Confirmation in mortal sin

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So, I just really realized that receiving Confirmation in mortal sin is another mortal sin.
When I received Confirmation (2-3 years ago) I was in the state of what I’m pretty sure was mortal sin. However I didn’t know that masturbation was actually a mortal sin at that point. I had never confessed it until this year. (Scary, to think that now)
I know that Confirmation leaves an indelible mark on the soul and I’m hoping it still did that even though I was in mortal sin (except that I didn’t know it was mortal sin).
I’m a bit confused now. I have already confessed that sin but now I see that I need to confess the one of receiving confirmation in mortal sin.
I don’t need to be re-confirmed do I?
EDIT: alright, that last line is a stupid question because I know you can only receive this sacrament once. Sorry.
 
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Footprints said:
I know that Confirmation leaves an indelible mark on the soul and I’m hoping it still did that even though I was in mortal sin
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It did. Being in the state of grace is necessary for the confirmation to be fruitful (i.e. for you to actually receive the grace – if someone is confirmed in the state of mortal sin I believe the sacrament would become fruitful upon their receiving absolution at their next good confession), not valid.
Footprints said:
(except that I didn’t know it was mortal sin)
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If you believed yourself to be in the state of grace when you were confirmed, I don’t see how you could have been guilty of a mortal sin of sacrilege there. Additionally, it seems you may have lacked the requisite knowledge for the previous sins to be mortal – although I think you were certainly right to confess them, as the matter is still grave.

Perhaps mention it to the priest in confession anyway.
Footprints said:
I don’t need to be re-confirmed do I?
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You don’t.
 
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So, I won’t be able to go to Confession until 3 weeks from now and I’m wondering if I can receive Communion in that time? Since I didn’t know I was in a state of mortal sin during Confirmation?

I’m rather upset that my confirmation class didn’t cover this stuff especially since we were all teens.

I was so happy to have confessed my mortal sins and start anew but it always seems like there ends up being some mortal sin I was not aware of that I’ve committed during those years. I know you have to know it is a grave sin as part of the requirements but it just bothers me then until I can go to confession. And I hate not receiving Jesus. 😦
 
Well, you have been absolved of this in previous confessions. So if I was you, I would say an act of contrition and continue to receive, and mention it at my next Confession. But that’s just my opinion.
 
Assuming you do not have other unremitted mortal sins (other because if what you say is accurate then this was not a mortal sin), yes you may receive the Eucharist.

Consider this also: in your last good confession all your sins up to that point were forgiven. Even if this was a mortal sin somehow (that you forgot to confess or whatever), you would only need to mention it next time. And it seems you’re already doing this for peace of mind, even though it seems you were not guilty of a mortal sin here anyway.
 
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Thank you.

I firmly believe that when I received Confirmation, I had no idea either were mortal sins. And I know that until November of 2017, I didn’t know the sin making my soul unworthy in the first place was mortal. I know that I did confess it, along with my other mortal sins that I was aware of at the time. I have then, added on other mortal sins I was made aware of from various examination of consciences in later confessions.
EDIT: looking back at my religion course from that year, I do actually know that I would have studied “receiving the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin is a sin of sacrilege” in the Baltimore Catechism.
It’s just that I didn’t know that I was in mortal sin. I think I knew it was bad but not mortal.
 
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I found a way to get to Confession in 2 weeks instead of 3 and it’ll be before a big trip so I’m relieved about that.

Thank you for your replies. Now I ask that you pray for my soul to be at peace. 🙂
 
For situations where you need to confess (not this one, you’re fine), have you tried making an appointment with a priest outside of the scheduled times? I ask because I imagine being in mortal sin for extended periods of time would not make for a desirable state of mind, and is also very imprudent if there is a way to confess sooner.
 
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I haven’t, no. I have been trying to go every 3-4 weeks as of several months ago. Previously, I had been going only twice a year. It was really finding out about the mortal sin that made me want to start going more regularly to keep myself in check.
 
Ah, alright. What you’re doing for these situations where you find out that something you did previously was grave matter is fine – it seems you weren’t actually guilty of mortal sin in these cases, but it’s still a good idea to confess regularly regardless (otherwise it might make confession more difficult to go back to), and only make it a point to go at the easiest opportunity like on appointment when you have sins you actually need to confess.
 
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Footprints said:
However I didn’t know that masturbation was actually a mortal sin at that point. I had never confessed it until this year. (Scary, to think that now)
I know that Confirmation leaves an indelible mark on the soul and I’m hoping it still did that even though I was in mortal sin (except that I didn’t know it was mortal sin).
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There are three very definite necessary circumstances that must exist for a sin to be mortal. Personally, I don’t think this was the case, but best ask a good priest in confession.
One cannot commit a mortal sin in retrospect.
Shalom
 
So how does it work if you leave out a sin on purpose, commiting sacrilege, but then forget to mention it at your next confession? If you truly intended to but it slipped your mind or you didn’t remember it during the examination of conscience and didn’t confess both sins, are they still forgiven if you’re sorry and at some point remember to confess them?
Not that I think this happened but if it did. I don’t think I can remember back as far as what I knew to do at my first good confession in years (several months ago). I’m pretty sure that I thought I had gotten all my mortal sins and I certainly had thought that at all my confessions since.
 
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In this situation, the person would have been forgiven for the sacrilege along with all their other mortal sins at the confession where they forgot to mention it (provided the confession was made in good faith). They simply would need to mention it (the sacrilege, along with the sin they left out if that was also forgotten) the next time they go to confession.

BTW, while you haven’t explicitly indicated this, just as a word of advice if you ever find yourself obsessively doubting whether your confessions were valid or complete, it would be a good idea to speak to a priest and perhaps receive regular guidance, if you’re not already. Absolution should bring peace, not more anxiety.
 
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Thank you! I think there are sometimes things that pop out and worry me when I first find out about them after I thought I had been fine.
I am trying to find a regular confessor in my area that I find helpful.
 
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Footprints said:
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If you truly intended to but it slipped your mind or you didn’t remember it during the examination of conscience and didn’t confess both sins, are they still forgiven if you’re sorry and at some point remember to confess them?
…
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If it was a mortal sin and after diligent examination of conscience and subsequent confession it was not remembered, then it should only be mentioned at a later confession. The absolution is good since there was no bad intention.
 
Stop worrying. It is not a mortal sin unless at the time you knew it was mortal, you really want to do it and wanted to offend God and knew at the time you were cutting yourself off from God. If any of these conditions are not met it is a venial sin, Still an issue but not mortal Congratulations on you pursuit of leading a pure life. Don’t ever give up.
 
Footprints said:
However I didn’t know that masturbation was actually a mortal sin at that point. I had never confessed it until this year. (Scary, to think that now)
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If you truly didn’t know you were in mortal sin, then…you weren’t in mortal sin.
If this is bothering you, mention it to the priest at your next confession.
You don’t have to be confirmed again.
 
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