Do you need to go to confession in order to be forgiven of Mortal Sins?

[FBDinNJ]

Do you need to go to confession in order to be forgiven of Mortal sins?

I know everyone will say yes, but today my Theology Professor at my Catholic University said that NO we don’t need to go to confession to be forgiven for mortal sins. She cited this text out of the Catechism,

“Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us—that is, charity—necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation” (Catechism: 1856)

My professor said that because the word “normally” is in this passage that people don’t have to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal Sins. She tried to portray going to confession as being old fashioned and said that all that is necessary to be forgiven of a mortal sin is sorrow or contrition for what you have done.

I know that my Professor is wrong, but could someone please help me find an Encyclical or another passage from the Catechism which shows that except in extremely rare circumstances the average person has to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal sins?

Thanks!

 

[pprimeau1976]

I would think that the extraordinary way to be absolved of a mortal sin is through the sacrament of Anointing. I don’t have an encyclical to proove my point though.

 

[FBDinNJ]

yes yes, I understand that there are extraordinary ways of being forgiven Mortal sins, but can someone please show me, IN WRITING, where it still says that going to a Priest for confession is the norm for being forgiven of Mortal sins?

 

[Ter]

CCC 1452 “When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect’ (contritition 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” i.e. the sin is forgiven but only if you intend to confess it as soon as possible. The forgiveness is ‘conditional’ on future confession.

CCC 1453 - imperfect contrition doesn’t obtain the forgiveness of sins but “disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance”

 

[tkdnick]

Well Ter took what I was going to say, and probably said it better than I would have because of the Catechism verses. If you have a perfect act of contrition, then you need not go to confession. The problem is, how many people truly have a perfect act of contrition? I know I don’t, and I don’t think I can think of anyone who truly does. So for the majority of us with imperfect contrition, we NEED confession.

 

[Ter]

tkdnick:

If you have a perfect act of contrition, then you need not go to confession.

That’s what I always thought. But when I read the section from the CCC (previous post) it states that perfect contrition only obtains forgiveness for mortal sins when you intend to confess it as soon as possible. So with a mortal sin you still have to go to confession but the forgiveness is granted as soon as you resolve to go and are perfectly contrite. I suppose it’s similar to the way your sins are forgiven at confession but again you have to perform your penance.

 

[OhioBob]

tkdnick:

Well Ter took what I was going to say, and probably said it better than I would have because of the Catechism verses. If you have a perfect act of contrition, then you need not go to confession. The problem is, how many people truly have a perfect act of contrition? I know I don’t, and I don’t think I can think of anyone who truly does. So for the majority of us with imperfect contrition, we NEED confession.

The rub is that you never know if your contrition is “perfect”. Why risk it. Imperfect contrition is sufficient for remission of sins through the sacrament of confession. Perfect contrition would be required for remission of sins in the absence of sacramental confession, as well as the intention to confess the sin in sacramental confession as soon as possible.

Sacramental confession was established to provide humanity with a perceptible sign and assurance that their sins are forgiven. Why wouldn’t we want to avail ourselves of that assurance?

I already have enough uncertainty in my life…

 

[tkdnick]

OhioBob:

The rub is that you never know if your contrition is “perfect”. Why risk it. Imperfect contrition is sufficient for remission of sins through the sacrament of confession. Perfect contrition would be required for remission of sins in the absence of sacramental confession, as well as the intention to confess the sin in sacramental confession as soon as possible.

Sacramental confession was established to provide humanity with a perceptible sign and assurance that their sins are forgiven. Why wouldn’t we want to avail ourselves of that assurance?

I already have enough uncertainty in my life…

I’m right there with ya!!!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

FBDinNJ:

Do you need to go to confession in order to be forgiven of Mortal sins?

I know everyone will say yes, but today my Theology Professor at my Catholic University said that NO we don’t need to go to confession to be forgiven for mortal sins. She cited this text out of the Catechism,

“Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us—that is, charity—necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation” (Catechism: 1856)

My professor said that because the word “normally” is in this passage that people don’t have to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal Sins. She tried to portray going to confession as being old fashioned and said that all that is necessary to be forgiven of a mortal sin is sorrow or contrition for what you have done.

I know that my Professor is wrong, but could someone please help me find an Encyclical or another passage from the Catechism which shows that except in extremely rare circumstances the average person has to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal sins?

Thanks!

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the ORDINARY means of forgiveness of Mortal sin. The Church, you and I are bound to the Sacraments but Christ is not. He can forgive our sins, including mortal sins, if we are somehow prevented from approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation. However for those of us who have recourse to the Sacrament it is a sin for us to negelect it’s reception. I personally feel that if you or I refuse the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, then we may be refused entry into the Kingdom. We were offered the gift but refused it.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Do you need to go to confession in order to be forgiven of Mortal sins?

