Forgetting something in confession

[Mary_Margaret_1]

… what if you go to confession but you forget a sin which was venial or maybe even mortal? Can you take communion? Or do you have to confess the sin you forgot before recieving the host?

Thanks everybody.

 

[Imperial_Guard]

Well, if you forgot a sin while in confession (and didn’t try to hid the sin), then you are forgiven and may recieve our Lord. Feel free to confess it at your next confession though if you wish.

 

[Joseph6279]

I’m not quite sure that it’s that simple. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong. Certainly, if it’s a venial sin then you don’t need to confess it in a future confession, and strictly speaking you are not even required to confess every venial sin in order to receive absolution. As for a forgotten mortal sin, it seems to me that one should return to confession for that. Should one receive Communion before they make it back to confession? I don’t know the answer to that. Imperial Guard, can you back up that all mortal sins are forgiven in confession though they were inadvertently not confessed?

 

[Edmundus1581]

I’m not quite sure that it’s that simple. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong. Certainly, if it’s a venial sin then you don’t need to confess it in a future confession, and strictly speaking you are not even required to confess every venial sin in order to receive absolution.** As for a forgotten mortal sin, it seems to me that one should return to confession for that. Should one receive Communion before they make it back to confession? I don’t know the answer to that. Imperial Guard, can you back up that all mortal sins are forgiven in confession though they were inadvertently not confessed?**

That’s a good clarification of the question! Thanks!

Please see Fr Serpa’s answer in Ask An Apologist…

First of all, when we go to Confession, so long as we don’t deliberately conceal any mortal sins, **all of our sins (even the ones we have forgotten) are forgiven. **Should we remember and un-confessed mortal sin, then we must mention it that next time we go to Confession as and expression of our sorrow for having committed it. But the sin itself is already forgiven.

So, to apply this answer directly to the questions of, when we inadvertently omit a mortal sin in confession: 1. Is it forgiven? 2. May we receive communion until we confess it? 3. Should we return to confession for this sins?..

1. The sin is forgiven. Gone. Past. We are in a state of grace.
2. We are in a state of grace, so we continue to receive the sacraments, without compunction.
3. We must confess it “next time we go to Confession”, ie. there is no need to return to confession specifically for this forgotten sin.
4. [To the OP’s question] The above only applies to mortal sins. Venial sins never prevent us from receiving the sacraments. If we forget to confess a venial sin then there is no need to mention it in a later confession.

 

[Bookcat]

If one intended to confess all ones mortal sins and were contrite etc for all mortal sins and simply forgot one that did not come to mind …it is absolved with the rest “indirectly” – however one is obliged to confess it in the next confession (if one remember it of course some may never come to mind ever).

That is if it was Mortal.

And one need not go to confession sooner…nor refrain on that account in terms of Holy Communion.

If it was not mortal – then one need not confess it.

(now I will note for the those who struggle with scrupulosity --that they can sometimes start wanting to confess again all sorts of things not needful --their regular confessor can guide them).

 

[Mary_Margaret_1]

Thank you all so much!!! Now I know I can recieve without compunction tomorrow.

God bless all!!!