Confession

[RuthByzCat3]

Hey guys, could you read this scenario? I know that the choice of murder was a bad one because it is so obviously a sin, but you get my point.

Me: “I murdered people, both before and after I knew it was a sin, which was about three months ago.”
Father grants absolution.

Several months intervene. I commit more murders. I eventually go to Confession. At this Confession, I confess in the following way: "In between (x) and , I murdered habitually (I confess this several more times, with slightly varying numbers, depending on what I think is accurate, to make sure the number is correct). Then, around a year from the time I was cured of my habit of murder:

Me: “Oh no! I didn’t number the murders correctly at the first Confession, and now that I think about it, I knew murder was a sin a year beforehand!”

Now that I think about it, I may have confessed the murders from my whole life to the priest, but I am unsure.

I hope this wasn’t too confusing, and I beg you to analyze it and tell me what needs to be done. I can provide extra information if that helps. Thanks!

 

[I_R]

i honestly do not get what your trying to say. but i hope its not another ridiculous “video games promote violence” deal. is it?

 

[RuthByzCat3]

No, murder is just any random mortal sin, the same way that “x” represents any random number in math.

 

[I_R]

so, why did you have “video games” in the title before?

 

[RuthByzCat3]

Because I had meant to ask the Super Smash Bros. question (which you already answered) in this thread as well. However, I did not get around to it and frankly, they were so unrelated that it’s probably a good thing I didn’t.

 

[stephe1987]

Confession absolves you of all your sins unless you deliberately withold something. If you forgot to mention something, or mis-remembered the number of times you sinned, that does not change that. You can confess those sins you forgot at your next Confession if it makes you feel better, but you are not required to do so.

Also, video game murders are not real murders. It’s a game, although if it is giving you feelings or visions of violence you need to stop playing said game.

 

[Bookcat]

Confession absolves you of all your sins unless you deliberately withold something. If you forgot to mention something, or mis-remembered the number of times you sinned, that does not change that. You can confess those sins you forgot at your next Confession if it makes you feel better, but you are not required to do so.

.

Actually one is obligated to confess the forgotten mortal sins in the next confession (if he remembers them of course ). If the person remembered he committed more of the mortal sins…like he remembers he murdered 10 persons instead of 2…he would confess that as well in the next confession after he remembers.

And one should add too that those with scruples should not scruple in this area…but seek their regular confessor who knows them.

Of course only reasonable efforts are required to determine number. And there are times when one simply does not know and gives an approx. number as he can…(telling the Priest so) With many sins, especially mental ones, attempting too strict a number could be very hard and could even lead to further sin…it all depends…