Does the Priest remember sins heard in confession?

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A great assist in making a confession is humility. The more we apply, the easier the confession is - the more it is desired.
 
joclucsylv said:
I have a mortal sin I need to confess and I refuse to go to my parish priest because I fear he will loose respect for me. I am waiting to have to opportunity to go to a priest who doesn’t know me behind a screen. Hopefully I don’t die between now and then. :eek:
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My diocese has a confession finder on its website. I’m sure your does too.

calgarydiocese.ca/reconcilliation-finder.html

I bet there’s 3 or four parish in your area that will have confession at 4pm or thereabouts today, this afternoon. Very soon!

No need to talk about dying - just get out the door!👍
 
joclucsylv said:
I have a mortal sin I need to confess and I refuse to go to my parish priest because I fear he will loose respect for me. I am waiting to have to opportunity to go to a priest who doesn’t know me behind a screen. Hopefully I don’t die between now and then. :eek:
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We live in a world of mortal sin. We are drenched in sin. Tempted daily, even by the minute. If you have committed a murder, it might raise the Priest’s eyebrow for a moment. Yet, His job is to bear your sins up to the Lord for destruction. Your priest is mediator in the person of Christ, the Mediator. Remember that our Lord said that He will remember our sins no more (Isaiah 43:25, Hebrews 8:12 and others). As the Priest forgives in the person of Christ and with the authority of Christ, he also forgets your sin. To remember a destroyed sin would be against God’s nature - impossible! Unconfessed sin remains on your ledger - those the Lord remembers.

Just go!
 
Well,
Thanks for all the responses. You have given me much to think about it. I also wanted to mention that I have family that are very well known in the diocese; some of them at the parish I’ve been attending. I didn’t know if it would be awkward for the priest, and more so for me, as he wouldn’t have to be a rocket scientest to figure out who is on the other side of the screen. Plus my parish doesn’t have the boxes, but a room, and I’m not sure what is in there. what if there are no privacy screens-can I turn around and say I changed my mind? :eek: My anxiety levels are extremly high about all this.

This brings up one more issue…if I do go elsewhere, do I tell the pastor I’ve been so he knows it is ok for me to take communion?
 
You don’t need to explain your reasons to us. Go anywhere - go soon!

If you feel your pastor needs to know, ie., if he found you drinking the altar wine (as an allegory) -or is aware of some serious sin, then of course inform him that you’ve been to confession, because that might put his conscience at ease when you go for communion.
 
Tertullian of Carthage (200 AD) On Repentance 10:1,6
[Regarding confession, some] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or they put it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, like those who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun making themselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their own bashfulness.

Theodore Of Mopsuestia (c. 428 AD) Catechetical Homilies 16
This is the medicine for sins, established by God and delivered to the priests of the Church, who make diligent use of it in healing the afflictions of men. You are aware of these things, as also of the fact that God, because He greatly cares for us, gave us penitence and showed us the medicine of repentance; and He established some men, those who are priests, as physicians of sins. If in this world we receive through them healing and forgiveness of sins, we shall be delivered from the judgment that is to come. It behooves us, therefore, to draw near to the priests in great confidence and to reveal to them our sins; and those priests, with all diligence, solicitude, and love, and in accord with the regulations mentioned above, will grant healing to sinners.

[The priests] will not disclose the things that ought not be disclosed; rather, they will be silent about the things that have happened, as befits true and loving fathers [cf. 1 Thess 2:11; 1 Cor 4:15] who are bound to guard the shame of their children while striving to heal their bodies.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 244 AD) Homily on Leviticus 2:4
In addition to these [kinds of forgiveness of sins], albeit hard and laborious: the remission of sins through penance…when he [the sinner] does not shrink from declaring his sin to a priest of the Lord and from seeking medicine….In this way there is fulfilled that too, which the Apostle James says: “If, then, there is anyone sick, let him call the presbyters [where we get priests] of the Church, and let them impose hands upon him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him [James 5:14-15].”

Early Church Fathers on Confession
 
TerryJT said:
Well,
Thanks for all the responses. You have given me much to think about it. I also wanted to mention that I have family that are very well known in the diocese; some of them at the parish I’ve been attending. I didn’t know if it would be awkward for the priest, and more so for me, as he wouldn’t have to be a rocket scientest to figure out who is on the other side of the screen. Plus my parish doesn’t have the boxes, but a room, and I’m not sure what is in there. what if there are no privacy screens-can I turn around and say I changed my mind? :eek: My anxiety levels are extremly high about all this.

