Eastern Christianity on unconfessed mortal sins

[notredame_999]

Latin rite catholics like myself, especially those before Vatican II, have an obsession with dying with the stain of unconfessed mortal sin. I think that is why traditionally the death bed confession is so reminiscient of western/latin catholicism. Is this view shared with eastern christians, both catholic and orthodox?

 

[Pakesh]

Latin rite catholics like myself, especially those before Vatican II, have an obsession with dying with the stain of unconfessed mortal sin. I think that is why traditionally the death bed confession is so reminiscient of western/latin catholicism. Is this view shared with eastern christians, both catholic and orthodox?

This might not be the exact response you are looking for, as I am a Roman Catholic, but isn’t a deathbed confession part of Anointing of the Sick? If so, I assume the same thing happens when an Eastern Catholic/Orthodox receives Anointing of the Sick, unless there is a difference Discipline.
God Bless,
Pakesh

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

This might not be the exact response you are looking for, as I am a Roman Catholic, but isn’t a deathbed confession part of Anointing of the Sick? If so, I assume the same thing happens when an Eastern Catholic/Orthodox receives Anointing of the Sick, unless there is a difference Discipline.
God Bless,
Pakesh

No, its the same, at least for Eastern Catholics.

 

[Azurestone]

Latin rite catholics like myself, especially those before Vatican II, have an obsession with dying with the stain of unconfessed mortal sin. I think that is why traditionally the death bed confession is so reminiscient of western/latin catholicism. Is this view shared with eastern christians, both catholic and orthodox?

Orthodox Christianity hasn’t taken the steps of defining the specifics of sin (like many other things). That is, there is no concept of mortal vs venial sin. To the Orthodox, all sin is missing the divine purpose and vision. Therefore, living a holy life is a total push, not focused on individual sins. If you can imagine, the approach therefore toward sinlessness is necessarily different from the western cultures.

 

[searn77]

No, its the same, at least for Eastern Catholics.

I know that in Orthodoxy annointing of the sick, also called holy unction, can be given to you anytime you are sick, not just when you are at your death bed. And sometimes you don’t have to be sick as it also heals your soul as well as your body. This is why on Holy Thursday (at least I believe it’s on Holy Thursday) there’s a Holy Unction service where everyone gets annointed by it.

 

[Ghosty]

I know that in Orthodoxy annointing of the sick, also called holy unction, can be given to you anytime you are sick, not just when you are at your death bed. And sometimes you don’t have to be sick as it also heals your soul as well as your body. This is why on Holy Thursday (at least I believe it’s on Holy Thursday) there’s a Holy Unction service where everyone gets annointed by it.

This is the same in the Latin Church. I don’t know if they practice the Annointing on Holy Thursday, but they certainly do it when a person is in need of any kind of healing.

Peace and God bless!

 

[chaldobyzantine]

Latin rite catholics like myself, especially those before Vatican II, have an obsession with dying with the stain of unconfessed mortal sin. I think that is why traditionally the death bed confession is so reminiscient of western/latin catholicism. Is this view shared with eastern christians, both catholic and orthodox?

As an Eastern Christian, I instantly see in your post the problem with Western theology. The obsession with the distinctions of mortal and venial sin, and that sin is a stain are incompatible with Eastern theology. In Eastern theology, sin is not viewed as a stain, but a sickness. It is due to our fallen state of nature and spirituality that we sin, and we pray and repent to be healed from the disease of sin.

The belief that sin causes a stain on your soul, and only being absolved or having a plenary indulgence can save you is dangerous in my opinion. The belief that sins are like a stack of bricks that need to be removed individually in order to be free makes too light the seriousness of sinning. A person cannot be healed of a virus with ibuprofen, just as well a person cannot be forgiven by God just by being absolved by confession. Last rites should not be looked at as a way to become redeemed or forgiven in theology.

The sacrament of confession brings us on the path to repentance and healing of our souls to become Holy. Confessing our sins is the first step in repentance as we recognize our errors and feel sorry for them. We pray and repent for the mercy of the Lord. The sacrament of Unction of the Sick is not limited for those on their deathbed or very ill, but for all who consider themselves in need of spiritual help.

Glory to Jesus Christ ! Glory Forever!

 

[mardukm]

Latin rite catholics like myself, especially those before Vatican II, have an obsession with dying with the stain of unconfessed mortal sin. I think that is why traditionally the death bed confession is so reminiscient of western/latin catholicism. Is this view shared with eastern christians, both catholic and orthodox?

I’m almost positive that the Latin Church teaches that all sin is absolved at confession, even unconfessed ones - assuming you did not confess them because you forgot, and not because you intentionally hid them from the priest.

Is that your real question? I mean, are you asking, “what happens if you purposefully withhold confessing a very serious sin at your deathbed?”

Blessings

 

[Alveus_Lacuna]

This is the same in the Latin Church. I don’t know if they practice the Annointing on Holy Thursday, but they certainly do it when a person is in need of any kind of healing.

Yes, but to be fair, wasn’t this among the Vatican II reforms? Before that time, was this sacrament usually administered at any other time?

 

[ConstantineTG]

This might not be the exact response you are looking for, as I am a Roman Catholic, but isn’t a deathbed confession part of Anointing of the Sick? If so, I assume the same thing happens when an Eastern Catholic/Orthodox receives Anointing of the Sick, unless there is a difference Discipline.
God Bless,
Pakesh

Just to be clear, deathbed confession is part of the Last Rites, which is actually 3 Sacraments. Confession, Anointing and Viaticum (final Communion).

You can be anointed without confession nor is anointing limited to the Last Rites.

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

Latin rite catholics like myself, especially those before Vatican II, have an obsession with dying with the stain of unconfessed mortal sin. I think that is why traditionally the death bed confession is so reminiscient of western/latin catholicism. Is this view shared with eastern christians, both catholic and orthodox?

What is mortal sin? What is sin?

Is it stain or illness?

These differences in approach hold the answer.

Sin is missing the mark of a life in imitation of christ. We hear the petition “Lord have Mercy” throughout the liturgies of the church. We trust that if he calls us at a time where we are unfit and unable to seek the grace of his holy mystery, that he will have mercy upon us in his loving kindness. And that our transgressions will be overlooked and we will be accounted worthy by our life lived IN Christ and not WITHOUT Him.

Hope this helps.

 

[Pakesh]

Just to be clear, deathbed confession is part of the Last Rites, which is actually 3 Sacraments. Confession, Anointing and Viaticum (final Communion).

You can be anointed without confession nor is anointing limited to the Last Rites.

Duly noted:thumbsup:
God Bless,
Pakesh

 

[Ghosty]

Yes, but to be fair, wasn’t this among the Vatican II reforms? Before that time, was this sacrament usually administered at any other time?

I’m not familiar with older Latin Canon Law, so I can’t speak for it.

Peace and God bless!

 

[dcointin]

I haven’t done a significant amount of research in this area, but I was taught that confession is primarily therapeutic, not legal. It’s purpose is not so much the legal absolution from guilt (though I wouldn’t deny that it has that aspect), as spiritual counseling for the soul, to unburden yourself from the weight of sin and seek help from your spiritual physician. It’s not as though a sin is unforgiven if not formally confessed, since Christ died once for all, and by faith and a constant state of inner repentence we are united to that forgiveness. I would say then that confession and last rites are very valuable before death, but that one need not fear meeting his savior if he wasn’t able to receive them. I can only say this is my personal opinion, not necessarily that of the Orthodox.