what could I bring to confess?

Can I tell all my venial sins since my last confession anyway? Could I tell the sins that I am always committing and having trouble with? My faults? What is the proper thing to do/say?

 

[LilyM]

It is my understanding that when we receive the Eucharist, our venial sins are wiped away. I want to go to confession at a certain parish, and my only opportunity would be to go after Mass.

If I have just received Communion, then what could I bring to confess?

Can I tell all my venial sins since my last confession anyway? Could I tell the sins that I am always committing and having trouble with? My faults? What is the proper thing to do/say?

You can bring any peeviously unconfessed sin to confession. While it is true that Communion wipes away venial sins, that does not mean you can’t mention those venial sins in confession as well. Kinda like if you forget to mention a mortal sin - it’s forgiven all right, but you still can (in fact must) mention that forgotten sin in your next confession.

 

[Bookcat]

You can bring any peeviously unconfessed sin to confession. While it is true that Communion wipes away venial sins, that does not mean you can’t mention those venial sins in confession as well.

Venial sins can be forgiven in many ways. But it is very recommended to bring some to confession too (even though they can have been forgiven)

And one could confess any sin one is sorry etc for…even sins already absolved…(though for some this is not recommended other then in general perhaps)

 

[Anna_Claire]

It is my understanding that when we receive the Eucharist, our venial sins are wiped away. I want to go to confession at a certain parish, and my only opportunity would be to go after Mass.

If I have just received Communion, then what could I bring to confess?

Can I tell all my venial sins since my last confession anyway? Could I tell the sins that I am always committing and having trouble with? My faults? What is the proper thing to do/say?

If you have nothing serious to confess and your lesser sins are forgiven you through the Eucharist…why go at all? You should be rejoicing in God’s mercy!

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism:

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.61

IX. THE EFFECTS OF THIS SACRAMENT

1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship."73 Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation."74 Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.75

1469 This sacrament reconciles us with the Church. Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion, but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members.76 Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ, whether still on pilgrimage or already in the heavenly homeland:77

It must be recalled that . . . this reconciliation with God leads, as it were, to other reconciliations, which repair the other breaches caused by sin. The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his innermost truth. He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way offended and wounded. He is reconciled with the Church. He is reconciled with all creation.78

1470 In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which he will be subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by grave sin.79 In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and "does not come into judgment."80

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

 

[LilyM]

If you have nothing serious to confess and your lesser sins are forgiven you through the Eucharist…why go at all? You should be rejoicing in God’s mercy!

If you don’t have the measles, why bother going to the doctor to get a vaccination against it? You should simply be rejoicing in your good health!

See, confession does not just relieve us of the burden of past sin, it gives us additional graces against future sin that can be obtained nowhere else (otherwise we would not be encouraged to confess venial sins).

Like the doctor giving a healthy person a jab to protect them against future disease and keep them in good health.

And I for one rejoice greatly in God’s mercy - which I experience most strongly in confession. So much so that I want to experience that mercy frequently - by confessing frequently!

 

[Anna_Claire]

If you don’t have the measles, why bother going to the doctor to get a vaccination against it? You should simply be rejoicing in your good health!

See, confession does not just relieve us of the burden of past sin, it gives us additional graces against future sin that can be obtained nowhere else (otherwise we would not be encouraged to confess venial sins).

Like the doctor giving a healthy person a jab to protect them against future disease and keep them in good health.

And I for one rejoice greatly in God’s mercy - which I experience most strongly in confession. So much so that I want to experience that mercy frequently - by confessing frequently!

That doesn’t make sense and is being over pious. The Eucharist is our Source and Summit…not the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, it gives us the extra grace we need to move forward but Eucharist does that first. It’s not a matter of accumulating grace.

 

[Inquiringperson]

If you have nothing serious to confess and your lesser sins are forgiven you through the Eucharist…why go at all? You should be rejoicing in God’s mercy!

In GlorytoJesus’s defense, that person might be trying to get a plenary indulgence and confession is required in order to get a plenary indulgence.

 

[Anna_Claire]

In GlorytoJesus’s defense, that person might be trying to get a plenary indulgence and confession is required in order to get a plenary indulgence.

It’s not the proper time or thing to do. Confess at another time.

 

[LilyM]

That doesn’t make sense and is being over pious. The Eucharist is our Source and Summit…not the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, it gives us the extra grace we need to move forward but Eucharist does that first. It’s not a matter of accumulating grace.

Please read the Catechism section that has been posted in this thread earlier which is about the sacrament of penance. What I have said is no different nor a bit more pious than the Magisterium itself, and so I do not say anything more than what we are all required to believe about the Sacrament.

