Sins, even mortal sins, do NOT need to be confessed in detail. In the case of mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full consent), you need to say what the sin was and anything that would clarify its seriousness or reduce your culpability - such as "I had sex with someone not married to me - I am married and the other person was - married / of the same sex (whatever pertained). No need for further details. In the case of venial sins - something like “I accuse myself of losing patience a number of times with drivers who irritated me, lacked charity in my dealings with a colleague” etc. No detail.Hi all, …
I wish to know that is it okay to confess directly to our Lord and receive Eucharist than directly confessing to a priest, except in the case of mortal sins? I know it doesn’t sound catholic. Many times I feel the priest who conducts confession doesn’t have the patience to listen to me in detail. He just wants to hear it as soon as possible and move on.
I feel it comfortable in confessing directly to our Lord as I can do it in my own pace and time and can talk to him in detail, concentrate properly since many times there will be lots of disturbances in church.
Moreover I would like to know the difference between mortal and venial sins, I am still confused in that area.
While this is all true, remember that even venial sins still incur punishment. While forgiveness is important, there is still restitution of some kind that has to be made. For example, if you steal money, that has to be returned. If you damaged someone’s name, whether intentional or not, you need to right this as well. Then after everything is settled an indulgence is in order, plenary preferred, and this is achieved under the usual conditions of confession and communion.A mortal sin is a sin which is grave matter. In other words, it must be a serious sin like murder, adultery, stealing, lying about something serious, etc. It also must be done with full consent of the will. In other words, you must willingly do it and think about it before hand. You also must know that it is grave matter for it to be a mortal sin. So, if say you know that stealing a $100 is a serious sin but you think about it and choose to do it of your own free will then you have committed a mortal sin.
A venial sin, on the other hand, is a sin which is not grave matter. You can receive forgiveness from it simply by asking our Lord to forgive you and you may receive the Eucharist if you have venial sin but NOT mortal sin on your soul.
Regarding Mortal sins -one needs -number and kind and a circumstance that which changes the kind (species). Such as you noted it was not fornication but adultery, or it what your Father that you murdered…Sins, even mortal sins, do NOT need to be confessed in detail. In the case of mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full consent), you need to say what the sin was and anything that would clarify its seriousness or reduce your culpability - such as "I had sex with someone not married to me - I am married and the other person was - married / of the same sex (whatever pertained). No need for further details. In the case of venial sins - something like “I accuse myself of losing patience a number of times with drivers who irritated me, lacked charity in my dealings with a colleague” etc. No detail.
The impression I am getting from your post is that you want to confess each and every venial sin in detail. This is absolutely not required and is time wasting. The priest does not need to know the details, only what your sins are and that you are contrite. If he needs further information, he will ask you.
Confessions need to be Clear, Concrete, Concise, and Contrite. You can always pray to the Lord about those sins that particularly bother you - any and all of them - but there are many others needing the priests absolution.
This is a Catholic Answers forum. I understand your not Catholic but the person is seeking Catholic Answers.Talk to God and ask forgiveness for all your sins. All sins are equally offensive to God. Pray with your heart, you don’t need standard prayers. Tell God what what you did, that you are sorry. If you are truly sorry, you’ll be forgiven. Remember that after you’ve confessed to God, the sins are forgiven and FORGOTTEN!!!
Regarding Mortal sins -one needs -number and kind and a circumstance that which changes the kind (species). Such as you noted it was not fornication but adultery, or it what your Father that you murdered…Sins, even mortal sins, do NOT need to be confessed in detail. In the case of mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, full consent), you need to say what the sin was and anything that would clarify its seriousness or reduce your culpability - such as "I had sex with someone not married to me - I am married and the other person was - married / of the same sex (whatever pertained). No need for further details. In the case of venial sins - something like “I accuse myself of losing patience a number of times with drivers who irritated me, lacked charity in my dealings with a colleague” etc. No detail.
The impression I am getting from your post is that you want to confess each and every venial sin in detail. This is absolutely not required and is time wasting. The priest does not need to know the details, only what your sins are and that you are contrite. If he needs further information, he will ask you.
Confessions need to be Clear, Concrete, Concise, and Contrite. You can always pray to the Lord about those sins that particularly bother you - any and all of them - but there are many others needing the priests absolution.
