Confession Question

[Texas_Catholic_1]

I went to confession on Monday and I have a problem with scruples. I had been worrying all day about it because I had thought about some things that had happened years ago and wasn’t sure if I had needed to confess them. I have been to confession since these things had been done. So I went to confession with my list all ready like I usually do and prayed that God would help me say everything that I needed to say. The priest didn’t let me get through my whole list and was suddenly giving me absolution. I didn’t know if I should say hey wait, I have these old things I am worried about so I took it to mean that God didn’t think I needed to say everything. The priest told me for my penance that I needed to do 5 nice things for other people. It’s now Thursday, oops Friday and I still haven’t finished my penance since I want to do extra nice things (like washing a car or something) for people but I am trying. So my questions are: 1) Am I still forgiven for everthing if I intended to say everything and didn’t get a chance to 2) If I have to go to confession again, do I have to go to the next available or would next week be ok and 3) If forgiven, is it ok to go to communion before completing a penance if you are intending to do the penance
Thanks for any replies!

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I went to confession on Monday and I have a problem with scruples. I had been worrying all day about it because I had thought about some things that had happened years ago and wasn’t sure if I had needed to confess them. I have been to confession since these things had been done. So I went to confession with my list all ready like I usually do and prayed that God would help me say everything that I needed to say. The priest didn’t let me get through my whole list and was suddenly giving me absolution. I didn’t know if I should say hey wait, I have these old things I am worried about so I took it to mean that God didn’t think I needed to say everything. The priest told me for my penance that I needed to do 5 nice things for other people. It’s now Thursday, oops Friday and I still haven’t finished my penance since I want to do extra nice things (like washing a car or something) for people but I am trying. So my questions are: 1) Am I still forgiven for everthing if I intended to say everything and didn’t get a chance to 2) If I have to go to confession again, do I have to go to the next available or would next week be ok and 3) If forgiven, is it ok to go to communion before completing a penance if you are intending to do the penance
Thanks for any replies!

In my opinion, you didn’t deliberately omit anything, you received absolution, you are forgiven everything. If there were mortal sins you didn’t get to confess, bring them up next week. But be assured they were already forgiven. You don’t have to complete your penance before receiving communion. You could have left the confessional and gone to communion right away even! It is enough that you intend to do the penance and are working on it. May you have a blessed Triduum.

 

[Texas_Catholic_1]

Thank you Claire! I was worried because I had already gone to communion at daily mass and then the doubts really hit me last night and I was afraid to go anymore. It’s been a great Holy Week for me and I was scared I was going to ruin it by worrying all through the Triduum or trying to confession again today. If I give a doubt an inch, it takes a mile. God’s peace be with you and I pray you have blessed Triduum also.