Confession question

[Katie1723]

Someone told me that it is ok to confess sins that you had in the past. If you were already forgiven for it,is it necessary? I think if it makes you feel better you should, but suppose it was a mortal sin such as adultery, wouldn’t it be embarrasing ? And along the same line, if a person confesses to a sin and the priest knows you are still sinning, can he refuse communion? These questions came up at a round table discussion at work and it was left to me to get answers. Your help is deeply appreciated.
** Kathy**

 

[ktm]

Someone told me that it is ok to confess sins that you had in the past. If you were already forgiven for it,is it necessary? I think if it makes you feel better you should, but suppose it was a mortal sin such as adultery, wouldn’t it be embarrasing ? And along the same line, if a person confesses to a sin and the priest knows you are still sinning, can he refuse communion? These questions came up at a round table discussion at work and it was left to me to get answers. Your help is deeply appreciated.
** Kathy**

Once you have received absolution for a sin, there is no need to confess it again. If it will help you grow spiritually, then you could do it, but if you suffer from scruples then you absolutely must not do it.

The priest can refuse you **absolution ** if it is clear you are not contrite for your sins and/or it is clear you are not trying to refrain from committing grave sin. As for refusing communion, if you have received absolution and are in a state of grave, I don’t see how you could be refused communion.

 

[JimG]

A priest could not refuse communion based solely on something he heard in the sacrament of confession, as that would violate the seal of the confessional.

There’s really no need to confess past sins that have already been forgiven in confession.

 

[preyoflove]

Does the sacrament of reconciliation alone restores the state of sanctifying grace to a Catholic in a state of mortal sin? Say a Catholic commits a mortal sin or sins and, of course, lose the state of sanctifying grace, but is truly sorry for the sin or sins and intends to go to confession, when is the state of sanctifying grace restored in him, when the priest finallcy pronounces absolution? What about those who make an act of perfect contrition and receives the Eucharist before intending to go to confession ASAP, for a valid reason, of course? Is the state of sanctifying grace restored when they make the act of perfect contrition or only after having gone through confession?

Thank you already and God bless.

 

[dcmac]

A priest can not withhold Holy Communion solely due to something he heard in the confessional.

However, if it was something that was mentioned, but was not confessed penitentially and it was public knowledge then a priest could refuse if it was something that would give rise to scandal, but it would have to be blatantly obvious.

You need not confess a sin again. This is a “red flag” for scrupulosity.

 

[Brendan]

One item of note:

While it is true that you are absolved of all sin at absolution, if you forgot to mention a mortal sin, do so at your next confession.

You have been forgiven of the sin, but part of the Sacrament is seeking guidance on overcoming sin. Mentioning a forgotten sin in confession gives the priest an oppurtunity to offer advice on how one may overcome similar sin in the future as well as guide on repairing the temporal effects of sin.

 

[preyoflove]

Still related to confession, can anyone please clarify me further about this reply from an official CA apologist to a forum member?

“As for the penitent, he may feel the need to confess outside of the confessional in order to make amends for his wrongdoing; and such confession may or may not be prudentially sound. However, he is under no requirement to do so and must realize that whatever he confesses outside of the sacrament of penance is not protected by the sacramental seal.”

When is confessing your sins after confessing all of it in the confessional prudentially sound or unsound? Can you direct me to any online material that discusses this?

Also, what does it exactly mean when we are “under no requirement” to confess our sins after confessing it all to the confessional? Does this really mean that we are absolved of our sins even though we chose not to confess the sins we confessed in the confessional to the very person or persons we have wronged with such a sin or sins?

Thank you already and God bless.

 

[Barbara_J]

It isn’t simply confessing that brings forgiveness. One must be truly sorry for having offended God; that’s the crux of the matter. Since we are all human and God is all-perfect, why would anyone need to confess sins of the past? Those of the present are a-plenty. If it was a mortal sin, and you had repented and confessed, your soul has been wiped clean by the Blood of the Savior. Embarrassed? Is that not part of human thinking? I suppose a priest could refuse you, but I doubt that he would. Putting your soul in jeopardy by receiving the sacrament unworthily is between you and God, and that is what you are doing by deliberately continuing to sin before God and parading as though innocent before man. Barbara J.

Someone told me that it is ok to confess sins that you had in the past. If you were already forgiven for it,is it necessary? I think if it makes you feel better you should, but suppose it was a mortal sin such as adultery, wouldn’t it be embarrasing ? And along the same line, if a person confesses to a sin and the priest knows you are still sinning, can he refuse communion? These questions came up at a round table discussion at work and it was left to me to get answers. Your help is deeply appreciated.
Kathy

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

Some like to end their confession by saying " And all the sins of my past life." Sometimes they may add “Especially against the _ Commandment.” There is nothing wrong with this.

May God bless you.
Deacon Tony SFO