A
ANV
Guest
If you confess it but you don’t mean it, is it forgiven?
Does the confession of sin alone provide forgiveness or do you have to mean it?
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No. Contrition is required, along with the firm resolve to not commit the sin again.
This means one must be sorry for the sin and intend to make the effort to avoid that sin and the circumstances that lead one to commit the sin.
Without that, the absolution is invalid, and an additional sin is incurred.
The Sacraments of the Church are not magic.
B
BoomBoomMancini
Guest
Although, with sacramental confession, imperfect contrition is sufficient. As in, if you’re sorry only because you fear the loss of Heaven.
Ideally, you’d have perfect contrition, but that’s something to work towards.
Ideally, you’d have perfect contrition, but that’s something to work towards.
B
Blessedwithfive
Guest
I am pretty sure I read that Pope Francis said that you must be sorry for the sin. When the person said he wasn’t, the Pope asked him if he was at least sorry he wasn’t sorry and he said yes and the pope said that was good enough. I will look for the article.
found it docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1152&context=claritas
I think you will need to copy and paste in your browser…let me know if it won’t work
found it docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1152&context=claritas
I think you will need to copy and paste in your browser…let me know if it won’t work
A
ANV
Guest
So if you confess your sins verbally to a priest, not meaning it or giving it much thought, then you get hit by a car and die after you go out from the church, so you had no future to correct them or not redo them, are the sins that you confessed of automatically forgiven by the verbal act even if you had no intention of guilt or regret?
J
jcrichton
Guest
Hi!
…didn’t read the article… but, WOW!, that’s some wiggle-room!
… I wonder… could even Satan be saved through such artistic engagement of the Sacrament of Confession? ‘not sorry I tried to take over the Universe, not sorry I entangled man in his death dance, not sorry I am continuing to war against you… but I’m sorry I’m not sorry…’
Maran atha!
Angel
J
jcrichton
Guest
Hi, A!
…yeah, if the understanding of the Pope’s article is correct… it seems that the Church is bending over backwards to get people past the reasonable doubt thing… ‘just as long as you say your sorry–you don’t really need to mean it, God understands…’
…wait, isn’t that hollowood’s theology: ‘everything goes, God loves you no matter what!’?
Maran atha!
Angel
A
ANV
Guest
Well, isn’t God supposed to love us no matter what and that he understands us more than we understand ourselves?
J
jcrichton
Guest
Hi, A!Well, isn’t God supposed to love us no matter what and that he understands us more than we understand ourselves?
…yeah, that’s the short version though…
He also expects us to:
(1 St. Peter 1:16)
…yet, since that requires that we actually engage God’s Holiness (change and adapt to God), many just grab unto the ole: “don’t judge.”
…that’s great for a toddler that puts his/her diaper on his/her head… but that design could get others into a padded room! Not all shortcuts are productive.
Maran atha!
Angel
A
ANV
Guest
So verbal confession without good intention and sincerity isn’t forgiven.Hi, A!
…yeah, that’s the short version though…
He also expects us to:
…yet, since that requires that we actually engage God’s Holiness (change and adapt to God), many just grab unto the ole: “don’t judge.”
…that’s great for a toddler that puts his/her diaper on his/her head… but that design could get others into a padded room! Not all shortcuts are productive.
Maran atha!
Angel
P
pianistclare
Guest
M
MikeWest
Guest
It goes without saying that any confession that is NOT sincere
is not a good confession.
Of course you HAVE to mean it.
is not a good confession.
Of course you HAVE to mean it.
M
Monte_RCMS
Guest
If the priest gives you absolution, you are forgiven.
The mere act of going to confession is enough to demonstrate sincerity.
You don’t need to tear your shirt or break down in tears.
The confession of sin alone does NOT provide forgiveness; it is the priest pronouncing the words of absolution that provides forgiveness.
Visit scrupulosity anonymous, get their newsletter and their book.
Do a search here at Catholic Answers Forums and read … it has been discussed many times in depth.
