Confession

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Is it considered “deliberately witholding information” if you knew both number and kind and had the intention of saying them but did not as the priest gave the impression he did not think that confessing the past sin was a good idea (even though i thought it would be good) and he started wrapping the confession up?
 
james_neville said:
Is it considered “deliberately witholding information” if you knew both number and kind and had the intention of saying them but did not as the priest gave the impression he did not think that confessing the past sin was a good idea (even though i thought it would be good) and he started wrapping the confession up?
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See the links above from Jimmy…forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=9469121&postcount=4 they can give some things for consideration

And if it was a past sin that was already confessed in number and kind and one simply wanted to mention it again – there was no need to mention number…
 
Bookcat, confessing in “number” does not necessarily mean a literal “number”. I refer you to this article by Fr. Z, who I’m sure you respect:

wdtprs.com/blog/2006/08/afqb-kind-and-number-confession/

The article referenced above is nicely summarized in this statement: ** “…we do need to indicate number and/or frequency, by number can change the severity of the sin and indicate to the confessor (and yourself) where your principle problems are.”**

Look at the point of needing to state “number”: it indicates severity and indicates to the confessor where your problems are. Frequency is an indication of a ballpark number, and satisfies the purpose of the confession, which is confessing the sin and it’s severity in your life. Please do not encourage people to be scrupulous. Look at the big picture, the point, of the sacrament.
 
jpjd said:
Bookcat, confessing in “number” does not necessarily mean a literal “number”.

The article referenced above is nicely summarized in this statement: ** “…we do need to indicate number and/or frequency, by number can change the severity of the sin and indicate to the confessor (and yourself) where your principle problems are.”**

Look at the point of needing to state “number”: it indicates severity and indicates to the confessor where your problems are. Frequency is an indication of a ballpark number, and satisfies the purpose of the confession, which is confessing the sin and it’s severity in your life. Please do not encourage people to be scrupulous. Look at the big picture, the point, of the sacrament.
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It is to be the literal number if one well knows the number.

I noted that if one does not know the number one can approximate accordingly.

Look the number is part of the juridical nature of the Sacrament --we are accusing ourselves of all of our mortal sins .

One is to examine ones conscience. And accuses oneself of all ones mortal sins.

If one needs to approximate - as I noted this is fine (but one is to examine and give the number --not scruple of course but to give the number --if it was 5 times and one knows it was 5 times that is what one confesses).

It is not encouraging people to be scrupulous to state what the Church Teaches regarding the obligation to confess all mortal sins in number and kind (and that which changes the kind). (I have referred those who are scrupulous to their regular confessor). I have noted that one can approximate where needed --according to what one does know.
 
It seems that you are backtracking from what you said in post 18. But I’m not getting into a back-and-forth about it.

The point, to the OP, is just give your confessor an indication of frequency, and I hope your confessions are fruitful, bringing you many graces.
 
jpjd said:
It seems that you are backtracking from what you said in post 18. But I’m not getting into a back-and-forth about it.

The point, to the OP, is just give your confessor an indication of frequency, and I hope your confessions are fruitful, bringing you many graces.
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Seems merely.

Actually no there is no back tracking. Read number 18 again I note there that one may approximate if one does not know the exact number.

Quote:
Bookcat said:
Now of course – it can happen that one simply does not know how many times … --one can give an approximation according to what one does know – such as 2-3 times a month for the last 3 years or 7-10x or around such and such or even if need be many times or few times. For we are not Spock and can not always remember – especially if it has been years and one is returning to the Church.
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The point (I am not addressing here the OP --I have already done that) is not to simply give ones confessor an indication of frequency --rather the point is to confess all ones mortal sins in number and kind …

and if one does not know the number – then one can give an approximation according to what one knows.
 
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