Does confession still work if I dont believe in it?

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safa92

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I’ve always struggled with parts of the church that require faith. I go to confession every now and then, mostly after sins of sexual immorality. The only reason I go is because I’ve gotten used to the idea that I shouldn’t receive communion if I’ve committed a sin such as that. I always feel “I’m here because I’m supposed to do this.”. Do I still receive absolution? I mean, I AM sorry… but I’m just saying words in the confessional. Should I even bother? If I don’t bother, am I screwed because I can’t figure out how to believe?
 
If you really didn’t believe it, you wouldn’t be there. It works whether we feel anything or not. Faith is not a feeling. Grace is not perceptible. Faith is an act of the will. Keep choosing God. That’s what’s important.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Aha! IMO, you need a couple of things.
  1. A good examination of conscience. Here is the best I have found recently:
https://www.leafletonline.com/examination-of-conscience

This goes through the ten commandments and relates them to modern living. Once your conscience is formed, you will have a much better grasp on why you need both faith well as absolution.

Faith. Everyone has faith in something - even if it is only themselves. Without faith in something, our souls have no foundation; ships without an anchor; always in a state of chaos.

Read Hebrews 11 for starters. Focus on the first verse.

Better yet:

Read Hebrews 11 in the presence of Christ. Go to adoration and just sit in silence. Let our Lord speak to your heart. And, as Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.(†) teaches:
“When you become aware that He is there, you will be changed.”
Click to expand...
Just go. He is waiting for you.
 
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It still works, yes. But you need to work on your faith. Pray and meditate. With patience, you will get there.
 
Father, do you mean that even if you are only going through the motions of faith, if the priest in Confession absolves you of your sins, case closed regardless of your inner doubt?
 
A family member proudly said “I don’t believe in Confession!” She also went on to say she doesn’t believe you have to go to Mass every Sunday. Hearing her talk, I knew that nothing could be said to change her mind because her answer was always, “Who said that? Is it in the bible? Where did that come from?” She is Catholic. What got me is just hearing her talk that way. She doesn’t believe in Hell.

I suppose as long as one is not arrogant about not believing, and is trying to do the best they can, eventually things will become more clear. It is just when people form an opinion that is written in stone, so to speak, that maybe their mind is absolutely closed.
 
safa92 said:
I’ve always struggled with parts of the church that require faith. I go to confession every now and then, mostly after sins of sexual immorality. The only reason I go is because I’ve gotten used to the idea that I shouldn’t receive communion if I’ve committed a sin such as that. I always feel “I’m here because I’m supposed to do this.”. Do I still receive absolution? I mean, I AM sorry… but I’m just saying words in the confessional. Should I even bother? If I don’t bother, am I screwed because I can’t figure out how to believe?
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It sounds to me like you do believe, but struggle with some involuntary doubt. Faith is a struggle sometimes even for the most devout.
safa92 said:
I mean, I AM sorry…
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It sounds like you have actual contrition despite your doubts, so just keep going.
 
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It sounds to me like you need to keep working to understand the faith and to love it. The way to do so is primarily prayer. How is your prayer life? Do you set aside time daily to pray, meditate, do some spiritual reading? You seem to be just going through the motions without a deeply held conviction about the truth of the Catholic faith and the efficacy of the sacraments. I would suggest that you think about how to get closer to God so as to come to appreciate the beauty of what occurs in confession and be thankful for it.
 
Faith is a funny thing.
People say that they do not believe in something, yet they do it anyway. That sounds like faith to me.
If not, then why would they continue to do something?
Perhaps you should go to confession more often.
Pray the Rosary.
And after you receive communion, pray to God to strengthen your faith.
 
I dare not speak for Father, but absolution is a juridical act of the Church. In a civil or criminal court, if the judge finds in favor you as defendant, or if jury returns a verdict of “not guilty” the verdict stands, regardless of one’s faith, or lack of faith in the system.

However there is a dual aspect to the Sacraments. They are channels of G-d’s grace. That grace my be refused, but the “not guilty” still stands. Penance is a separate issue - a repayment of the debt caused by sin.
 
Look at St Thomas who said “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief”.
 
Going to the priest for forgiveness is an act of faith. There should be no anxiety about that. Sometimes, people think they can’t be forgiven. They can be. Ask God to strengthen your faith.
 
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