Confession on vacation

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BibleReader700

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I’m in a state of mortal sin, and i was planning on going to confession next weekend. I need a general confession and the church office is closed on weekends so i can’t call to schedule one this weekend. I was going to call on monday and go next weekend, because i don’t think the priests stay for confession during the week. But i was just reminded that i am going to Florida next weekend and won’t be able to attend Mass or go to confession. I know you would still go even on vacation, but i know for a fact my parents aren’t going to interrupt their vacation for this, because they won’t interrupt their normal daily life for it. And it’s not like i can find a ride when i’m in florida. My parents probably won’t even let me walk to a church while i’m there. What really scares me is that i’m taking a plane there. And i don’t trust planes very well, especially when i’m in a state of mortal sin. But i do intend to go to confession when i get back from vacation no matter what. I’ll walk there if i have to. And the church is like 30 minutes away by car. So if i die during my vacation am i going to hell? And what should i do? Force the priest to see me during the week?
 
The Church holds the confession of sins with so much importance that lack of time may oblige priests to postpone or even to omit other activities, but never that of hearing Confessions.

That is what our PP put in a parish notice before Christmas. Phone the rectory and make an appointment. I hope you do not need to bring that obligation to the attention of the priest you approach.
 
Ok. Just another quick question. If i intend to go to confession as soon as i can, but because of my parents i am unable to, will i go to hell? I think i can persuade them to bring me but just wondering.
 
If your priest is not available, I would find another priest. Is there only one church in town?
 
TimOliv said:
If your priest is not available, I would find another priest. Is there only one church in town?
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There is two, but the other one is a military church and their pastor is in the process of retiring so there is a lot going on there, and they don’t call you back for weeks.
 
Just a thought…some of the larger airports have chapels and priests who are there on a regular basis. Some even have a regular Mass schedule. You may want to contact your home airport and see if there is a priest there. Since the security process requires everyone get to the airport so early, you may be able to meet with the priest while waiting for your flight.
 
MSJoan said:
Just a thought…some of the larger airports have chapels and priests who are there on a regular basis. Some even have a regular Mass schedule. You may want to contact your home airport and see if there is a priest there. Since the security process requires everyone get to the airport so early, you may be able to meet with the priest while waiting for your flight.
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This is a really good idea, esp. if there is a stopover or the long wait. If you’re passing through O’Hare or Midway, they do have priests there.
 
MSJoan said:
Just a thought…some of the larger airports have chapels and priests who are there on a regular basis. Some even have a regular Mass schedule. You may want to contact your home airport and see if there is a priest there. Since the security process requires everyone get to the airport so early, you may be able to meet with the priest while waiting for your flight.
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That is a good idea, except i need a general confession. I withheld a sin during my last confession purposely, and that was my first confession. So yeah. Thanks for the though though
 
And can someone enlighten me as to what is the difference between a “confession” and a “general confession”? Aren’t all sins removed in both as long as a valid confession is made?
 
Sir_Knight said:
And can someone enlighten me as to what is the difference between a “confession” and a “general confession”? Aren’t all sins removed in both as long as a valid confession is made?
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But i have no idea how many times i’ve committed any of my sins, plus i read that if you withold a sin from a confession, you must get a general confession. And i did.
 
I’m not trying to give you a hard time. I just don’t understand what the difference is between a “confession” and a “general confession”. You walk in and confess all the mortal sins that you are conscious of. If you failed to confess a particular sin in the past, you mention that you intentionally made an invalid confession and you confess all the sins from that confession as well. If you are unsure of the exact amount of times you committed a particular sin, you represent it as accurately as you can … a few times, several times, dozens of times, a very large number of times, etc.

Again, I don’t understand what the difference is between a “confession” and a “general confession”.
 
Sir_Knight said:
I’m not trying to give you a hard time. I just don’t understand what the difference is between a “confession” and a “general confession”. You walk in and confess all the mortal sins that you are conscious of. If you failed to confess a particular sin in the past, you mention that you intentionally made an invalid confession and you confess all the sins from that confession as well. If you are unsure of the exact amount of times you committed a particular sin, you represent it as accurately as you can … a few times, several times, dozens of times, a very large number of times, etc.

Again, I don’t understand what the difference is between a “confession” and a “general confession”.
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If, however, you were validly baptized years ago and are just now coming to this Sacrament for the first time, you might want to schedule an appointment with your priest to make what’s known as a “General Confession,” which includes sins of one’s entire life, since it might take a bit longer than usual (do the same if you are a returning Catholic and haven’t been to Confession for many, many years). “General Confessions” are also often made before before marriage or ordination.
-www.fisheaters.com

I don’t know if this helps. I think you would just do it so you would have more time to talk with the priest because it would take longer. Plus, you might annoy the priest if you walk into a confessional and say stuff like “i’ve had lustful thoughts a million times.” and repeat with every sin.
 
As was said above …

" … lack of time may oblige priests to postpone or even to omit OTHER activities, but NEVER that of hearing Confessions … "
 
Sir_Knight said:
As was said above …

" … lack of time may oblige priests to postpone or even to omit OTHER activities, but NEVER that of hearing Confessions … "
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Either way, i read that you must go to a general confession if you omitted a sin during your last one.
 
Just go to confession. Confess all the mortal sins that you are conscious of. Be sure to mention that you intentionally made an invalid confession by failing to confess a particular sin and mention what that sin was. Then, mention the sins from THAT previous confession. The priest will take it from there.
 
“Might” is not “must”. As Sir Knight said, if you purposely left out a sin, then go to confession at the airport or before you leave, or take a cab and go to confession on vacation.
 
Where are you going in Florida?

www.masstimes.org has confession times for many parishes.

If you are by chance going to Orlando, ask your family to skip one of the attractions, and visit Mary Queen of the Universe instead. A beautiful church they might enjoy seeing. AND confessions are available all day long, so while the rest of the family is in the rosary garden or the gift shop, you can get the sacrament.
 
A general confession is no different than a regular confession. The only difference is it may take longer and examination of conscience can take longer. When you tell a priest when your last confession was it is up to him to decided if you should scedule for a general confession.
 
BibleReader700 said:
Ok. Just another quick question. If i intend to go to confession as soon as i can, but because of my parents i am unable to, will i go to hell? I think i can persuade them to bring me but just wondering.
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When one commits a mortal sin, one is to prayerfully confess the sin to God as soon as practical. If you die prior to being able to get to confession (through no fault of your own), you may trust in God’s mercy.

The Church’s rules are to be followed and are not trivial. But they aren’t the end but the means- the means to holiness and restoring/enhancing our relationship with God.

Make all reasonable effort to get to Confession as soon as possible. With regard to a general confession that includes all your past sins (confessed and unconfessed), I don’t agree that in your situation this is required. You need to confess what you ahve done since you last confession and if one sin is that you withheld sins in your last confession, you need to confess the withheld sin and the sin of witholding.
 
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