The reception of our Lord Jesus in any Holy Communion be it celebrated as the Mass or the Divine Liturgy always cleanses the soul from all venial sins. The Mass and the Divine Liturgy are powerful in administering this forgiveness, mercy and grace of God. You can pray to God anytime in confessing your sins. If you have not committed any mortal sins it is not necessary for you to go to Confession before Holy Communion since the Holy Communion can forgive all venial sins anyway. It is good to go to Confession to find out personally what these sins are by name. However if you are only committing venial sins the reception of Holy Communion at every attendance is an excellent way in dealing with your spiritual life as you are receiving all the benefits which the Mass and the Divine Liturgy can give for you.Hi all,
I hope I have posted this question in the right place. If not anyone please let me know the right place so that I can move this question to appropriate place.
My question is regarding sacrament of reconciliation. I love going to confessions regularly and receiving Eucharist. I consider it as a powerful sacrament.
I wish to know that is it okay to confess directly to our Lord and receive Eucharist than directly confessing to a priest, except in the case of mortal sins? I know it doesn’t sound catholic. Many times I feel the priest who conducts confession doesn’t have the patience to listen to me in detail. He just wants to hear it as soon as possible and move on.
I feel it comfortable in confessing directly to our Lord as I can do it in my own pace and time and can talk to him in detail, concentrate properly since many times there will be lots of disturbances in church.
Moreover I would like to know the difference between mortal and venial sins, I am still confused in that area.
It yes needs to be “grave matter” but that does not mean “very serious or very grievious” -but simply grave. (lust is grave matter – abortion too is grave matter but can also be said to be very grievious!)To be mortal must be very serious and very grievous. For instance murder is a mortal sin. Abortion is a mortal sin. The act of taking someone’s spouse and ruining someone’s marriage is a mortal sin. Not all sexual acts are mortal sins that are outside of marriage. .
The fact of a later marriage-- does not make sexual acts prior to marriage cease to be mortal sins.I asked a priest once that even though this man and woman did have sex before they were married that this action would never be imputed to them as sin since they were together for the rest of their lives. He agreed.
The fact of a later marriage-- does not make sexual acts prior to marriage cease to be mortal sins.I asked a priest once that even though this man and woman did have sex before they were married that this action would never be imputed to them as sin since they were together for the rest of their lives. He agreed.
I used the words very serious and very grievous as in the same context as grave matter. I do not make any distinction in these words as do Roman Catholics. I do not agree with the line of thinking as thoughts to be of anyway mortal in addressing to sexual matters. One needs to go through with an action of for instance of a lustful thought if it is to be a mortal sin. When Jesus refers to anyone looking at a woman lustfully you have to understand what He is implying here. There has to be this distinction between what lustful thoughts are directing one to do something that is very contrary to their moral nature and to what thoughts that can occur that can erupt sexual desire. The distinction Jesus is making in the Gospels is that you are willing to go ahead with this action if it was available to you. If someone has sexual thoughts but had resisted to perform the action how can that be mortal?It yes needs to be “grave matter” but that does not mean “very serious or very grievious” -but simply grave. (lust is grave matter – abortion too is grave matter but can also be said to be very grievious!)
And to be clear -regarding the past part about “sexual sins outside of marriage” – all acts/lustful thoughts/desires contrary to chastity --are indeed “grave matter” for mortal sin. But as with all mortal sin -one needs knowledge and complete consent along with the grave matter -so yes some persons may have engaged in such and not committed mortal sin -due to their innocent lack of knowledge. But it is important to note that matters of chastity there* are grave*.
The fact of a later marriage-- does not make sexual acts prior to marriage cease to be mortal sins.
Ok I will stop there…I do not have time to read it all and to get into a long discussion as to where you do not agree with Catholic Teaching (Jesus was quite serious there but again I am not getting into a discussion)I used the words very serious and very grievous as in the same context as grave matter. I do not make any distinction in these words as do Roman Catholics. I do not agree with the line of thinking as thoughts to be of anyway mortal in addressing to sexual matters.
I don’t know any priest, Catholic or Orthodox that would agree with that, as far as the Church is concerned - it may be someone’s personal opinion.I asked a priest once that even though this man and woman did have sex before they were married that this action would never be imputed to them as sin since they were together for the rest of their lives. He agreed.
That’s between you and your confessor, maybe he meant that for you specifically, the rest of us were not told this by the Church.I do not agree with the line of thinking as thoughts to be of anyway mortal in addressing to sexual matters
I thought the Orthodox were more strict when it comes to receiving communion.I was an Orthodox who first grew up Catholic. When I decided to find some contacts within the Orthodox Communion it was here where I found the better understanding towards this judgment on sin. The East to me was not so concerned on this judgment as the West was and it was more concerned on just healing it. As I grew up more in the East later on I found out I was far less judgmental and far less judging others as well. I was growing more concerned about others who were also dealing also with sin in their lives. And it did not bother me what sins they were but more that the person is need of someone to heal and comfort them. This distinction came to me more through the Eastern Church rather than the Western Church.
more at orthodoxengland.org.uk/confessio.htm…
It does not matter which Local Orthodox Church you belong to: Confession is the norm before communion and it is not limited to just the Russian, Romanian, Serbian and Bulgarian Churches (90% of all Orthodox). The bad habit of some Greeks, especially in the Diaspora, who have over the last forty years or so fallen into the decadent Western practice of not having confession before communion and adopted by those who do not know any better, is not justified. Just because some have fallen into bad habits, this does not mean that they are to be aped. Communion without confession is NOT the Orthodox norm anywhere.
