Confession today..

[City_Smurf]

God bless,

Well, I went to confession this morning. It was not my regular confessor, Father was a foreign priest, Italian I believe by his accent. I did not need to confess any new mortal sins (that I am aware of) but I did wish to confess three mortal sins that I genuinely forgot to list in my last confession. My wording in my last confession would cover these mortal sins… but I felt the need to list them individually. I did not try and avoid listing them in my last confession, this is simply a coincidence with my “catch-all” wording from my previous confession…

As I was confessing these sins, I got a little tongue tied. I will be honest and say it was because I could not find the words for the third. I was silent, thinking, and before I knew it, Father was counselling me on the sins I had already listed. This didn’t help unkot my tongue . I remained quiet, not wanting to interupt them, and then I was given absolution.

My problem is this: I may not be able to see a confessor tomorrow before I attend Mass. If this is the case, will I be safe in receiving the Most Holy Eucharist at Mass on Sunday, without fear of offending Our Lord?

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I think you can have confidence that you can receive communion without offending Our Lord. Those sins were already forgiven in the first confession. The second time you tried to confess them you omitted one because of the confusion, not intentionally. Just bring that one sin up next time (don’t try to re-confess everything, no need to). But have confidence in God’s mercy; you were already forgiven. I think He looks on us kindly in these situations; we’re just imperfect, confused people but He loves us anyway.

I used to look at confession as a burden because it was so difficult for me. Now I think it’s a great blessing, even when it’s so embarrassing that we get tongue tied. It’s wonderful to be able to get these things off our consciences, to know we’re in friendship with God, to get His help to resist sin, to leave the devil no hold on us. We’re so blessed to be Catholic.

 

[puzzleannie]

you have twice intentionally tried to confess these old sins and been absolved, accept the grace of the sacrament and the absolution you have received and go to communion. At no point have you deliberately withheld sins or made a bad confession. You are good to go. If you have problems with scrupulosity, which an attempt to repeatedly re-confess old sins may signal, stick with one good priest for confession who knows about this inclination and follow his advice exclusively.

 

[LilyM]

I’m not sure that this applies in the case of the original poster, but for future reference, PLEASE, be sure to bring up anything you haven’t previously mentioned in confession after absolution if necessary.

Why do people seem to think that there’s some sort of unspoken rule that you can’t or mustn’t add anything once you’ve been absolved?

Of course you can - and should, if it’s a sin you’ve forgotten!

Just say ‘I’m sorry Father, there’s something I meant to add to my confession, which is xyz …’ He won’t bite your head off, or anything, honest!

Also - it’s a good idea either to make a written list, or actually rehearse in your mind how you want to say things a few times. It’ll help prevent the tongue-tiedness.

 

[puzzleannie]

good advice, going to confession in some ways is like visiting your doctor, he can’t help you with symptoms you don’t tell him about, and just because he has already written your prescription does not mean you should leave without telling him something important.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

For future reference, PLEASE, be sure to bring up anything you haven’t previously mentioned in confession after absolution if necessary.

Why do people seem to think that there’s some sort of unspoken rule that you can’t or mustn’t add anything once you’ve been absolved?

Of course you can - and should, if it’s a sin you’ve forgotten!

Just say ‘I’m sorry Father, there’s something I meant to add to my confession, which is xyz …’ He won’t bite your head off, or anything, honest!

Good suggestion. Sometimes we just feel so foolish we don’t exactly know how to react at the time and then think, ‘oh, why didn’t I do that?’

And about the list, in the past I would have thought that was excessive. But as I get older I realize that it makes me much more relaxed in confession if I don’t worry about overlooking something I wanted to bring up. And, speaking of the doctor’s office, I’ve started to make a list for that too. Sometimes age brings wisdom (sometimes ).

 

[City_Smurf]

I thank you all for your kind replies, they have helped put my mind to ease. In a way, I think I do come down with a bad case of the scruples sometimes. But I am a bit of a perfectionist as it were… I like to keep certain things in order, know what’s what etc.

I’ll speak with my confessor about it when I next have the chance and see what advice he has to offer.

Again, thank you everyone !

 

[cathdoki]

God bless,

Well, I went to confession this morning. It was not my regular confessor, Father was a foreign priest, Italian I believe by his accent. I did not need to confess any new mortal sins (that I am aware of) but I did wish to confess three mortal sins that I genuinely forgot to list in my last confession. My wording in my last confession would cover these mortal sins… but I felt the need to list them individually. I did not try and avoid listing them in my last confession, this is simply a coincidence with my “catch-all” wording from my previous confession…

As I was confessing these sins, I got a little tongue tied. I will be honest and say it was because I could not find the words for the third. I was silent, thinking, and before I knew it, Father was counselling me on the sins I had already listed. This didn’t help unkot my tongue . I remained quiet, not wanting to interupt them, and then I was given absolution.

My problem is this: I may not be able to see a confessor tomorrow before I attend Mass. If this is the case, will I be safe in receiving the Most Holy Eucharist at Mass on Sunday, without fear of offending Our Lord?

When you receive absolution, all you sins are forgiven. The priest even mentions past sins in the prayer of absolution.

 

[Bookcat]

jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2005/04/confession_vali.html

there may something here that can be helpful in your thinking about it…

 

[cathdoki]

jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2005/04/confession_vali.html

there may something here that can be helpful in your thinking about it…

The only problem with what Mr Akin states is this,

The thing to do is simply let him proceed and mention the unconfessed sin in your next confession–or the next one where you remember it and know you are obligated to confess it, at any rate.

The sin is forgiven! Yes, you may confess it next time, but the sin is forgiven the first time.

Can you imagine going through life listing the sins you’ve forgotten, but have already been absolved of. That is NOT CC teaching.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The only problem with what Mr Akin states is this,

The thing to do is simply let him proceed and mention the unconfessed sin in your next confession–or the next one where you remember it and know you are obligated to confess it, at any rate.

The sin is forgiven! Yes, you may confess it next time, but the sin is forgiven the first time.

Can you imagine going through life listing the sins you’ve forgotten, but have already been absolved of. That is NOT CC teaching.

While the sin is forgiven, I think there may be a requirement to confess it when you remember it. I would recommend that one play it safe and mention it ones next confession.

 

[cathdoki]

While the sin is forgiven, I think there may be a requirement to confess it when you remember it. I would recommend that one play it safe and mention it ones next confession.

I don’t disagree that the sin can/should be mentioned at the next confession, but it is already forgiven and the penance for it done through the original absolution. I don’t like getting caught up in the “legality” type issues. Jesus condemned that.