Confession and Sin

[Laud_God]

If you go into confession and confess everything you can remember you have done, and the priest absolves you of your sins, but you remember a sin the next day that you forgot, are you still forgiven of that sin?

 

[Mijoy2]

Absolutely. If it was genuinely forgotten. Although it should still be confessed on the next occasion. It may also prove prudent to request forgiveness for forgotten or unrecognzed sin while in the confessional.

Intent is what is important, not form or performance.

 

[JCPhoenix]

I actually asked this question in confession once!

The priest emphasized that when they absolve in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of ALL our sins, it is forgivenes of ALL sin up until that point.

You are still forgiven sins that you forgot to mention as long as they were not purposefully concealed. If you leave and remember a sin, bring it up next time if it is a serious (mortal) sin especially.

It is also considered to be a good and pios act to confess veniel sins and does aid in the recognition of sin going forward, habits, etc.

I think a good rule of thumb is to remember that although the priest to whom you are confessing may not remember you, or may not even see you if you’re behind a screen, God is well aware of what you have done and if your conscience is bothering you, or your understanding that something is wrong is weighing on your mind…GO! You are not confessing to a priest, but to Jesus he really wants nothing more than to forgive his prodigal son or daughter.

 

[Laud_God]

Mijoy2:

Although it should still be confessed on the next occasion.

Is this required?

 

[mercygate]

Laud_God:

Is this required?

Think about it: When you remember something that is serious, and you are contrite because of your love of God and his mercy to you, wouldn’t you be eager to confess it? If it is a mortal sin, it must be confessed.

 

[Mijoy2]

Laud_God:

Is this required?

Laud_God,

I think the idea is more that you would want to get this off your chest in the sacrament of reconciliation then whether or not it required.

I believe that if you are contrite (truly sorry for the sin that was commited) then there are no real requirements beyond confessing.

I mentioned, in the confessional, that to truly attempt to confess all my sins (it was my first confession in 30+ years) I’d have to write a book bigger then St. Augustines. The Priest (when he was done chuckling) assured me he could sense my contritness and that writing such a book (or spending hours int he confessional) was unneccasary and that a more broad confession was just fine.

Since that day I have literally thought of hunderds of sins I have committed over those years that most people would probably run to confession over. Yet I do not feel I have to confess these sins specifically anymore. I feel they have been absolved already.

This is all based on my experiences with a number of priests. They have all assured me of this. I accept thier wisdom on this.

Confession, after the initial tears, should make us feel wonderful having come back to sanctifying grace with God. It should not be a legalistic concern. In my opinion. Go to confession and leave feeling cleansed!

My only suggestion would be to not deliberately leave out a sin you feel is particularily grevious.