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I have not disagreed with Catholic moral teaching at all. You have misinterpreted what I have said. I have wonderful admiration to the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. It is one to follow. What I was addressing and which Catholics can misunderstand is the way we can judge a particular sin. That is all what I was addressing. If I go to two priests and one says I have only committed a venial sin and the other says a mortal sin than who is correct? Orthodox tend to be more lenient on certain issues than do Catholics. Remember I have said certain issues. If Jesus had made a distinction to St. Maria Faustina that her sin was far less than what she thought it to be why can’t the Church sometimes make a higher judgment as well than what it deserves. That does not mean one does not accept the moral teachings of a Church but a particular judgment may be in question.Ok I will stop there…I do not have time to read it all and to get into a long discussion as to where you do not agree with Catholic Teaching (Jesus was quite serious there but again I am not getting into a discussion)
The person coming here is seeking I think Catholic Answers -which is what I provided…
A wonderful day to you!
Yes it is true that the Orthodox do teach a more stricter view in receiving Holy Communion. Pope Frances in one of his video interviews has given to us the right perspective for receiving Holy Communion. The teaching is that unless you have committed mortal sins there is no reason in the world for you not to receive The Lord Jesus since it is at the Holy Communion that He cleanses us all from all venial sins. As long as you have committed only venial sins you have this right for The Lord to forgive and clean you. That is why we come to the Mass and the Divine Liturgy. We come because we are imperfect and the perfected one who is Jesus is there to make us perfect. Nothing is ever to make us more perfect than our Lord Jesus and it is the Holy Reception of His Body which offers this more than anything else.I thought the Orthodox were more strict when it comes to receiving communion.
more at orthodoxengland.org.uk/confessio.htm
It was said by one of holiest Catholic priests here. It is often through contacts between Orthodox and Catholics and coming to terms in addressing what each Church teaches that the Catholic priests especially those here are understanding more what the Orthodox Church teaches and forming their own judgments with the light and wisdom of the Eastern Church. In the same light the Orthodox priest which is in contact with Catholic teaching is also becoming better informed with the light and wisdom of Catholicism to make better judgments as well. This combo effect is making our Churches more informed with the wisdom of both Churches. I see this a lot among our Catholic and Orthodox brethren which I had the honor to be in contact with.I don’t know any priest, Catholic or Orthodox that would agree with that, as far as the Church is concerned - it may be someone’s personal opinion.
That’s between you and your confessor, maybe he meant that for you specifically, the rest of us were not told this by the Church.
In particular I was referring to:I have not disagreed with Catholic moral teaching at all. You have misinterpreted what I have said. I have wonderful admiration to the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. It is one to follow.
One can commit a mortal sin in thought – without any action*. And even if one is not in any way wanting or willing to do the external action.I do not agree with the line of thinking as thoughts to be of anyway mortal in addressing to sexual matters. One needs to go through with an action of for instance of a lustful thought if it is to be a mortal sin. When Jesus refers to anyone looking at a woman lustfully you have to understand what He is implying here. There has to be this distinction between what lustful thoughts are directing one to do something that is very contrary to their moral nature and to what thoughts that can occur that can erupt sexual desire. The distinction Jesus is making in the Gospels is that you are willing to go ahead with this action if it was available to you. If someone has sexual thoughts but had resisted to perform the action how can that be mortal?
That’s what we’re taught (as least in the English world) but if you go with that approach, then clearly the ones with the more scrupulous consciences would be at a disadvantage. I think the Orthodox have a point, at least the ones who wrote that article. Left unchecked (without confession and some real examination of conscience) many will be led to believe unless they’ve killed someone, they are always in the state of sanctifying grace and don’t need confession. I don’t think that’s the Church’s teaching at all.The teaching is that unless you have committed mortal sins there is no reason in the world for you not to receive The Lord Jesus since it is at the Holy Communion that He cleanses us all from all venial sins. As long as you have committed only venial sins you have this right for The Lord to forgive and clean you.