This brings up one more issue…if I do go elsewhere, do I tell the pastor I’ve been so he knows it is ok for me to take communion?
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You an receive the Sacrament wherever you are most comfortable. It’s not uncommon for people to go to a different Parish to confess. You can also call the Parish office to ask if they have a screen, or ask a Parishioner who knows. I totally understand your anxiety, but try not to let it stop you!

Once you are reconciled with Christ and His Church through the Sacrament, and assuming you haven’t committed mortal sin in the mean time, you can present yourself for Communion. The Priest shouldn’t prevent you from receiving, but may inquire afterwards if he knows about your situation. All you need to do in either case is tell him you received the Sacrament of Reconciliation at another Parish (name it if you want). I’m sure he’ll be thrilled, not suspicious!
 
For me,one of the graces of confession,is that I also leave behind an “image” I have to live up to which is unreal.I do appreciate my pastor and I believe that being my real self in confession is the best I can offer God and my brothers,pastor included.Íf I go to confession is because I am sorry,and that is what matters.I do not know if he forgets or not,but he is an amazing priest and will always give me a hand to be a better person.I do not see him as a Tribunal,I see him as my good Father.
 
You do what you feel most comfortable

Since the priest was okay about me dong confession with him I am quite happy in that it does help that he does know me enough to know how to guide and what penance to give rather than just general stuff, it can be specific and a real help when he knows enough of your situation. Okay so Roman Catholics argue Confession is simply to absolve sins. But I argue we can grow too through confessional if we love God. The confessional is not simply a means to be absolved and that that done and dusted stuff. Not if you care anyway.

Priests do not judge us, like thinking better or worse of you as in the manner you have suggested. Priests ‘walk’ with us in our lives and help us feel closer to God in our times of need and share with us our times of Joy with God too. They do not judge us as we judge each other. They are simply there for us as like a Spiritual Father figure on earth.
 
You’re right about confession being for spiritual growth and direction.

For someone who is nervous and hasn’t been to confession in a long time though, being at ease is an important consideration, and that might include the need for anonymity.
 
TerryJT said:
Well,
Thanks for all the responses. You have given me much to think about it. I also wanted to mention that I have family that are very well known in the diocese; some of them at the parish I’ve been attending. I didn’t know if it would be awkward for the priest, and more so for me, as he wouldn’t have to be a rocket scientest to figure out who is on the other side of the screen. Plus my parish doesn’t have the boxes, but a room, and I’m not sure what is in there. what if there are no privacy screens-can I turn around and say I changed my mind? :eek: My anxiety levels are extremly high about all this.

This brings up one more issue…if I do go elsewhere, do I tell the pastor I’ve been so he knows it is ok for me to take communion?
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No, it will not be awkward for the priest. It really doesn’t matter to him who is whom. There are priests who have famous actors, politicians, etc. in their parishes. They are treated as anyone else would be. Some priests even say that there is a type of “confessional amnesia” where once they leave, they forget what has even been said! The grace of God is so wonderful, isn’t it?

I will tell you what “the room” is like in my parish. There is a corner where the more traditional kneeler and screen are, for people who need it. The priest starts out there, so that when one enters, if you need the anonymity, you just kneel down and start. If you are like my sons, who have never done the anonymous confession, there are 2 chairs on the other side of the room, and you go and sit down and the priest then joins you. And you have your confession face to face.

You do not have to tell your pastor anything. You are OK with God, he is not going to ask you if you are in a state of grace before giving you the Eucharist. He will assume that you won’t take Communion if you are not! It is up to each of us not to profane the Body of Christ.

🙂
 
EvelynEVF said:
The priests I know simply never talk about other people in any way that would ever touch on their sins. They hardly ever talk about anybody at all. Which is a good practice for most of us 🙂
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Thats true and actually he don’t talk about others at all, to me at least. I have occaisionally referred about others to him as don’t like the s/he useage and mainly been positive things when I’ve used names. 👍
 
Thanks again everyone. I finally went tonight-to a neighboring parish.