Of course it is a matter of accumulating grace. Why else do you think we are both permitted and encouraged to commune frequently (daily where possible, as St Pius X made clear)? And ALSO to confess frequently (St Pio recommended once a week)?

If an accumulation of the graces of the sacraments of confession as well as communion was unnecessary, why not only permit each person to commune (or confess) only once in their lives, or perhaps a handful of times? This is done with baptism, confirmation, marriage and Holy Orders. No, the more the merrier - and that applies to confession as well as communion.

Ultimately, if confession of venial sins was inappropriate (and remember they are always forgiven by communion) then it would at least be discouraged by the Church, if not actually forbidden. Why, then, do you think the contrary is true? Why is it strongly encouraged instead?

 

[Joan_M]

That doesn’t make sense and is being over pious. The Eucharist is our Source and Summit…not the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, it gives us the extra grace we need to move forward but Eucharist does that first. It’s not a matter of accumulating grace.

So, do you think that we cannot increase in grace? Of course we can receive more grace - we very probably commit venial sins most days, if not every day. Venial sin reduces grace. Many pious acts, such as praying the Rosary, spending time in Adoration, etc., can increase our closeness to God, increase our love for Him, and bring an increase in grace. The grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is specifically related to strengthening our weak wills and helping us to resist temptation.

Of course it makes sense and certainly in not being over pious. We don’t accumulate grace - we grow in our capacity for grace.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

If you have nothing serious to confess and your lesser sins are forgiven you through the Eucharist…why go at all? You should be rejoicing in God’s mercy!

Because absolution bestows numerous graces on the penitent to help him/her overcome the specific sins confessed in Confession. Furthermore, simply confessing our sins, even those that have already been confessed, can help to make up for the temporal suffering in purgatory due to those sins.

Confession should be a thing of devotion.

 

[JGMendes4049]

If I have just received Communion, then what could I bring to confess?

You could always confess a flaw. Flaws are not sins but imperfections.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

You could always confess a flaw. Flaws are not sins but imperfections.

She’d still have to confess at least one sin in order to have sufficient matter for absolution. Imperfections aren’t valid matter for absolution.

 

[Bookcat]

You could always confess a flaw. Flaws are not sins but imperfections.

One needs to have a sin to confess (even one already confessed).

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism:

**1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.61

**
IX. THE EFFECTS OF THIS SACRAMENT

1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship."73 Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation."74 Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.75

1469 This sacrament reconciles us with the Church. Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion, but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members.76 Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ, whether still on pilgrimage or already in the heavenly homeland:77

It must be recalled that . . . this reconciliation with God leads, as it were, to other reconciliations, which repair the other breaches caused by sin. The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his innermost truth. He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way offended and wounded. He is reconciled with the Church. He is reconciled with all creation.78

1470 In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which he will be subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by grave sin.79 In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and "does not come into judgment."80

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

 

[Anna_Claire]

I stand by what said previously. It doesn’t make sense to share in the Eucharist and go directly to confession. It is showing a lack of understanding and perhaps even a disrespect for both sacraments. At least wait until the next day if necessary. Sins are forgiven whenever we receive the Eucharist.* We know that Christ’s blood was poured out for the forgiveness of our sins (Lk 22:19-20), and that the healing power of the Eucharist forgives us of the sins we daily commit (CCC 1366, Heb 9:13-14).*

Also, grace is not a thing, or stuff or a static element to be stored up. It’s not all about having enough to get us into heaven. That’s incorrect Catholic theology. Grace is Gods love for us or God communicating with us. It’s a power and a gift to help us be who God wants us to be. And it’s not meant to be simply a personal gift. Grace empowers us To love one another in Christ.

 

[Bookcat]

It doesn’t make sense to share in the Eucharist and go directly to confession. It is showing a lack of understanding and perhaps even a disrespect for both sacraments.

I can understand your confusion here but it is a mistaken concern.

Sure ordinarily one would not likely go “directly” to confession after Mass and Communion…but it could happen and such would be laudable.

The Sacrament of Confession comes with its very particular graces and is very helpful in the Spiritual life.

 

[Anna_Claire]

I believe you are the one confused…it would not be laudable to go directly to confession after Eucharist.

 

[Student09]

She’d still have to confess at least one sin in order to have sufficient matter for absolution. Imperfections aren’t valid matter for absolution.

I’ve heard that before but I don’t understand how it could be true. What if you’ve already reached a high level of sanctity where you are not committing any sins, and you’re in a religious order where you confess once a week. Does that mean you’re being required to make invalid confessions?