Forgetting to confess mortal sin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Catholic102886
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Catholic102886

Guest
So Im 23 years old and I attended Catholic school from K-8th grade and after 8th grade I barley attended mass and never went to confession. About 6 and a half months ago I came back to the Church and have been going to confession every two weeks. Having said that for what ever reason this past week I have been having memories of things I did In high school that im pretty positive I did not confess when I confessed my laundry list of mortal sins about six months ago and some of them are mortal sins. This has been weighing pretty heavy on my conscience now since I remember doing this stuff. My question is should I just tell the priest in my next confession that I had accidentally left out some sins six months ago when I came back to the Church and I feel really bad about it and want to confess them now? Thanks alot.
 
Catholic102886 said:
So Im 23 years old and I attended Catholic school from K-8th grade and after 8th grade I barley attended mass and never went to confession. About 6 and a half months ago I came back to the Church and have been going to confession every two weeks. Having said that for what ever reason this past week I have been having memories of things I did In high school that im pretty positive I did not confess when I confessed my laundry list of mortal sins about six months ago and some of them are mortal sins. This has been weighing pretty heavy on my conscience now since I remember doing this stuff. My question is should I just tell the priest in my next confession that I had accidentally left out some sins six months ago when I came back to the Church and I feel really bad about it and want to confess them now? Thanks alot.
Click to expand...
You do not have to confess these sins because they are already forgiven, however, you can and are encouraged to confess them at your next confession.
 
TomD123 is entirely correct. But maybe it would ease your mind to schedule a general confession with your priest. Tell him you would like to confess all the sins of your past life to the extent possible. You can summarize them. It is impossible to remember everything. Once you do that, it would be best to put your past sins behind you, and not keep returning to them or wondering if you have confessed adequately.

Absolution in the sacrament of penance absolves all your sins, including those you have forgotten.
 
Catholic102886 said:
So Im 23 years old and I attended Catholic school from K-8th grade and after 8th grade I barley attended mass and never went to confession. About 6 and a half months ago I came back to the Church and have been going to confession every two weeks. Having said that for what ever reason this past week I have been having memories of things I did In high school that im pretty positive I did not confess when I confessed my laundry list of mortal sins about six months ago and some of them are mortal sins. This has been weighing pretty heavy on my conscience now since I remember doing this stuff. My question is should I just tell the priest in my next confession that I had accidentally left out some sins six months ago when I came back to the Church and I feel really bad about it and want to confess them now? Thanks alot.
Click to expand...
If you forgot them, I think that it is fine. However, if you hid them because you were afraid, I think it is better to confess them. Absolution forgives all sins, those that you have forgotten, and the ones you confessed.
 
Actually…if one *forgets *to confess a moral sin…while it is forgiven with absolution (for one intended to confess all ones mortal sins…but just forgot…one did not hide it)

Then one is* obliged* to confess that mortal sin in the next confession! (unless one forgets it again…then the next one…)

(Little note: Now a scrupulous person …often confuses things…so they would need to speak with their confessor)
 
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.

(note grave sin here means mortal sin. serious sin also means the same)
 
Thanks a lot for all the responses!! I ended up going to confession this morning at a local church that has confession before all masses. I couldn’t stand having a guilty conscience for one more day, It was embarrassing to say the least but it felt great to finally have all my mortal sins confessed and to have absolution. Thanks a lot!
 
Catholic102886 said:
Thanks a lot for all the responses!! I ended up going to confession this morning at a local church that has confession before all masses. I couldn’t stand having a guilty conscience for one more day, It was embarrassing to say the least but it felt great to finally have all my mortal sins confessed and to have absolution. Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
remember though that any moral sin that is FORGOTTEN honestly…is already FORGIVEN with the absolution…one needs to only confess it as being forgotten the next confession…no need to go sooner…

and of course one need not on that account omit communion…
 
Okay thanks a lot! I can sometimes be scrupulous and get really worried about past sins but after today I am going to try my hardest not to dwell on past sins that I have confessed and only work on being the best disciple of Christ I can be.
 
Catholic102886 said:
Okay thanks a lot! I can sometimes be scrupulous and get really worried about past sins but after today I am going to try my hardest not to dwell on past sins that I have confessed and only work on being the best disciple of Christ I can be.
Click to expand...
Great! Yes…keep your mind on Christ

and

as Paul says:

[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8…RSV)

and take these readings for meditation …

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20100407_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20100403_veglia-pasquale_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/angelus/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_reg_20100405_easter-monday_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/angelus/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_reg_20100411_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/urbi/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100404_urbi-easter_en.html
 
The answers to the question about forgetting to confess mortal sins is confusing. One answer seems to be the most in line with what the Catholic church teaches and that is it must be confessed when you remember it in your next Confession. I am a bit confused about who answers these questions - are they just members or are these questions answered by experts?
 
Edwinita said:
The answers to the question about forgetting to confess mortal sins is confusing. One answer seems to be the most in line with what the Catholic church teaches and that is it must be confessed when you remember it in your next Confession. I am a bit confused about who answers these questions - are they just members or are these questions answered by experts?
Click to expand...
In this forum …the answers come from just members…and we have varied backgrounds…

As for my answers…I suppose it would be good to note that I have a degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in addition to my other studies…

Have a Blessed Lords Day
 
Edwinita said:
The answers to the question about forgetting to confess mortal sins is confusing. One answer seems to be the most in line with what the Catholic church teaches and that is it must be confessed when you remember it in your next Confession. I am a bit confused about who answers these questions - are they just members or are these questions answered by experts?
Click to expand...
Answers from experts are available on the Ask An Apologist forum. You can search there to see if the question you have in mind has been answered already. If not, feel free to submit it now.

Opinions and misinformation abound on the rest of the forums. Usually things get cleared up when someone comes along with a citation, but not quite 100% of the time. Unfortunately, the discussion forums are not moderated for accuracy! 🙂

Betsy
 
TomD123 said:
You do not have to confess these sins because they are already forgiven, however, you can and are encouraged to confess them at your next confession.
Click to expand...
I think you are mistaken here. If you remember a forgotten mortal sin you are required to confess it in your next confession although it has been forgiven in the first.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top