The first one I tried was not open, though they were supposed to be, and I checked the net before I left. I waited in the parking lot for a little while feeling like I wanted to puke…then another lady drove in, waited too, and then suggested I try another parish up the street, as she saw the light on there. So I went there-drove by once and didn’t see alot of cars-so in I went.

Funny thing is-I don’t “feel” any different, other than relief its over, and knowing I won’t have to repeat those sins again in order to be in communion with the church. I’m a bit concerned about that-though the priest said it was one of the most sincere confessions he has ever heard. I genuinely made an honest effort to make sure I verbalized all the big ones I could remember. If I don’t feel different-should I be concerned?
 
TerryJT said:
Funny thing is-I don’t “feel” any different, other than relief its over, and knowing I won’t have to repeat those sins again in order to be in communion with the church. I’m a bit concerned about that-though the priest said it was one of the most sincere confessions he has ever heard. I genuinely made an honest effort to make sure I verbalized all the big ones I could remember. If I don’t feel different-should I be concerned?
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No, don’t be concerned. Sometimes you have a good meal and remember it for years, most times you can’t remember what you had for dinner last night. It’s the same with Confession; you won’t leave walking on air every time.
 
TerryJT said:
Thanks again everyone. I finally went tonight-to a neighboring parish.

The first one I tried was not open, though they were supposed to be, and I checked the net before I left. I waited in the parking lot for a little while feeling like I wanted to puke…then another lady drove in, waited too, and then suggested I try another parish up the street, as she saw the light on there. So I went there-drove by once and didn’t see alot of cars-so in I went.

Funny thing is-I don’t “feel” any different, other than relief its over, and knowing I won’t have to repeat those sins again in order to be in communion with the church. I’m a bit concerned about that-though the priest said it was one of the most sincere confessions he has ever heard. I genuinely made an honest effort to make sure I verbalized all the big ones I could remember. If I don’t feel different-should I be concerned?
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Feelings are nice when they point us in the right direction. We do what is right because we know it is right, not because it gives us warm fuzzy feelings. Sometimes we get the warm fuzzies and it is a nice bonus.
 
No,I would not be concerned. whatever you confessed is over,forgiven and you are on the road again.Glad you could solve it.
 
NewEnglandPriest said:
But to answer the title question, no we don’t remember sins we heard in confession. We hear enough confessions that they all blend together and since we can’t do anything with the information there’s no reason we’d even try to remember.
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Many of the saints advise a person to seek a regular confessor who knows the person well. This seems like very logical and wise advice.

So it would seem that to effectively minister to and spiritually guide a person, it would be highly advantageous and beneficial for the priest that he know and remember as much about the person as possible.

pax
 
Feelings are nice when they point us in the right direction. We do what is right because we know it is right, not because it gives us warm fuzzy feelings. Sometimes we get the warm fuzzies and it is a nice bonus.
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I get your point, and with all due respect-I was not looking for or expecting “warm fuzzies”. Confessing 25yrs of some grevious sin is a serious business-I only expected I would leave feelling cleansed or different somehow, and was concerned that I didn’t-that perhaps my heart was too hardened by years of sin to feel Gods touch.

Now that a couple of days have gone by-and I am engaged in the penance…the anxiety of actually getting it all out there is behind me. I can say I am not “feeling” the weight of my sin on my shoulders any longer-and that is indeed freeing.

Thanks again to all who responded.
 
Maybe, instead of the “warm fuzzies” of sheer relief, God is granting you a greater grace by engaging you in the penance and nourishing the growth of the seeds of spiritual growth that got planted a little while ago. Seems to me that’s an even more profitable grace!

Welcome back to the sacraments!
 
TerryJT said:
I get your point, and with all due respect-I was not looking for or expecting “warm fuzzies”. Confessing 25yrs of some grevious sin is a serious business-I only expected I would leave feelling cleansed or different somehow, and was concerned that I didn’t-that perhaps my heart was too hardened by years of sin to feel Gods touch.
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I have to say I’ve never (or hardly ever) actually felt different after confession. I’ve thought, “Hey, that’s so great, the weight of that being off my shoulders!” But it was a thought, not a feeling.

Nonetheless, confession has been a great help in avoiding some sins that I was very prone to when I returned to the Church. So, whether you can feel a difference or not, there can still be evidence in your life of its efficacy. 🙂

All things are possible with God. NO heart is too hardened by sin for God’s touch to be felt. But different people experience it different ways.

–Jen
 
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