Confession question

[BT88]

Today I went to confession and just missed the priest as when I got there. They always have confession after the morning mass and was trying to do confession. I know that you should ask forgiveness in a church so since I was there and I intended to go to confession, I went ahead and prayed and confessed my sins to the Lord that way. My question is - does this ‘qualify’ (for lack of a better term) as a sincere confession AND can I now receive the eucharist (as I haven’t been to confession in about two years and realized that I should probably go to confession before receiving the eucharist again.)

Thanks for any help that anyone can offer

 

[dylanschrader]

If you have any unconfessed grave sins, then you must go to confession. In any case, it is very strongly encouraged.

From The Code of Canon Law:

Can. 960 Individual and integral confession and absolution constitute the only ordinary means by which a member of the faithful conscious of grave sin is reconciled with God and the Church. Only physical or moral impossibility excuses from confession of this type; in such a case reconciliation can be obtained by other means.

If you have any unconfessed grave sins, you may not receive the Eucharist.

From The Code of Canon Law:

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Since you haven’t been to confession in a while, perhaps it would be good to make an appointment for the sacrament. Then you know you won’t feel rushed because someone else is waiting in line. I’ve found that priests are always willing to make an appointment outside the normal confession times.