confession question

[Niji]

I havent been to confession for 8 or 9 years and only have been once. I hear you have to stat the number of times you committed a particular sin. Well I have a mortal sin to confess and ive done it so many times over those years i lost count. So what do I say if i dont know the number or if its in the three digits?
The last time ive committed this sin it was the first time I was fully aware that it was a mortal sin against god but i did it anyway. I havent committed that act since and Im trying to keep it that way.

-thanks

 

[Trishie]

Hi, Niji tell the priest just what you have told us. He will understand that you cannot be sure how many times. Tell him also regarding you new understanding of the gravity of the sin when you last committed it.
God’s kindest blessings to you

To commit a mortal sin you must knowingly and willingly consent to something which you know and believe to be a mortal sin… I’ve not time to give you the official references but that is the Church’s position… God be with you.

 

[LilyM]

If you can give some sort of indication of numbering, do so.

For example “about once a week between the ages of five and fifteen”, “about half a dozen times a day for three months” “two or three times a year for as long as I can remember”

If you truly and honestly cannot even begin to approximate in this way then don’t worry, but simply confess the sin and say you’ve done it so often you literally have no way of knowing how many times.

 

[JRKH]

Hi, Niji tell the priest just what you have told us. He will understand that you cannot be sure how many times. Tell him also regarding you new understanding of the gravity of the sin when you last committed it.
God’s kindest blessings to you

To commit a mortal sin you must knowingly and willingly consent to something which you know and believe to be a mortal sin… I’ve not time to give you the official references but that is the Church’s position… God be with you.

 

[catholictiger]

I havent been to confession for 8 or 9 years and only have been once. I hear you have to stat the number of times you committed a particular sin. Well I have a mortal sin to confess and ive done it so many times over those years i lost count. So what do I say if i dont know the number or if its in the three digits?
The last time ive committed this sin it was the first time I was fully aware that it was a mortal sin against god but i did it anyway. I havent committed that act since and Im trying to keep it that way.

-thanks

Along as you make a sincere confession and open yourself up to the sacrament you will receive the grace of the sacrament. There are very few requirements for confession I suspect there are many people who tell the priest I haven’t been to confession in years and I have no idea how to confess In this situation a priest will walk you step by step through the confession.

 

[Bookcat]

I havent been to confession for 8 or 9 years and only have been once. I hear you have to stat the number of times you committed a particular sin. Well I have a mortal sin to confess and ive done it so many times over those years i lost count. So what do I say if i dont know the number or if its in the three digits?
The last time ive committed this sin it was the first time I was fully aware that it was a mortal sin against god but i did it anyway. I havent committed that act since and Im trying to keep it that way.

-thanks

Yes we are obliged to confess mortal sins in number and kind (and circumstance that change the sin…like it was your brother you murdered). (and if we forget to do so…one is to say it in the next confession)

And it is to be specific …not in general for mortal sins…(one should not just say “the 10th commandment” etc

So…adultery 3x, murder 12x, lustful thoughts 6x etc

As to the number…well if you do not know the number…one does what one can…one approximates.

If one can say “around 5-6 times a month for the last 8 years” then one can say that…or if it was around 5-8 times…one says that…or at least 10 if not more…one says that…or if one just does not know…but knows it was many times …then one says that…

Also in the case where one is not sure that one actually committed mortal sins …like one really did not know it was serious etc…one says so if one confesses it.

Let us live in Christ…in him and thus in his Sacraments…is true life

 

[Niji]

Alright thanks for your replies! Ive been thinking alot about what sins ive committed these past years to tell the priest, namely the mortal kind. I want it to be perfect so im nervous about going and messing up. I want to do it at my church in my hometown so i gatta wait about a month to do so. After that I plan on going at least once or twice every month.

 

[catholictiger]

Alright thanks for your replies! Ive been thinking alot about what sins ive committed these past years to tell the priest, namely the mortal kind. I want it to be perfect so im nervous about going and messing up. I want to do it at my church in my hometown so i gatta wait about a month to do so. After that I plan on going at least once or twice every month.

there is no reason to worry, a priest would walk you through every process.

I could see confession going like this

Hello Father, its been 30 years sense I have last been to confession and I have completely forgotten how to confess

that’s ok I will help you through every step of the process.

lets begin with the sign of the cross.

now what is your state in life are you single married or some other

I’m married.

ok now what sins do you want to confess

you go through that process, and maybe the priest will even do a question answer type thing. He may ask have you always attended sunday mass? Have you been late on purpose, have you always been faithful to your husband. And other things like that.

then he may even walk you through the act of contrition or there will be cards in the room and he will say here say this act of contrition.

then he will give you absolution and your penance and you will be done.

Priest will always help you through confession so no need to worry.

 

[Niji]

Ok here is another question. I said I wanted to wait till I got back to my hometowns church to confess. Even though theres a church 100 yards away from me right now with confessionals going on nearly every day, if i were to die before I got home to confess would I go to hell if I was in a state of mortal sin? Even if I was absolutely 100% positively sure I was going to confess as soon as i returned home? I have a bit of an attachment to this church since ive been going to it ever since I was little and I thought it would be great to start my confession some where familiar.

 

[JRKH]

Ok here is another question. I said I wanted to wait till I got back to my hometowns church to confess. Even though there’s a church 100 yards away from me right now with confessionals going on nearly every day, if i were to die before I got home to confess would I go to hell if I was in a state of mortal sin? Even if I was absolutely 100% positively sure I was going to confess as soon as i returned home? I have a bit of an attachment to this church since ive been going to it ever since I was little and I thought it would be great to start my confession some where familiar.

While I can understand your attachment to your hometown church, I cannot, in good conscience, say that it is OK to wait. Since you know that you are in a state of mortal sin, you need to get to confession at the first reasonable opportunity.

None can say what your fate would be should you decide to wait. That is between you and God and Gods mercy and Justice.
BUT - - -
Since you know you committed a mortal sin, and since you know there is an opportunity to go to confession today at a church nearby, perfect contrition demands that you hurry to confession ASAP.
Then - when you return to your hometown, get into the habit of regular confession.

Peace
James