Confession

[joannp]

I am a devout Catholic and receive the sacraments regularly. However, one of our priests told us yesterday that in confession you must confess the number of times you committed each sin you confess. I will admit I learned this in grade school, but throughout the years, no priest ever enforced the rule and it went by the wayside.

Do I need to reconfess the important sins again, or just go forward the correct way from here? Help.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
Do I need to reconfess the important sins again, or just go forward the correct way from here? Help.

no you do not have to reconfess any sins for which you have received absolution. Had any of those priests needed more information they would have asked for it. you merely work, as we all do, on making our confessions more sincere, more honest, and more accurate.

 

[joannp]

Thanks so much for your reply. I just wondered because Father said that each time you commit the sin, it carries individual guilt. So was I absolved for one time only, or was it blanket coverage, so to speak/

 

[Joannm]

Thanks so much for your reply. I just wondered because Father said that each time you commit the sin, it carries individual guilt. So was I absolved for one time only, or was it blanket coverage, so to speak/

I have never heard that. I think the number of times is so that the priest will know if it is habitual sin or just something that happened once or twice. I harldy ever say how many times and the preist doesn’t ask.

 

[jj_nycguy]

I have never heard that. I think the number of times is so that the priest will know if it is habitual sin or just something that happened once or twice. I harldy ever say how many times and the preist doesn’t ask.

I was taught that you must confess in kind and number, which helps the priest to understand the gravity of the sin and if it is habitual. If you didn’t know this, then you are fine. If you intentionally leave it out because of embarrassment, than your confession is not valid and you have committed a sacrilege.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I am a devout Catholic and receive the sacraments regularly. However, one of our priests told us yesterday that in confession you must confess the number of times you committed each sin you confess. I will admit I learned this in grade school, but throughout the years, no priest ever enforced the rule and it went by the wayside.

Do I need to reconfess the important sins again, or just go forward the correct way from here? Help.

Yes, we are asked to confess the number although no priest expects us to remember the number of times we committed a sin. But being concious about it and keeping count does help the healing process in a way that we become more aware when we sin, so we can address the occassions that lead to sin and avoid it completely.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think the requirement is to confess all mortal sins in kind and number. My pastor told our RCIA class if you don’t know the number tell the priest how often, e.g. once a month, ten times a day, etc. He is not looking for a number perfect account; just an idea of how ingrained it is.

It is not necessary to confess all venial sins. Pick one or two that are habitual and that you really repent of and want to do better. I got this from Sister Ann Shields. She told of once, after confessing her usual grocery list of venial sins, the priest refused her absolution. He instructed her to go back to the convent, find one or two sins she was really sorry for, and come confess those next week. That made sense to me, and I think it makes a more meaningful confession.

 

[Joannm]

I think the requirement is to confess all mortal sins in kind and number. My pastor told our RCIA class if you don’t know the number tell the priest how often, e.g. once a month, ten times a day, etc. He is not looking for a number perfect account; just an idea of how ingrained it is.

It is not necessary to confess all venial sins. Pick one or two that are habitual and that you really repent of and want to do better. I got this from Sister Ann Shields. She told of once, after confessing her usual grocery list of venial sins, the priest refused her absolution. He instructed her to go back to the convent, find one or two sins she was really sorry for, and come confess those next week. That made sense to me, and I think it makes a more meaningful confession.

You are right. It is to confess the number of mortal sins, but you don’t have to give the number of venial sins.

 

[joannpesino]

Hi everyone, and thank you all for your responses.

I emailed a dear and orthodox priest at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. He said it is the priest’s responsibility to be sure we follow the correct format for confession. He said my confessed sins are forgiven, but from now on it is my responsibility to follow the correct format for confession. He also asked that I pray for the priests who did not remind me to confess the number of times the sin was committed.

So, we must confess, to the best of our knowledge and recollection, the number of times we committed the serious sins.

Of course, anything we INTENTIONALLY hold back on in confession, whether a sin, or the number of times we committed it, would block the sacrament from being efficacious.

I love our Roman Catholic faith. The Church is such a good mother to us. And thank God for our beautiful priests who speak the truth to us. Let us keep them in prayer.

Thank you all for your help. May God bless you.