Confession after Communion - What to confess?

[Anna_Claire]

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?

Come now…this is way over the top. Not a good example to prove a point. fail.

 

[Corki]

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.

Then why do so many parishes schedule Confession after Mass?

Part of the grace from the Sacrament of Penance comes from the joy of hearing the words of absolution, embracing the Penance given and listening to advice and direction from your confessor. These are valuable graces no matter how recently you have received the Eucharist.

 

[NYCATHOLICGIRL]

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.

Wasn’t Mary full of grace?

 

[LilyM]

Wasn’t Mary full of grace?

God’s grace itself is limitless, like a bottomless well of water, but it still depends upon each of us to dip our buckets into that well (via the sacraments, and prayer and good works in a lesser way) to obtain that water. And we recieve as we are capable and as we put the effort in to draw the water.

Some will do so more often, or with a larger bucket, and so receive more, some will do so less frequently, and with a smaller/leakier bucket, and so receive less.

 

[revert_jen]

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?

I think you’ll find that isn’t a concern. Even saints go to confession, because even if they get to the point where they commit no sins of action, they still commit sins of thought or omission. Saints are the last people to say they have completely stopped sinning. Sainthood means a complete lack of attachment to sin, not a complete lack of sin. And even if a person somehow managed to go a week without any sins of thought at all, they could still confess sins already confessed before.

The only person let off from confession by sinlessness would be our Blessed Mother.

–Jen

 

[Anna_Claire]

Then why do so many parishes schedule Confession after Mass?

Part of the grace from the Sacrament of Penance comes from the joy of hearing the words of absolution, embracing the Penance given and listening to advice and direction from your confessor. These are valuable graces no matter how recently you have received the Eucharist.

Many? I don’t think so? I don’t know of any in my area that do that.

 

[Bookcat]

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

Iin some places confession is being heard and one goes after Mass --such is very laudable.

Or when one is on Pilgrimage in Rome etc

The Grace of Confession and Absolution is of it own particular nature.

An time when Confession would be out of place right after Mass and Holy Communion would be in the case of a person who was Baptized at that Mass.

 

[Student09]

I think you’ll find that isn’t a concern. Even saints go to confession, because even if they get to the point where they commit no sins of action, they still commit sins of thought or omission. Saints are the last people to say they have completely stopped sinning. Sainthood means a complete lack of attachment to sin, not a complete lack of sin. And even if a person somehow managed to go a week without any sins of thought at all, they could still confess sins already confessed before.

Obviously saints go to confession, that was not in question. The question was whether one could confess involuntary imperfections. I still don’t understand why this is not acceptable.

This is from the biography of St. Bernadette of Lourdes by Abbe Trochu:

Bernadette suddenly exclaimed, “How happy I am!”
“Why, what’s the matter?” asked the other in astonishment.
“Well, the Chaplain said that if you don’t intend to commit a sin, there is no sin at all.”
“Yes, I heard that. What about it?”
“Well, I’ve never wished to commit a sin, so I’ve never committed any.” (p. 309)

She was confessing something - so were her confessions valid?

 

[Bookcat]

Obviously saints go to confession, that was not in question. The question was whether one could confess involuntary imperfections. I still don’t understand why this is not acceptable.

This is from the biography of St. Bernadette of Lourdes by Abbe Trochu:

She was confessing something - so were her confessions valid?

If one does not confess at least one sin --there is nothing to absolve. One needs to confess at least one venial sin (of course if one has a mortal sin one must confess that).

St. Bernadette I imagine had some venial sins --even of the semi-deliberate sort.

The quote given by a Sister of hers recording her passing comment that occurred at one moment in her life in a moments thought after something a Priest said – does not mean she never committed any sin.

As she notes in her personal notes during a retreat “I have sinned it is right that I should suffer.”

Such would in her ardent love of God regard even the smallest sin.

 

[revert_jen]

Obviously saints go to confession, that was not in question. The question was whether one could confess involuntary imperfections. I still don’t understand why this is not acceptable.

I’m not sure that anyone said you couldn’t confess involuntary imperfections. I think they said you couldn’t confess only involuntary imperfections.

I also think that the quote from St. Bernadette could be a little misleading. If she meant she’d never thought, “Hey, I’d like to commit a sin now,” that is probably true. If she meant that she had never voluntarily done something that was sinful, I’m really not sure I would believe it. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” --including absolutely every saint except the Blessed Mother and possibly St. John the Baptist (who was definitely subject to original sin at some point, but I’m not sure whether he committed any actual sin–I’m just not 100% sure about this either way).

Anyway, the words of saints who were not Popes speaking in their Magisterial offices are not infallible.

–Jen

 

[Lapey]

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

There is absolutely nothing wrong with confession after Holy Communion, if that is the only opportunity you have then take advantage of it.

This does not imply that it is appropriate to receive in the state of mortal sin; however, as in the case of prison ministry, the opportunity for sacramental confession comes rarely, so we distribute communion by order of the Bishop with the knowledge that the inmates will receive the sacrament of reconciliation as soon as possible. Same is true for us occasionally, to receive with the intent and follow through with sacramental confession is not the norm, but it can be done. Many priests offer confession after Mass.

Yes it would be more appropriate to confess then receive, but sometimes it is only available after. Most of the battle is won just because a person knows that he or she needs to go to confession; as most people think they can receive forgiveness without going to a sacramental confession; for mortal sins this is most definitely false.

 

[Lapey]

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?

Blessed John Paul II went to sacramental confession daily, you sure that a thorough examination of conscience wouldn’t find issues? We are all sinners.

 

[Lapey]

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

Your understanding is off…and yes, if this is what’s available to the penitent, it would be most praiseworthy for this person to receive, and then make a sacramental confession directly after Mass.

