Didn't confess a venial sin

[ckcatholic]

Hi, I asked this question to AAA a couple of days ago, but I would like to attend Mass at noon today, so I need a faster answer.
At my last confession, I confessed my sins and the priest gave me counsel. As he was speaking, I realized that I had forgotten a venial sin (a vulgar, unkind phrase had popped into my mind to describe some people, and I was shocked and sorry that I thought it). I didn’t worry about it because I believed it to be a venial sin.
However, after counseling me, my priest asked if I had anything else to confess, and I said no. Why? I don’t know except I have some problems with scrupulosity and I feel like I take up too much of the priest’s time. I did receive Communion after this.
Did I commit a mortal sin by choosing to not confess this sin and then by receiving the Eucharist? I appreciate your help since receiving the Eucharist helps with my anxiety and scruples. Thanks.

 

[bilop]

Hi, I asked this question to AAA a couple of days ago, but I would like to attend Mass at noon today, so I need a faster answer.
At my last confession, I confessed my sins and the priest gave me counsel. As he was speaking, I realized that I had forgotten a venial sin (a vulgar, unkind phrase had popped into my mind to describe some people, and I was shocked and sorry that I thought it). I didn’t worry about it because I believed it to be a venial sin.
However, after counseling me, my priest asked if I had anything else to confess, and I said no. Why? I don’t know except I have some problems with scrupulosity and I feel like I take up too much of the priest’s time. I did receive Communion after this.
Did I commit a mortal sin by choosing to not confess this sin and then by receiving the Eucharist? I appreciate your help since receiving the Eucharist helps with my anxiety and scruples. Thanks.

No. You are not required to confess venial sins. We need only confess all mortal sins we remember. If we honestly forget, they are forgiven also. Venial sins are forgiven by receiving the Eucharist.

Gon’t worry. God Bless

 

[baltobetsy]

It is completely up to you to decide whether to confess a venial sin. So you gave a legitimate answer to the priest’s query as to whether you had anything else to confess. Note, he did not ask you whether you had committed any other sins.

Secondly, what you describe doesn’t even sound like a sin. Unwanted thoughts that pop into the mind which you immediately reject, as you did, are not sins at all but temptations. Scrupulosity sometimes makes that distinction difficult to see.

Betsy

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It is my approach that one should not endeavor to confess all ones venial sins. It is best to focus on one or two for which one is truly sorry and willing to strive to avoid in the future.

Eliminating them one by one is much better than reading the same grocery list to the priest each time. It is difficult to be truly sorry for the whole list and to promise to avoid them all in the future.

 

[Annsy]

Your question seems so insignificant to most of us, but, one of the things confession should bring is a peace of mind in knowing that you made a good confession.

I understand that people talk about scrupulosity, but all spiritual doctors agree that being scrupulous is part of the process of learning how to love the true God.

Therefore, I suggest that you confess both receiving communion after, and the venial sin and see what the priest says about it. It will bring you peace of mind.

Try to relax. God is more merciful than judgemental. He knows the level of your sincerity and that you are trying your best to do His Will. This confession will be more for you than for God.