Forgotten Sins & Confession/Communion

[Youngcatholic]

What do you do if you just went to confession, confessed all the sins you could remember, then remembered JUST before communion that you had committed a sin that you forgot to confess. Do you receive communion and confess that sin at your next confession, or do you NOT receive communion until you confess that particular sin. This happened to me recently, and I did receive communion. I am still not sure if the sin was venial or mortal, but it was serious enough that I wasn’t sure if forgetting it during the last confession should prevent me from taking communion.

 

[JimG]

If you were *not sure * whether it was venial or mortal, then it was not mortal, since you lacked full knowledge. Further, when it comes to the confessional, the saying is: forgotten sins are forgiven sins. You did not intentionally withhold it from confession, therefore it is forgiven. You may mention it at your next confession for your own peace of mind. But it need not have prevented you from receiving Holy Communion.

 

[Youngcatholic]

Thank you for your reply! That puts me at ease. However, you just made me think of another question- your statement that “forgotten sins are forgiven sins” makes me wonder… what if you forgot your sins mainly because you waited a long time in between confessions? (say a year, for instance.)

Why should I be forgiven for the sins I forgot because I delayed/procrastinated in terms of seeking confession, while another Cathoilic might be very deligent, seeking confession on a frequent basis for fear of forgetting sins. Wouldn’t that make me somehow responsible for my forgotten sins? Thank you.

 

[cyprian]

Youngcatholic:

Thank you for your reply! That puts me at ease. However, you just made me think of another question- your statement that “forgotten sins are forgiven sins” makes me wonder… what if you forgot your sins mainly because you waited a long time in between confessions? (say a year, for instance.)

Why should I be forgiven for the sins I forgot because I delayed/procrastinated in terms of seeking confession, while another Cathoilic might be very deligent, seeking confession on a frequent basis for fear of forgetting sins. Wouldn’t that make me somehow responsible for my forgotten sins? Thank you.

*Be * that diligent Catholic now!
frequent confession will help you on your way to holiness.
anyway as long as you didn’t intentionally “forget sins” at confession, all sins past and present are forgiven. Make sure to take time before confession to do a good examination of conscience, the Holy Spirit will guide you!

 

[JimG]

I agree with Cyprian.
Sure, if one delays confession for a long time, you are more apt to forget sins. Some people come to confession after 20 or 30 years, and it’s difficult if not impossible to recall every sin. Nevertheless, all those sins are forgiven. We cannot outdo God in mercy.

But frequent confession helps us to avoid sin and grow in holiness. That’s why it’s important.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

Fr. Corapi says that the devil attacks folks who keep worrying about past sins that might have not been mentioned. This is a scrupulus practice and can cause dispair and temptation to give up and give in to sin. Hang in there. Pray for the grace from God to accept his generous gift of forgiving you, even if you might have left accidently left out something in a prior confession.

Deacon Tony

 

[C_S_P_B]

Forgotten sins are forgiven but you still can confess them next time you go to confession. As the grace works, you will better be able to reflect back on your life and past sin.

As I become aware of my past sins, after starting periodic confession, I was able to identify more things that I was sorry for. As an act of contrition for those sins, I told the priest what I had previously confessed and told him about my additional reflections. Even though those sins had already been forgiven (because I was not aware of the seriousness or forgot to mention them) I received absolution and felt the grace.

Did I need to do this? No, but I still found it helpful because I personally needed the contrition before I could feel the grace.

Form your consience well, then let your consience be your guide.

 

[4_marks]

JimG:

I agree with Cyprian.
Sure, if one delays confession for a long time, you are more apt to forget sins. Some people come to confession after 20 or 30 years, and it’s difficult if not impossible to recall every sin. Nevertheless, all those sins are forgiven. We cannot outdo God in mercy.

But frequent confession helps us to avoid sin and grow in holiness. That’s why it’s important.

Absolutely!!!