Confession with no regret?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AeonFlux
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AeonFlux

Guest
If one is in mortal sin, and confesses without regret for what they’ve done, maybe even feels sort of resentful about the fact that the church is against it, is it valid? If that’s all they can muster? Or must they continue in mortal sin until they’ve somehow managed to change their position on the subject?
 
If you are asking for real reasons, you need to talk to a priest.

If you are asking a hypothetical, then one has to have at least imperfect contrition. That is, one must have at least some desire to turn away from the sin itself, even if only to escape the punishment for it. If they don’t even have that, then it’s not about God forcing them to stay in mortal sin, it is that they are still in mortal sin and aren’t trying to get out of it.

Also, if you are asking out of interest rather than worry, please say so.
 
Last edited:
AeonFlux said:
If one is in mortal sin, and confesses without regret for what they’ve done, maybe even feels sort of resentful about the fact that the church is against it, is it valid? If that’s all they can muster? Or must they continue in mortal sin until they’ve somehow managed to change their position on the subject?
Click to expand...
A person must have hatred of sin at least, plus a firm resolve to avoid the near and voluntary occasion of mortal sin, in order to be absolved. That includes each and every mortal sin ever done by the person.

Baltimore Catechism
Q. 767. What is imperfect contrition?
A. Imperfect contrition is that by which we hate what offends God because by it we lose heaven and deserve hell; or because sin is so hateful in itself.
Q. 769. Is imperfect contrition sufficient for a worthy confession?
A. Imperfect contrition is sufficient for a worthy confession, but we should endeavor to have perfect contrition.
Click to expand...
 
Just the act of going to confession at least shows something.
 
Surely it’s better to confess anyway. If you choose to leave it out and know it’s a sin, your confession is invalid anyway and you’ve sinned further. The OP clearly knows its a sin whatever it is, they are just experiencing attachment to sin as we all do. You can confess it again in the future when you are truly sorry. You could also add ‘I’m not feeling sorry for this but I know the church says it’s wrong so I’m leaving it with God’
 
AeonFlux said:
If one is in mortal sin, and confesses without regret for what they’ve done, maybe even feels sort of resentful about the fact that the church is against it, is it valid? If that’s all they can muster? Or must they continue in mortal sin until they’ve somehow managed to change their position on the subject?
Click to expand...
We are not required to regret our sin. We are required to be contrite, repentant. You can regret your sin without being contrite. And that is not good enough. Repentance means a hatred for sin and a resolve to not commit it again.

Further, feeling has nothing to do with it. Contrition is an act of the will, not just of the emotions. You can be truly contrite, or even just imperfectly so, without “feeling guilty” or “feeling remorseful.”

“I will go up and return to my Father” is what God wants from you. Not regret.
 
Last edited:
If someone is so concerned about the consequences of leaving it out, they likely are concerned enough about the consequences for imperfect contrition.
 
I thought you could have imperfect contrition to make a worthy confession ? I must add that every priest I’ve ever spoken to on the matter has suggested we over complicate confession. All we need to do is desire to be reconciled with God and resolve to turn away from what we know to be wrong.
 
halogirl said:
I thought you could have imperfect contrition to make a worthy confession ? I must add that every priest I’ve ever spoken to on the matter has suggested we over complicate confession. All we need to do is desire to be reconciled with God and resolve to turn away from what we know to be wrong.
Click to expand...
You are correct. Imperfect contrition is sufficient to dispose one to make a worthy confession.
 
AeonFlux said:
If one is in mortal sin, and confesses without regret for what they’ve done, maybe even feels sort of resentful about the fact that the church is against it, is it valid? If that’s all they can muster? Or must they continue in mortal sin until they’ve somehow managed to change their position on the subject?
Click to expand...
Regret and resentment are feelings. Feeling sorry for one’s sins, while admirable and the emotion that one should have, is not absolutely essential for those sins to be forgiven. It is enough to recognize that your sin is evil, to accept the teaching of the Church that it is evil, to admit that you did it and you shouldn’t have, and to resolve not to do it anymore.

There are some sins that, at various points in one’s life, would make life easier to commit them, and refraining from them makes life harder. To feel towards God and the Church “why did you have to forbid this? — my life is pretty rough because I can’t do this” and to be hurt and irritated about it, is only human and not necessarily sinful. Of course, the mindset worthy of a Catholic should be “yes, my life is more difficult because I can’t commit this sin, and I joyfully embrace the difficulty, because it is the cost of discipleship and I desire nothing more than to be perfectly conformed to Your will, O Lord”.
 
Short answer: No.

Lacking contrition, lacking a firm intention of amending your life, the confession is almost certainly not valid.

Rather, pray for understanding, as it is not the “Church” that is against things, it is God! Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Think of it like that.
 
You don’t have to have a feeling of regret; you just have to have the idea that this is wrong and you want to stop… because you are afraid of Hell (or other consequences), or because you do not want to hurt God, Who has done so much for you.

Those are the two ends of the spectrum; most of us fall somewhere along that spectrum.

Even if you feel some resentment that something is a sin-- that you are required to stop doing it-- if you do stop, your resentment will turn to joy!

Sin makes us feel dirty and enslaves us. Turning away from sin makes us feel clean and free! But sometimes we have to work through the attachment part of us has in order to feel that freedom.

As long as you will (decide) to turn away from the sin, to reach for something better, your absolution will be valid.
 
So there’s no point in going to confession when you know you’re not prepared to change. Thanks all
 
Don’t thank me. That part wasn’t the advice. The advice was talk to priest if it is a serious issue.
 
AeonFlux said:
If one is in mortal sin, and confesses without regret for what they’ve done, maybe even feels sort of resentful about the fact that the church is against it, is it valid? If that’s all they can muster? Or must they continue in mortal sin until they’ve somehow managed to change their position on the subject?
Click to expand...
Firstly, please, please speak to your priest…

Secondly, if you’re doing this and taking communion?

1 Corinthians 11:29

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.
 
Last edited:
If you recognize the Church’s teaching and wish to be faithful to it even if you don’t understand it and/or are tempted to disagree, then you are fine. If you aren’t sorry for your sins, then you wouldn’t be absolved. Next time you go to Confession, talk to the Confessor honestly about your feeligns and questions. That is really the best way to get good answers. In the meantime, pray for God’s guidance.
God bless.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top