Confession and the daughters of sin

[Searching1]

The seven deadly sins have “sub sins” – the daughters of sin.

For instance, Envy includes hatred, tale-bearing, detraction, joy at our neighbor’s misfortune, grief at others’ prosperity.

If I am guilty of three instances of detraction, one instance of tale-bearing, and one instance of grieving my neighbor’s prosperity, and I simply confess five instances of Envy (the sum total of the sub sins), is this sufficient? Or do I need to name the actual sub sin of Envy?

 

[ProdglArchitect]

For a valid confession, you have to confess number and kind. Generally, unless instructed otherwise by your confessor, that would mean you need to confess the sub-species.

For example, I struggle with sins of lust. It isn’t valid for me to say “I committed three sins of lust.” I have to name and number the specific sins. i.e., I viewed pornography twice, I had lustful thoughts about a woman once, etc.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you just describe to the priest what you actually did and don’t try to put it in a category, it would work better.

Example: “I was envious of my neighbor’s vacation and so I told my friends he probably couldn’t afford it and I heard he stole money from his employer”.

 

[OurLadyofSorrows]

If I am guilty of three instances of detraction, one instance of tale-bearing, and one instance of grieving my neighbor’s prosperity, and I simply confess five instances of Envy (the sum total of the sub sins), is this sufficient? Or do I need to name the actual sub sin of Envy?

Just ask your Priest in Confession, just say this. Let him guide you.

 

[Canvas]

Just say “I committed sin X 3 times, sin Y once and sin Z several times…not quite sure how many times. I am sorry for these and all of my sins…”