Forgotten mortal sin/Holy Communion

[TiggerS]

Someone asked (not here on CAF) if one honestly and sincerely forgets a mortal sin in Confession, is one able to go to Holy Communion if they sincerely resolve to confess it at the very next Confession and do so and do go to Confession as soon as possible. I advised that one could - but after reading something think that I may be very wrong. What I read seemed to state that one could go to Holy Communion only if one made a perfect act of contrition.

Hence, I need to ask two things.

• Have I advised the person wrongly and what should I have stated?
• How does one explain a perfect act of contrition which I have thought was sorrow because of God’s Goodness. Now I am doubting myself.

Thank you - Barb

 

[baltobetsy]

You advised the person correctly. All sins are forgiven with the absolution, unless they are purposely withheld. The forgotten mortal sin must be brought up in the next confession. We are obliged to confess all mortal sins of which we are aware, so, as long as we remember it the next time we go to confession, we must confess it then.

There is no need for an act of perfect contrition, as the absolution has taken care of the sin.

What you read may have been referring to what to do when one has committed a mortal sin and is unable to get to confession. Perfect contrition, which includes the intention to confess as soon as possible, remits mortal sin. However, unless there is a very unusual circumstance, one still may not receive Communion until the sin has been confessed and absolved. Imperfect contrition (also known as attrition) is sufficient for forgiveness in Confession - the sacrament makes up for our imperfect motives.

You did fine!

Betsy

 

[TiggerS]

What you read may have been referring to what to do when one has committed a mortal sin and is unable to get to confession. Perfect contrition, which includes the intention to confess as soon as possible, remits mortal sin. However, unless there is a very unusual circumstance, one still may not receive Communion until the sin has been confessed and absolved. Imperfect contrition (also known as attrition) is sufficient for forgiveness in Confession - the sacrament makes up for our imperfect motives.

Thank you very much indeed. But I think I have gone amiss however and led the poor man astray. He had forgotten a mortal sin quite honestly in Confession and was asking me if he could go to Holy Communion before his next Confession. I advised him that he could go to Holy Communion, providing he confessed the mortal sin at his very next Confession and to resolve to go as soon as possible and this would be for him after Mass and Holy Communion.
From what you have stated, it seems he cannot go to Holy Communion until that forgotten sin is confessed in Confession. I will be reasurring him, however, that he is not at fault if he did go to Holy Communion, since I had advised him wrongly. It is I who am at fault, although not culpabably, since I was so sure that he could go to Holy Communion under the aforementioned conditions (first para). I will be mentioning this in my own next Confession, although I did not deliberately mislead him. It will be a ‘just in case’ situation for me and I will mention it to Father next Confession.
Where or how I had the information in my first paragraph above, I have no idea. I was so very sure that what I initially told him was correct. Mea maxima culpa! I have learnt something and something very important.

Thank you very much for your reply!

TS

 

[baltobetsy]

Thank you very much indeed. **But I think I have gone amiss however and led the poor man astray. ** He had forgotten a mortal sin quite honestly in Confession and was asking me if he could go to Holy Communion before his next Confession. I advised him that he could go to Holy Communion, providing he confessed the mortal sin at his very next Confession and to resolve to go as soon as possible and this would be for him after Mass and Holy Communion.
From what you have stated, it seems he cannot go to Holy Communion until that forgotten sin is confessed in Confession.

No, this (the parts in bold) is not correct. You were right the first time. The forgotten sin was forgiven, even though he has not mentioned it yet, and he MAY indeed receive Communion. He is still required to confess the sin if he remembers it the next time he goes to Confession. If he forgets again, that’s OK - once forgiven, it’s always forgiven. He just must confess it when he remembers it. The paragraph of mine that you quoted was referring to people who have not been to Confession at all since committing the mortal sin and are concerned that they would not be saved if they died before confessing. You know the question - “What if I get hit by a bus on the way to Confession?”

What he should do: If he wants to be really careful, he should make himself a little note to remember this sin the next time he would normally go to Confession. He says in that Confession, “I forgot this sin the last time.” He may receive Communion in the interim. Just as you told him.

What you should do: Relax and be thankful to God for helping you to care so much.

Betsy

 

[TiggerS]

Thank you very much, Betsy. I found this on Quick Questions in “This Rock” catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/confession
No harm, thankfully, has been done since the man in question despite what I told him decided for his own personal devotional reasons not to receive Holy Communion until he confessed the forgotten mortal sin. I have given him a copy of what appears below and the link. I will indeed now relax about it all and am thankful that it all is sorted out. And thank you again too, very much, for your kindness and information.
Thank you for the tip about making a little note for Confession - I always do this and will convey the tip on to him.

Q.

Ireceive the Eucharist every Sunday; however, should I do so if I have an unconfessed mortal sin on my conscience? A priest told me as long as I am actively trying to eliminate this sin from my life, the Eucharist is helpful, and I shouldn’t deprive myself of the grace present in the Eucharist. He said if I stop trying to eliminate this sin, then don’t present myself, but as long as I’m trying, don’t deny the Eucharist to myself. Is this good advice?

”

A:
Three requirements must be met for sin to be mortal: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. Since you say that you are “actively trying to eliminate this sin” from your life, your priest may believe that your action lacks deliberate consent and, therefore, does not qualify as mortal sin. If this is the case, the Eucharist may benefit you greatly.

On the other hand, if your sin is indeed mortal sin, then you should not receive the Eucharist without first going to confession.

The Code of Canon Law is clear that a person conscious of mortal sin may only receive the Eucharist under grave circumstances:
A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible. (CIC 916)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains,
The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: “Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.” Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of reconciliation before coming to Communion. (CCC 1384-1385)
I recommend that, after engaging in grave matter, you go to confession as soon as possible and then receive the Eucharist as often as possible. “By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin” (CCC 1395).