No.

According to Pope St. Pius X: “**Of all the parts of the sacrament of Penance the most necessary is contrition [of charity], because without it no pardon for sins is obtainable, **while with it alone, perfect pardon can be obtained, provided that along with it there is the desire, at least implicit, of going to confession.” (Catechism of Pius X).

I know everyone will say yes, but today my Theology Professor at my Catholic University said that NO we don’t need to go to confession to be forgiven for mortal sins.

She is correct so far.

My professor said that because the word “normally” is in this passage that people don’t have to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal Sins.

If this is what she said, then here she is terribly incorrect. Absolution, by its very definition, is a priestly act in the Sacrament of Penance. Observe,

From Fr. John Hardon:

**ABSOLUTION. **In the sacrament of penance, the act by which a qualified priest, having the necessary jurisdiction, remits the guilt and penalty due to sin. The new formula of absolution, since the Second Vatican Council, is: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son, has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” To which the penitent answers, “Amen.” In this formula the essential words are: “I absolve you.” For centuries, the Church used the deprecatory form of absolution, e.g., “May God absolve you from your sins.” This was really declarative in meaning, as is clear from the fact that in the whole of tradition the priest who absolved was looked upon as a judge who actually absolved, even though he used the subjunctive mood to express his affirmative judgment. (Etym. Latin absolvere, to free from; to absolve, acquit.) Pocket Catholic Dictionary]

One may receive forgiveness or remission of sin through perfect contriction while not yet receiving absolution. There’s a difference between “remission” and “absolution.”

Perfect contrition (with intention to go to confession) restores the sinner to a state of grace. So, if I die before going to confession, my perfect contrition [which necessarily includes the intention to go to confession] is efficacious toward the remission of all sin, venial and mortal. If I don’t die, I enter the confessional in a state of grace, having already been forgiven of my sins. However, I do not have absolution until the priest confers it upon me. Attition (also called “imperfect contrition”) is not efficacious toward remission of mortal sins. Yet, attrition coupled with priestly absolution does indeed remit all sins.

One still needs to confess or they commit another sin, that of disobedience to the Catholic Church, and their “intention to go to confession” seems dubious at best.

to be continued …

 

[itsjustdave1988]

continued …

She tried to portray going to confession as being old fashioned and said that all that is necessary to be forgiven of a mortal sin is sorrow or contrition for what you have done.

If this is what she claimed, she is wrong, as she omits a key provision, that is, the intention to go to confession. Contrition of charity, truly so-called, is always coupled with the intention to do as the Church intends, which includes the Sacrament of Penance.

One should also note that although your contrition may remit your sins, Catholics are still bound to receive absolution through the Sacrament of Penance prior to participation in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Your professor doesn’t seem to have emphasized this, as she should have, or she has entirely misrepresented Catholic doctrine and practice.

I know that my Professor is wrong, but could someone please help me find an Encyclical or another passage from the Catechism which shows that except in extremely rare circumstances the average person has to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal sins?

Again, keep in mind that remission of sins is not the same thing as absolution (which is by definition, a priestly act of the Sacrament of Penance).

You can read more about the Sacrament of Penance from Pope St. Pius Catechism, here:
cin.org/users/james/ebooks/master/pius/psacr-p.htm

 

[katolik]

FBDinNJ:

Do you need to go to confession in order to be forgiven of Mortal sins?

I know everyone will say yes, but today my Theology Professor at my Catholic University said that NO we don’t need to go to confession to be forgiven for mortal sins. She cited this text out of the Catechism,

“Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us—that is, charity—necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation” (Catechism: 1856)

My professor said that because the word “normally” is in this passage that people don’t have to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal Sins. She tried to portray going to confession as being old fashioned and said that all that is necessary to be forgiven of a mortal sin is sorrow or contrition for what you have done.

I know that my Professor is wrong, but could someone please help me find an Encyclical or another passage from the Catechism which shows that except in extremely rare circumstances the average person has to go to confession to be absolved of Mortal sins?

Thanks!

Yes, we do need to go to confession after commiting mortal sin

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Now, if your professor was referring to those who, through invincible ignorance, do not go to confession, she is correct.

A Protestant, for example, who was validly baptized is truly baptized and all sins are remitted. However, let’s say this particular protestant does not believe in the Sacrament of Penance. If the Protestant adheres to this erroneous belief in “good faith” then their sins may very well be remitted by contrition of charity without intention of going to confession.

