Forgetting sins in Confession

[Christ_Conquers]

Hi everyone,
For Confession, I always write my sins on a piece of paper and then, during Confession, usually glance at it so i don’t forget anything. At my last confession, after i thought i confessed everything and said: “for these and all my ins i am truly sorry” i started wondering if maybe i had missed some. So, while the priest was giving me advice, i looked at my paper very briefly and didn’t see or think of anything i missed so i didn’t say anything. Not long after i left, i remembered two sins that i forgot. I’m a little worried that i should have asked the priest if i could check my list better, because i’m pretty sure that thought came to mind during confession. I’m assuming that the confession is valid, but i’m still kinda worried because if i had checked my list better i probably would have seen the sins. Any help appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[bzkoss236]

From what I understand, even the sins you forgot have been forgiven, but you should still bring them up with your confessor the next time you go.

 

[Edmundus1581]

From what I understand, even the sins you forgot have been forgiven, but you should still bring them up with your confessor the next time you go.

That is correct. However you only need to bring up forgotten sins if they were mortal.

See Father Echert, Is it a sin to fail to confess forgotten (but later recalled) sins? [EWTN]. (Note “…forgotten or overlooked…”.)

If mortal sins are genuinely forgotten or overlooked, the absolution is valid; that is, all sins are forgiven. If this were not the case, penitents would constantly agonize over whether or not they have been forgiven in the sacrament. I am of the opinion that one may confess such forgotten mortal sins subsequently if remembered, but again, such is not necessary for a valid confession, past or present. It is an issue of the spiritual benefit of such a subsequent acknowledgement of an already forgiven sin. If your conscience urges you to confess it, do so, by all means. If not, then you are not strictly obliged.

(emphasis added)

 

[1love]

Do you struggle with scrupulousity? If so you may want to reconsider making a list…it seems helpful but it can actually make the problem much worse.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Hi everyone,
For Confession, I always write my sins on a piece of paper and then, during Confession, usually glance at it so i don’t forget anything. At my last confession, after i thought i confessed everything and said: “for these and all my ins i am truly sorry” i started wondering if maybe i had missed some. So, while the priest was giving me advice, i looked at my paper very briefly and didn’t see or think of anything i missed so i didn’t say anything. Not long after i left, i remembered two sins that i forgot. I’m a little worried that i should have asked the priest if i could check my list better, because i’m pretty sure that thought came to mind during confession. I’m assuming that the confession is valid, but i’m still kinda worried because if i had checked my list better i probably would have seen the sins. Any help appreciated.

Thanks!

Here’s Senior Apologist Jimmy Akin’s answer:

jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

Please keep in mind that it’s only required for **mortal **sins to be confessed.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Hi everyone,
For Confession, I always write my sins on a piece of paper and then, during Confession, usually glance at it so i don’t forget anything. At my last confession, after i thought i confessed everything and said: “for these and all my ins i am truly sorry” i started wondering if maybe i had missed some. So, while the priest was giving me advice, i looked at my paper very briefly and didn’t see or think of anything i missed so i didn’t say anything. Not long after i left, i remembered two sins that i forgot. I’m a little worried that i should have asked the priest if i could check my list better, because i’m pretty sure that thought came to mind during confession. I’m assuming that the confession is valid, but i’m still kinda worried because if i had checked my list better i probably would have seen the sins. Any help appreciated.

Thanks!

You did not intentionally leave them out.

Ergo, it’s fine. Mention them next time.

 

[Bayoubeefmaster]

You are forgiven you’re fine. Just say them in the next confession to get them off your chest.

 

[Bookcat]

If mortal sins are genuinely forgotten or overlooked, the absolution is valid; that is, all sins are forgiven. If this were not the case, penitents would constantly agonize over whether or not they have been forgiven in the sacrament. I am of the opinion that one may confess such forgotten mortal sins subsequently if remembered, but again, such is not necessary for a valid confession, past or present. It is an issue of the spiritual benefit of such a subsequent acknowledgement of an already forgiven sin. If your conscience urges you to confess it, do so, by all means. If not, then you are not strictly obliged.

I am here responding to the above quote (not directly to the thread)

The quote from the Priest there who has I believe gone to his eternal reward since (eternal rest grant to him-- is incorrect in so far as the second part of what he said there.

One is obliged to confess forgotten *mortal *sins (if remembered). It is not simply an issue of “spiritual benefit” though there is that too. It is obligation. One is to submit them to the keys directly in confession.

A few sources:

Jimmy Akin Senior Apologist of Catholic Answers: jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

Fr. John Hardon catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=33610

Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI

1. Which sins must be confessed?

All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

(note: grave sin = mortal sin)

(now those who are say scrupulous can start to want to confess all sorts of things not needed --the need a regular confessor to guide them. They can even be in a somewhat different boat)