Confession

[sjsander]

Hi I was wondering when going to confession what if there is something you know you should confess but are scared? It’s not criminal in any sense but it was something done when you were younger and at that time you knew it was wrong but did not think of it as offending God but now you know it is definitely wrong according to the Bible?
Can you just apologize in prayer or should it be mentioned in a closed confession?

 

[Garyjohn2]

If you remember it from your childhood, it’s probably weighing on your conscience, and you should confess it. Don’t worry, I am afraid to go to confession sometimes too…but the priests are VERY understanding. They don’t judge, and once you do it you will realize how easy it was.

Just be brave…fear is from the devil you know. Say a prayer to God for strength, and commit to it. That’s what I do. I’m going to confession today, and I always get butterflies…but it is always good to do, and it’s never as bad as I build it up to be in my head. It gets easier each time. Do not be afraid!

 

[srferdave]

If it is a grave sin I think (not 100% sure) you need to confess it. But if it is a venial sin you were absolved of it in prior confession.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi I was wondering when going to confession what if there is something you know you should confess but are scared? It’s not criminal in any sense but it was something done when you were younger and at that time you knew it was wrong but did not think of it as offending God but now you know it is definitely wrong according to the Bible?
Can you just apologize in prayer or should it be mentioned in a closed confession?

if it was a mortal sin, that is a grave offense against one of the ten commandments, you must confess it when you become aware of its gravity. If you did not know at the time how serious it was, you did not have the guilt of a mortal sin so it was a venial sin. Just go to confession so you can stop worrying about it. Why are you scared of Christ’s love and mercy?

 

[sjsander]

I am scared because I know now the seriousness of it and am disgusted of it now. When I was younger I knew it was wrong but was not as aware of the severity. When I go to confession do I have to say blatantly what it is I did or can I refer to it some other aspect?

 

[Brywan]

I am scared because I know now the seriousness of it and am disgusted of it now. When I was younger I knew it was wrong but was not as aware of the severity. When I go to confession do I have to say blatantly what it is I did or can I refer to it some other aspect?

I encourage you to “be not afraid!” The priest hearing your confession has heard it all–probably the exact thing that you are going to confess…you can confess behind the screen if you want anonymity–but I encourage you to name your sin so that when you receive absolution, you will know that you are forgiven–no doubts!!!

 

[srferdave]

I am scared because I know now the seriousness of it and am disgusted of it now. When I was younger I knew it was wrong but was not as aware of the severity. When I go to confession do I have to say blatantly what it is I did or can I refer to it some other aspect?

I would just confess it in its entirety without trying to generalize it. It will be tough. I know, because I was put in the exact same situation as you are now several years ago. But if you just tell the priest everything I guarantee you will feel soooo much better. Remember, the priest has heard everything before. Nothing you say will be a first.

 

[promethius95945]

I am scared because I know now the seriousness of it and am disgusted of it now. When I was younger I knew it was wrong but was not as aware of the severity. When I go to confession do I have to say blatantly what it is I did or can I refer to it some other aspect?

First, it sounds to me like this is an act from your childhood and you’ve only JUST realized that it was grave matter. Have you been to confession since then? If so, then your mortal sins are ALL forgiven (even the ones you didn’t confess) as long as you honestly attempted to confess all mortal sins you were aware of.

In contrast (and gravely important in your situation) we are REQUIRED to make a good confession of all mortal sins which we are aware of. That means that you cannot obscure a sin by deliberately failing to confess it, you cannot hide what it is or it’s nature by generalizing, and you must give some recognition of frequency and severity. To fail to make a good confession invalidates the entire sacramental act and is an added mortal sin of sacrilage. DO NOT go to confession and hide sins. It simply does not work that way.

Also importantly: let go of your pride. Pride that keeps you from God’s sacraments can, in itself, become sinful. Be humble and come to God’s church on this one. Trust me, there is nothing you can say which is going to shock your priest. I recently was at a retreat, and the priest informed us that it took less than a month in the priesthood before he heard his first confession from a man who had murdered someone while away from the church (presumably a man who had served his time in jail, but quite obviously the priest couldn’t be that specific). Nothing is going to surprise your priest, and your priest is NEVER allowed to disclose your confession outside of the confessional. He is bound, on pain of mortal sin, to never speak of what occurs in private confessions.

 

[promethius95945]

if it was a mortal sin, that is a grave offense against one of the ten commandments, you must confess it when you become aware of its gravity.

That is not entirely true. If one commits a mortal sin without being aware of it, but goes to confession and renders a good confession for all mortal sins they are aware of, then their sins are ALL forgiven (although, if they were truly unaware of the gravity of the sin, or that it was even sinful, there is a good possibility it was only a venial sin in the first place).

That means that any mortal sins which were forgotten or that a person was unaware of are forgiven.

HOWEVER, it is never wrong to discuss an issue with one’s priest, and one can mention something previously unmentioned in a confession if it brings them comfort, although they should note to the priest that they forgot about it or didn’t know it was grave during their previous confession(s).

 

[srferdave]

That is not entirely true. If one commits a mortal sin without being aware of it, but goes to confession and renders a good confession for all mortal sins they are aware of, then their sins are ALL forgiven (although, if they were truly unaware of the gravity of the sin, or that it was even sinful, there is a good possibility it was only a venial sin in the first place).

That means that any mortal sins which were forgotten or that a person was unaware of are forgiven.

HOWEVER, it is never wrong to discuss an issue with one’s priest, and one can mention something previously unmentioned in a confession if it brings them comfort, although they should note to the priest that they forgot about it or didn’t know it was grave during their previous confession(s).

It is not a mortal sin if one is not aware that it is potentially a mortal sin. It could be a grave sin, but that doesn’t make it mortal. To be a mortal sin, it must be grave, the person must have full knowledge of its gravity, and must choose to do it of their own free will.

So, all mortal sins MUST be forgiven, because if the person does not know that the sin is grave than it wasn’t mortal to begin with.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am scared because I know now the seriousness of it and am disgusted of it now. When I was younger I knew it was wrong but was not as aware of the severity. When I go to confession do I have to say blatantly what it is I did or can I refer to it some other aspect?

just say it, noun and verb
you won’t be struck by lightning.
what kind of person would you be if you were not disgusted by sin? that is the attitude we should have
the fact that it is on your mind now, even though you did not sin mortally at that time because you did not have full knowledge and intent, is a sign you need to be healed of it, so confession is much the best way to find that healing. then you never have to worry about it again.

 

[sjsander]

Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I am going to go tomorrow. My church has confession between 7:30-8AM and 11:30-12:00PM. I will go between 11:30-12:00PM because I work at 2:00PM.
I have written down everything I can think of and I will be sure to tell the priest it’s been a long time since my last confession so he can guide me