But, then that person needs to make it a routine to know when confession is available, or make appointments for the future. At that moment of revelation that one realizes the need to make a change, please don’t discourage them from receiving the grace of these sacraments which Christ offers that would most definitely not be deserving of praise on your part.

Just to reiterate, this is not the normal chain of events, confession should always be sought out BEFORE receiving Holy Communion, not after. But in certain circumstances, it is permissible; especially with the lack of availability of sacramental confession these days.

 

[Bookcat]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with confession after Holy Communion, if that is the only opportunity you have then take advantage of it.

This does not imply that it is appropriate to receive in the state of mortal sin… Same is true for us occasionally, to receive with the intent and follow through with sacramental confession is not the norm, but it can be done. Many priests offer confession after Mass.

Yes it would be more appropriate to confess then receive, but sometimes it is only available after. Most of the battle is won just because a person knows that he or she needs to go to confession; as most people think they can receive forgiveness without going to a sacramental confession; for mortal sins this is most definitely false.

I would add that it need not be the only opportunity but may simply be out of a desire to go.

It is important also to emphasize that as noted here the norm is that one is not to receive Holy Communion if one has mortal sin:

Catechism:

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#VI

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And for further clarification for readers as to the possibility of some (rather on rare side I would think) exceptions where a person could receive Holy Communion after they committed a mortal sin but before confession–such only under certain very circumscribed circumstances.

As Canon Law notes it must be for a “grave reason” and “there is no opportunity to confess” and the person has the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible (Canon 916 CIC)

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But let us return to the main topic of the thread on the confession of venial sins.

 

[Student09]

Blessed John Paul II went to sacramental confession daily, you sure that a thorough examination of conscience wouldn’t find issues? We are all sinners.

I don’t understand why people are making it seem like I said that I don’t have to go to confession because I don’t have sins. I never said that. I do have sins and I go to confession frequently. I was merely trying to understand what confession would be like for a person (not me!) who had reached a high degree of sanctity and was not voluntarily committing sins. Maybe I don’t understand the difference between an involuntary imperfection and an involuntary sin. Is it just that a sin is an act and an imperfection is a disposition?

Oh well, this is off the topic of the thread, so I apologize. But I wanted to clarify that I’m not claiming I don’t need to go to confession, and if you actually read my posts you will see that I never said or implied that, therefore such responses are not helpful.

 

[Lapey]

I would add that it need not be the only opportunity but may simply be out of a desire to go.

It is important also to emphasize that as noted here the norm is that one is not to receive Holy Communion if one has mortal sin:

Catechism:

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."218 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#VI

---

And for further clarification for readers as to the possibility of some (rather on rare side I would think) exceptions where a person could receive Holy Communion after they committed a mortal sin but before confession–such only under certain very circumscribed circumstances.

As Canon Law notes it must be for a “grave reason” and “there is no opportunity to confess” and the person has the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolve to go to confession as soon as possible (Canon 916 CIC)

---

But let us return to the main topic of the thread on the confession of venial sins.

Well said Cat.

 

[Lapey]

I don’t understand why people are making it seem like I said that I don’t have to go to confession because I don’t have sins. I never said that. I do have sins and I go to confession frequently. I was merely trying to understand what confession would be like for a person (not me!) who had reached a high degree of sanctity and was not voluntarily committing sins. Maybe I don’t understand the difference between an involuntary imperfection and an involuntary sin. Is it just that a sin is an act and an imperfection is a disposition?

Oh well, this is off the topic of the thread, so I apologize. But I wanted to clarify that I’m not claiming I don’t need to go to confession, and if you actually read my posts you will see that I never said or implied that, therefore such responses are not helpful.

I went back and re-read your post, I think I took it out of context, I am sorry.

 

[Bookcat]

I don’t understand why people are making it seem like I said that I don’t have to go to confession because I don’t have sins. I never said that. I do have sins and I go to confession frequently. I was merely trying to understand what confession would be like for a person (not me!) who had reached a high degree of sanctity and was not voluntarily committing sins. Maybe I don’t understand the difference between an involuntary imperfection and an involuntary sin. Is it just that a sin is an act and an imperfection is a disposition?

Imperfections are concerning a good that one could have done but where not obliged to do but did not or doing a good with less perfection than one could. Things are less perfect. There is more to it than this and differing schools of thought …but that it the general jist. In any case -any “imperfections” that are not sins…would not be sufficient for confession.

One needs a sin to confess for a valid confession. If one has mortal sins --they must be confessed. But one needs at least a venial sin that one is sorry etc for to confess (if one has mortal one does not need to confess any venial sin). One may confess already confessed and absolved sins. One of the customs is to end every confession referring to some category of sins one is sorry for “especially sins against charity” meaning past ones too against charity (thus one could say “and all my sins especially against charity” etc)

Do not worry if you get to that degree of holiness --you will see clearly some sins

 

[Student09]

Imperfections are concerning a good that one could have done but where not obliged to do but did not or doing a good with less perfection than one could. Things are less perfect. There is more to it than this and differing schools of thought …but that it the general jist. In any case -any “imperfections” that are not sins…would not be sufficient for confession.

One needs a sin to confess for a valid confession. If one has mortal sins --they must be confessed. But one needs at least a venial sin that one is sorry etc for to confess (if one has mortal one does not need to confess any venial sin). One may confess already confessed and absolved sins. One of the customs is to end every confession referring to some category of sins one is sorry for “especially sins against charity” meaning past ones too against charity (thus one could say “and all my sins especially against charity” etc)

Do not worry if you get to that degree of holiness --you will see clearly some sins

OK. Thank you.