Exciting news and a question about sin

[gswelch1s]

Hey guys, I have some exciting news, after 8 years of not going to the confessional I finally made a confession and went to daily mass. I’m so proud of myself for facing my fears and letting go of all the sins that were constantly on my back. Let me give you some context, I had been ready to make a confession for awhile but every time I was prepared and seemed ready I would flake out. I had a whole list on a notebook paper and everything, so I wouldn’t forget. This particular day I was riding a bus, had gotten off at my stop and got back on the bus because I thought I had forgotten my stuff. Only when I had gotten on I searched my bag again and found what I thought I had lost. Not wanting to ride the bus for a whole 30 minutes till it got back to my stop I had gotten off at a stop that was a 5 minute walk back home and went past a catholic church. Something drew me into that church, that particular day, I felt like I needed to go in even without my notebook paper. It was so strange to me that on the day I had prepared the least, I was most ready. I cried in that tiny confessional, I felt so much love mixed in with my embarrassment for disappointing my lord. And I was in awe at the fact that my penance was such a seemingly small prayer one that I have prayed constantly despite being in sin, small but so so powerful.

Now we get to my questions, I went to daily mass and received communion after confession and when I went home looked over my list and realized I forgot a few. For example when I did consistently got to confession 8+ years ago I would purposely leave out sins (I’m not sure if this is mortal I think it is).
If I forgot this sin and a few more but thought I was completely absolved does this still count as a sin (receiving communion in a state of mortal sin)?
Can you receive communion if you have sinned, but not mortal?
what all constitutes as mortal sin?

Forgive me I’ve been away for awhile.

Thank you, I’m really excited to restart my journey on being a practicing catholic, and I’m so thankful for that little church and the holy spirit for bringing me back.

 

[Arwing]

This is so great to hear! Thanks be to God. Reconciliation is such a wonderful thing.

If I forgot this sin and a few more but thought I was completely absolved does this still count as a sin (receiving communion in a state of mortal sin)

No. Actually you were completely absolved. And even if you weren’t (you were), you didn’t know, so would not have been culpable.

What you do if you realize that you’ve forgotten some mortal sins after you’ve been to confession is mention them next time you confess. They are forgiven (in this current confession where you’d forgotten them) as long as your confession was in good faith, and only need to be directly remitted through the sacrament. You do not leave the state of grace upon remembering them. And you may receive communion before confessing again, provided you do not commit additional mortal sin.

Also, you are not expected to remember every single sin from the past eight or whatever years. You don’t need to – and shouldn’t – dredge up the past trying to remember everything. Just don’t purposely omit a mortal sin you do know you’ve committed.

Can you receive communion if you have sinned, but not mortal?

Yes. Committing mortal sin means one must be absolved before receiving the Eucharist. Venial sin as far as I know is forgiven when one receives communion.

what all constitutes as mortal sin?

To start, read this:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm

In short,

“Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

You might have some questions about what exactly those mean, or about more specific examples, after having read the Catechism sections, in which case feel free to ask.

 

[gswelch1s]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Welcome back home!!!

 

[ichbinmaia]

Venial sin as far as I know is forgiven when one receives communion.

“Well, actually…” (jk) Although maybe this is also true (I have never heard this), the venial sin is supposed to be forgiven during the Penitential Rite/Act. And I’m not sure if this is right, but I think that — let’s pretend you got to Mass a little late — by saying the Confiteor you are also absolved from them. Also I’ve read that you should do a penance, nothing big, 1 (or a few) Hail Mary or Our Father, simply because penance left undone adds up to penance/converts to punishment in Purgatory.

P.S. I tend to sound rude, if I did I’m sorrry, it’s not what I meant at all

Edit: Welcome back gswelch1s!!!

 

[Vico]

…

If the was not an intention to omit the serious sin then the absolution would be complete, assuming that the rest of the requirements were met.

Canon Law (CIC)

Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.

If the remembered sin, previously forgotten, was a mortal sin then mention is at the next confession for completeness.

 

[HeDa]

There are those who have 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and even 70 years of sins to confess when they are received into the Catholic Church or return to the Catholic Church. Sure, their confession takes a while but it is basically impossible to remember all the sins they have committed during all those years. You do your best in remembering and if there is an unconfessed sin that one suddenly remembers and it keeps bothering you then confess it at your next confession.

From my experience, and when I have talked to adults who were received into the Catholic Church, we all say that preparing our confession is harder than actually confessing. When we go to confession we have accepted that we are sinners in need of forgiveness.

 

[JackMcCoy]

Congratulations on your confession. You have been absolved. Hallelujah!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Congrats on your return home to the Church!

 

[Buffalonative]

I too have recently made a confession after over 40 years without one. During my confession I saw Jesus sitting next to the priest. He was just sitting there with a concerned look on his face.

 

[Seagull]

Great story !
I had to gently smile, that you cried -

Today, before mass…I noticed someone made an appointment for confession -
And the Priest appeared and they closed the door…
I actually felt jealous -

But I’m happy for you - and you - following something almost spontaneous.