The term “good faith” means the person acts in invincible ignorance (cf. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Good****Faith ) and according to Catholic doctrine, such sins are merely material not formal. (cf. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Sin ). In other words, objective sins committed due to invincible ignorance are not imputed as sin to man. St. Thomas Aquinas asserted: "Wherefore through negligence, ignorance of what one is bound to know, is a sin; whereas it is not imputed as a sin to man, if he fails to know what he is unable to know. Consequently ignorance of such like things is called “invincible,” because it cannot be overcome by study. " (ST IIa, 76, 2)

If I remember correctly, “invincible ignorance” can be due to a lack of reasonable time, opportunity, or capability to overcome such ignorance by study. Other impediments to the intellect and will can also impair the voluntary nature of sin, thereby full advertence is necessarily lacking, making an objectively grave sin merely venial.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

how many people truly have a perfect act of contrition?

I should hope all Christians do. St. Pius X explains what perfect contrition is:

Contrition or sorrow for sin is a grief of the soul leading us to detest sins committed and to resolve not to commit them any more. … Contrition means a crushing or breaking up into pieces as when a stone is hammered and reduced to dust. … The name of contrition is given to sorrow for sin to signify that the hard heart of the sinner is in a certain way crushed by sorrow for having offended God. … **What is perfect sorrow or contrition? **A: Perfect sorrow is a grief of soul for having offended God because He is infinitely good and worthy of being loved for His own sake. (Catechism of Pius X)

I should hope that being sorrowful for one’s sins because they offend God who is good and worthy of being loved for His own sake is common among Christians.

 

[joehar]

**1 John 1
**9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Only God can forgive sins not man .

 

[OhioBob]

**1 John 1
**9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Only God can forgive sins not man .

C’mon Joe. You can do better than that buddy.

Rev up and hurl one in there with a bit more on it if you want a good debate.

:tiphat:

 

[itsjustdave1988]

1 John 1
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Only God can forgive sins not man .

Rubbish.

“Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:23)

“the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matt 9:6)

“And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation … we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.” (2 Cor 5:18-20)

James 5:13-15 - prayer of presbyters forgives sin
James 5:16 - confess your sins to one another

 

[theMutant]

“Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:23)

As usual, Dave, you have given excellent posts.

 

[trustmc]

I believe the issue of confession hinges upon the nature of mortal sin. The bible does indeed talk about deadly sins, that is, sins that lead to death (1 Jn 5:16). The Catechism further explains from Church Tradition that such sins must meet 3 conditions.

First, “[m]ortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent” (1857, emphasis mine).

However, if you study the Catechism’s discourse on hell, you will find this nugget: "God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end (1037, emphasis mine).

In other words, a mortal sin requires an accompanying reorientation of one’s entire free will away from God with the willful desire that the orientation be permanent. This may happen when a person gets a “taste” of sin and deliberately continues the practice, knowing full well that the sin is grave, until the person decides to give into it entirely at the expense of his faith. The choice to give in once and for all adds the element to the sin that makes it mortal.

A visible sign that a person is persisting in mortal sin is revealed when a person chooses to avoid confession. When one refuses to reconcile, then we can reasonably conclude that the person no longer is in a state of grace. However, if the person is contrite over his sins and seeks reconciliation, then we know that he is still likely in a state of grace, without which the desire to repent would be nonexistent. Thus, the sin is forgiven by grace even before the act of confession, but is predicated on one’s desire to confess to Christ through His agents.

Remember, too, that the authority to forgive sins that Christ bequeathed to his apostles (and their successors) in John 20:21-23 is termed “absolution” in modern language to distinguish it from the formal forgiveness Christ grants to all penitents from the Cross. Absolution, then, is the knowledge imparted by the priest that Christ has forgiven us, which only He can do. Priests, being His officially appointed ambassadors, act as mediators for that forgiveness, who are also able to discern on behalf of Christ whether the confessor has truly repented and submitted to His saving grace. This is how a priest has the authority also to withhold absolution.

Even Billy Graham employs the concept absolution when he declares from his pulpit that one’s sins are forgiven when one repents and allows Christ to indwell within his heart during a public “alter call.” (One may even point out that such “alter calls” serve as the necessary act of pennance of the type that goes hand in hand with genuine repentance.) Does Rev. Graham forgive sins? No, he only mediates it, though imperfectly, through his preaching and prayers, similar to what goes on in the Catholic confessional.

Bottom line: if the sin is truly mortal, then it is accompanied by a desire to persist in it without contrition knowing full well that the salvific faith in Christ has been either lost entirely or never there to begin with, hense the need for confession to a priest (the normative mediator of forgiveness). Without the presumption of persistence, then the sin is likely not mortal, but still diminishes one’s faith and the preponderance for charity nonetheless.

Captain Michael Trust
U.S. Army
Baghdad, Iraq