Confession question

[Matthias123]

I have a quick confession question. I know now that I am required to confess a sin in type and number, but when I came back to the Church after having been lapsed for a few years I didn’t know this.

Now when I repented after coming back I only confessed the type and not the number. Lately I have had specific situations pop up that I resize that they were probably mortal sins. I know we are required to confess past Mortal sins, however I know they are forgiven.

Now my question is would they be covered considering I didn’t confess in number the first time due to lack of knowledge? I have almost completely defeated my scruples and I do not wish to confess things that I have already confessed because I think that would be harmful at this point.

 

[jmcrae]

Don’t re-do any previous Confessions unless your Spiritual Director specifically instructs you to do so.

 

[catharina]

You could ask your confessor if he would allow you to make a General Confession and explain WHY you hope to do so. This might be best explored in a scheduled appointment in the rectory.

 

[LtPaint]

We are suppose to say the number of times? I through we only had to do that if the confessor asked or if we knew.
As for the past mortal sins, I’ve done the same thing. They may have not been mortal sins at the time, due to lack of knowledge, but the more in depth my examination of consciences have gotten, the more I relieze I did in the past. Of course, my confessor is also my spirtual director, so I suppose it works out:shrug: .
The fact that we need to say the number every time I will defiently remember next time I do to confession.

 

[Matthias123]

You could ask your confessor if he would allow you to make a General Confession and explain WHY you hope to do so. This might be best explored in a scheduled appointment in the rectory.

I really want to stay away from that. I have heard stories of peoples with scruples that do an endless number of these confessions. I don’t want to even tempt my self down that route. However thank you for the suggestion.

I have finally realized how selfish scruples is. I am was so consumed with my own sins that I could not do the work of God. I have made excellent progress following the Ten commandments of the scrupulous and I look forward to the day that following them will not be necessary.

 

[LilyM]

We are suppose to say the number of times? I through we only had to do that if the confessor asked or if we knew.
As for the past mortal sins, I’ve done the same thing. They may have not been mortal sins at the time, due to lack of knowledge, but the more in depth my examination of consciences have gotten, the more I relieze I did in the past. Of course, my confessor is also my spirtual director, so I suppose it works out:shrug: .
The fact that we need to say the number every time I will defiently remember next time I do to confession.

It’s perfectly normal, not just for converts or reverts but cradle Catholics, to become more analytical of past behaviour as they grow in years and spiritual maturity. Doesn’t mean it needs rehashing necessarily, except for those sins you find particularly distressing or difficult to move on from.

If you don’t know the exact number of times you’ve committed a particular mortal sin you may want to give a rough estimate - ‘about x times a day/week/month’ (‘for x period of time’ if it was something you were doing for a specific period of time).

This is helpful for the priest - he may give different advice if a particular sin is a one-off event as opposed to a frequent occurence. But don’t sweat it if you forget occasionally to mention the number, it doesn’t invalidate your confession.

One benefit of frequent (weekly or every two weeks) confession is that you tend neither to forget your sins nor how many times you’ve committed them!

 

[catharina]

I really want to stay away from that. I have heard stories of peoples with scruples that do an endless number of these confessions. I don’t want to even tempt my self down that route. However thank you for the suggestion.

I have finally realized how selfish scruples is. I am was so consumed with my own sins that I could not do the work of God. I have made excellent progress following the Ten commandments of the scrupulous and I look forward to the day that following them will not be necessary.

Quite fine by me. I do hope that your regular confessor is aware of the fact that you have a history of suffering from scruples…

 

[Yerusalyim]

Don’t re-do any previous Confessions unless your Spiritual Director specifically instructs you to do so.

I concur whole heartedly. Your confession was valid unless you KNOWINGLY and INTENTIONALLY withheld something.

 

[LtPaint]

It’s perfectly normal, not just for converts or reverts but cradle Catholics, to become more analytical of past behaviour as they grow in years and spiritual maturity. Doesn’t mean it needs rehashing necessarily, except for those sins you find particularly distressing or difficult to move on from.

If you don’t know the exact number of times you’ve committed a particular mortal sin you may want to give a rough estimate - ‘about x times a day/week/month’ (‘for x period of time’ if it was something you were doing for a specific period of time).

This is helpful for the priest - he may give different advice if a particular sin is a one-off event as opposed to a frequent occurence. But don’t sweat it if you forget occasionally to mention the number, it doesn’t invalidate your confession.

One benefit of frequent (weekly or every two weeks) confession is that you tend neither to forget your sins nor how many times you’ve committed them!

Actually, I do go to weekly confession, so I usually don’t forget my sins. I was just unaware we need to give specific number for mortal sins. The main reason I would not think of giving a number is as soon as I commit a mortal sin, which as far as I know is defiently not a weekly occurance, I get to the confessional and confess it. Would it really be necessary to give a number if the sin is not committed more then once? I suppose it would help the confessor.

 

[catharina]

Actually, I do go to weekly confession, so I usually don’t forget my sins. I was just unaware we need to give specific number for mortal sins. The main reason I would not think of giving a number is as soon as I commit a mortal sin, which as far as I know is defiently not a weekly occurance, I get to the confessional and confess it. Would it really be necessary to give a number if the sin is not committed more then once? I suppose it would help the confessor.

What helps the confessor a great deal is the knowledge that a penitent suffers from scruples. The confessor has a need to know!

 

[Texas_Roofer]

You could ask your confessor if he would allow you to make a General Confession and explain WHY you hope to do so. This might be best explored in a scheduled appointment in the rectory.

I really want to stay away from that. I have heard stories of peoples with scruples that do an endless number of these confessions. I don’t want to even tempt my self down that route. However thank you for the suggestion.

I have finally realized how selfish scruples is. I am was so consumed with my own sins that I could not do the work of God. I have made excellent progress following the Ten commandments of the scrupulous and I look forward to the day that following them will not be necessary.

I concur whole heartedly. Your confession was valid unless you KNOWINGLY and INTENTIONALLY withheld something.

Most of us lack both the memory skills and the degree of discernment needed to accurately assess our true number of sins. We deal with this through saying “ for these sins and all sins I do not recall I ask God for forgiveness’” I find Priest will usually specifically ask you not to readdress times before past confessions. My understanding is you are to confession and go forward.