The mere act of going to confession is enough to demonstrate sincerity.
You don’t need to tear your shirt or break down in tears.
The confession of sin alone does NOT provide forgiveness; it is the priest pronouncing the words of absolution that provides forgiveness.
Visit scrupulosity anonymous, get their newsletter and their book.
Do a search here at Catholic Answers Forums and read … it has been discussed many times in depth.
A
Arizona_Fat_Gir
Guest
I’m trying to figure out what is meant by “confessing a sin but are not sorry for it.”
If one were to truly look at something he did that was wrong, I’m sure that person would have to admit it was and that he/she should not have done it.
Emotion may come later on. Some people remember something they did and confessed long ago, and it causes them anguish.
For instance, even though I often confessed anger and maybe felt justified at the time, I look back and feel terrible that I acted that way.
I was a typical snot at some point in my life, and I know I did not like me then.
If one were to truly look at something he did that was wrong, I’m sure that person would have to admit it was and that he/she should not have done it.
Emotion may come later on. Some people remember something they did and confessed long ago, and it causes them anguish.
For instance, even though I often confessed anger and maybe felt justified at the time, I look back and feel terrible that I acted that way.
I was a typical snot at some point in my life, and I know I did not like me then.
G
Gorgias
Guest
:nope:
Allow me to provide a counter-example.
Let’s suppose that I’m planning to rob a bank. In fact, not only am I planning to rob a bank, but also I’m planning to go to confession immediately thereafter in order to be absolved.
In that case, I’ve met your criteria of “going to confession” and “receiving absolution”. There’s a problem, though: I’ve committed the sin of presumption, in which I’m trying to ‘game the system’, so to speak. I’m planning to get away with my sins simply by following the rules and going to confession. In that case, I haven’t made a good confession, and therefore, the absolution isn’t valid.
So, your example doesn’t quite hold up – that is, “just showing up” doesn’t get the job done.
Aah, but that’s still sorrow for your sins (or, more to the point, sorrow for the effects of your sins), isn’t it?
That’s not what the quote says! Francis doesn’t reply “that was good enough”, he replies, “the door is opened a crack”! And this, in a book review that points out that Francis recognizes that there are cases in which “if ‘a confessor cannot absolve a person, he needs to explain why, he needs to give them a blessing’”!
So, I don’t think it’s a fair read to suggest that merely “being sorry for not being sorry” is sufficient for absolution!
B
Bookcat
Guest
You read too fast.
The person is an Atheist…
And they are referring to a confession where one is not contrite. Does not mean it…just saying the words.
So no that would not be a good confession. Does not work that way…
(I understand - I have read too fast at times too…)
J
jcrichton
Guest
Hi, A!
…well… the Priest may buy it and even pronounce the words of Absolution… God is willing to forgive our sins… but He wants us to establish a relationship based on Truth:
(Ezekiel 18:30-32)
Though God extends His Mercy and Love to all, He does not fall for feigned Repentance and Worship:
(Galatians 6:7-8)
Maran atha!
Angel
J
jcrichton
Guest
Hi!
…I think that you are ignoring the premise being presented… if a person willingly deceives the Priest during Confession the Sacrament is not valid… for that to be so, then those who do not believe that God exists but claim to "believe, just in case God does exists,’ would be just as Saved as those who actually Believe in God.
Maran atha!
Angel
J
jcrichton
Guest
Hi!
…here’s what I think is being proposed:
…say I break into a person’s house and rob them blind… I got to a Priest and “Confess” my sins… but I do not really own up to the fact that I transgressed against God, my neighbor, and myself by the theft… I take whatever money I can get for their valuables and squander it just as happy as if I had hit the lottery… the “Confession” would be used as a tool to “secure” my “Salvation” since I went through the motions… but deep down I feel no remorse and I do not accept any responsibility for my acts.
…clearly, unless the Confessor is Gifted, as they say Padre Pio was, he would not be able to see through my insincere “Confession” and would pronounce the words of Absolution.
Maran atha!
Angel
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