Confession

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mitabrev

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Hi friends,

I’ve an interesting question that I hope someone can help me with:
I went to my local church today to have my confession heard - it’s holy week and I want to turn my life back to Christ after 4 years of a loss of faith.
I have some mortal sins that are really bothering me and a good confession would greatly help my relationship with God.
When I arrived in the church, for some reason, the confession box was empty.
I’m not sure why it was empty, as written on the door was a schedule saying times etc and it was due to take place.
I kneeled in the pew and said an act of contrition, resolving, with Gods help not to sin again and to go to confession as soon as possible.
My question is: if I died tonight, what would happen to my soul?
Might seem like a silly question, but I’m genuinely interested to know.
Many thanks.
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I think it is very important to complete the sacrament of reconciliation by confessing your sins and I think your plan is very sincere. I hope you can find a Priest to absolve you soon. Most important though is that the Lord Jesus is a loving and forgiving God and I have no doubt that the Lord would take you home. That is my opinion anyway.
 
Are you sure the priest wasn’t in another confessional? 😉 I’ve done that (once) and now I always check the other one on the opposite side of the Church. Concerning your question, though, my understanding of Church teaching is that if you truly desired to attend confession and were unable to, and died before the opportunity was available, then your intentions to obtain forgiveness and reconciliation would triumph over your mortal sins, similar in the way RCIA candidates would be. However, since it is a new day, have you had the opportunity to go to Confession since?

I also want to stress two things. One, never bank on this. Until you confess, even if you tried, you still cannot receive Holy Eucharist, and while you are living, you still carry the weight of mortal sin. Second, God’s mery and love are infinite - no one knows who God may spare, not of their own merits, but out of His Love. Therefore, I don’t think anyone really knows except God. But, play it safe - attend confession! Perhaps you can try calling the office or rectory earlier on and make sure the times are correct.
 
this is a tough week. You’d think it’d be easy but many parishes have larger penance services the previous week…in our diocese the Chrism mass is tomorrow…most priests will be there… daily masses seem to be fewer.
 
mitabrev said:
Hi friends,

I’ve an interesting question that I hope someone can help me with:
I went to my local church today to have my confession heard - it’s holy week and I want to turn my life back to Christ after 4 years of a loss of faith.
I have some mortal sins that are really bothering me and a good confession would greatly help my relationship with God.
When I arrived in the church, for some reason, the confession box was empty.
I’m not sure why it was empty, as written on the door was a schedule saying times etc and it was due to take place.
I kneeled in the pew and said an act of contrition, resolving, with Gods help not to sin again and to go to confession as soon as possible.
My question is: if I died tonight, what would happen to my soul?
Might seem like a silly question, but I’m genuinely interested to know.
Many thanks.
+
Click to expand...
If you die tonight, before you have a chance to go to confession again, you’re forgiven. However, since you have reasonable access to the sacrament, you must make every effort to go again at your earliest opportunity. For instance, I wouldn’t wait another 4 years, thinking you’re good to go. I would suggest calling the rectory and making an appointment with a priest for confession as soon as possible. Tell them what happened.
 
Thanks all for your replies.
I will go to confession tomorrow or the next day at the latest.
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mitabrev said:
Hi friends,

I’ve an interesting question that I hope someone can help me with:
I went to my local church today to have my confession heard - it’s holy week and I want to turn my life back to Christ after 4 years of a loss of faith.
I have some mortal sins that are really bothering me and a good confession would greatly help my relationship with God.
When I arrived in the church, for some reason, the confession box was empty.
I’m not sure why it was empty, as written on the door was a schedule saying times etc and it was due to take place.
I kneeled in the pew and said an act of contrition, resolving, with Gods help not to sin again and to go to confession as soon as possible.
My question is: if I died tonight, what would happen to my soul?
Might seem like a silly question, but I’m genuinely interested to know.
Many thanks.
+
Click to expand...
maybe you arrived on a day confession wasnt taking place, that would explain the empty confession box…in my parish confessions only take place saturday at 12.30pm, so you may want to check with somebody what the days and times are so that you can attend the next confession…dont wait to check or you may miss this weeks confessions 😃
 
Call the local Catholic Churches…any priest can hear your confession…anytime. (I assume your Catholic…your post does not say at the top)

Remember one needs to confess all ones mortal sins in number (as one can…sometimes one has to approximate) and kind (and circumstance that changes the sin…like it was your mother you murdered!)…venial sins are good to confess and are recommended to confess…but one need not.

As to dying before hand.

If one has perfect contrition …your sins can already be forgiven via the grace of God. and even if you do not…it is possible for God to give you what is needed in the last moments even…so entrust yourself to Jesus Our Lord and Good Shepherd…who loves you.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Contrition

1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.52

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1451

(and even if mortal sins were forgiven in perfect contrition…one needs to confess them as soon as possible…and of course not go to Communion until one does)

Jesus the Good Shepherd loves you! In him we have true life
 
Thanks so much for all your wonderful replies!
Yes, I’m catholic.
I’d better bring a calculator if I’m to number my offences!:o
I was unfortunately lead astray by “new age” thinking (Eckhart Tolle), something that I regret, and, at the same time, kinda thankful for as a serious lesson in my faith, and, feel well armed to talk to fellow catholics who feel attracted to new age thinking.
When I saw how far from the truth I’d strayed by relativism and the new age, I was comforted by this quote by St Padre Pio:

“Do not think that your present state is a punishment from Heaven, because you would be wrong, but be certain that your present state is willed by God for the salvation of your soul.”

– St.Padre Pio

Be assured of my prayers for your kindness in replying to my question.
Also, pray for the many,many (seriously huge) number of people deceived by the new age.
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RosaryFan said:
**If you die tonight, before you have a chance to go to confession again, you’re forgiven. ** However, since you have reasonable access to the sacrament, you must make every effort to go again at your earliest opportunity. For instance, I wouldn’t wait another 4 years, thinking you’re good to go. I would suggest calling the rectory and making an appointment with a priest for confession as soon as possible. Tell them what happened.
Click to expand...
You don’t know that.

For a person to be saved at death prior to getting to Confession they would have to say an act of perfect contrition. You have no way of knowing if the OP has made such an act. A simple act of contrition is not sufficient and neither is the act of going to Confession but not finding a priest.
 
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