General Confession...I need help finding information on it!

[Shoshana]

Hello. I am having a difficult time finding any information on general confession. I have made 2 of them in my life…and yet, I cannot find it in the Catechism. When I do research, I type in general confession and I am given information of confession and/or general absolution…which is information that I do not need.

Can anyone help me…?

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[stbruno]

During Lent, our parish will hold a Penitential service. Usually there are prayers, a reflection by either a priest or a deacon, time for people to do an examination of conscience, perhaps even a time for prayers of contrition but what is necessary is individual confession. And as many as 6 priests will be present to hear individual confession and give absolution.There is no such thing allowed in the church like general absolution…which is what I believe you are referring to. In our diocese, parishes would like to do this, but canon law says, the only time, general absolution would be allowed is in time of war when a whole platoon is going into battle, then general absolution may be permitted. For sins to be absolved, individual and private confession of your sins particular mortal or grave sins must be said before a priest in order for them to be forgiven and for you to receive your penance.

 

[Shoshana]

stbruno:

During Lent, our parish will hold a Penitential service. Usually there are prayers, a reflection by either a priest or a deacon, time for people to do an examination of conscience, perhaps even a time for prayers of contrition but what is necessary is individual confession. And as many as 6 priests will be present to hear individual confession and give absolution.There is no such thing allowed in the church like general absolution…which is what I believe you are referring to. In our diocese, parishes would like to do this, but canon law says, the only time, general absolution would be allowed is in time of war when a whole platoon is going into battle, then general absolution may be permitted. For sins to be absolved, individual and private confession of your sins particular mortal or grave sins must be said before a priest in order for them to be forgiven and for you to receive your penance.

Hi stbruno,

I have been to these kind of confessions. Our last bishop and the new one will not allow general confessions/general absolutions on a community level.

What I am trying to find is information that a person makes a very deep examination of conscience on one’s sins from the past as far back as possible. Usually this is done prior to a big event (marriage, ordination, exorcism, etc).

Buth thank you anyway…

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[JimG]

A general confession is the same as any other confession except that it’s intended to cover your entire life.

One would usually do this in an extraordinary circumstance, such as: first confession; confession after many years; returning to the Church after many years, a change in one’s state in life–i.e. just beforegetting married, or being ordained; duirng a retreat. Or if you’ve just reached a point in your life when you think an overall backward look would do you good.

Start out by saying, “Father, I’d like to make a general confession,” to alert him that this will be longer than normal. It’s probably best to do by appointment.

 

[Shoshana]

JimG:

A general confession is the same as any other confession except that it’s intended to cover your entire life.

One would usually do this in an extraordinary circumstance, such as: first confession; confession after many years; returning to the Church after many years, a change in one’s state in life–i.e. just beforegetting married, or being ordained; duirng a retreat. Or if you’ve just reached a point in your life when you think an overall backward look would do you good.

Start out by saying, “Father, I’d like to make a general confession,” to alert him that this will be longer than normal. It’s probably best to do by appointment.

Thank you for your answer Jim. I have made two myself…and probably will not do so again. I need documentation on this, would you know where to go? I have tried many catholic sites…

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[JimG]

Shshana, I did a quick search and didn’t come up with anything. Will try again later. In the meantime someone else may come up with a link.

 

[urquhart]

From the Baltimore Catechism:
catholic.net/teaching_the_faith/template_article.phtml?channel_id=14&article_id=803#RTFToC6

1. What is a general confession?
2. When should a general confession be made?

 

[jjwilkman]

you have to confess your sins in person to a priest of God.
unless you are a baptist or something.

 

[ames61]

Shoshana:

Thank you for your answer Jim. I have made two myself…and probably will not do so again. I need documentation on this, would you know where to go? I have tried many catholic sites…

Shoshana,
What kind of documentation? Why its okay? when its called for? How to do it?

I know its typically done in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatious. See: www.catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/ignatiiusloyola/spiritualexercises.cfm

The when & Why would be:

Whoever, of his own accord, wants to make a General Confession, will, among many other advantages, find three in making it here.

First. The first: Though whoever goes to Confession every year is not obliged to make a General Confession, by making it there is greater profit and merit, because of the greater actual sorrow for all the sins and wickedness of his whole life.

Second. The second: In the Spiritual Exercises, sins and their malice are understood more intimately, than in the time when one was not so giving himself to interior things. Gaining now more knowledge of and sorrow for them, he will have greater profit and merit than he had before.

Third. The third is: In consequence, having made a better Confession and being better disposed, one finds himself in condition and prepared to receive the Blessed Sacrament: the reception of which is an aid not only not to fall into sin, but also to preserve the increase of grace.

This General Confession will be best made immediately after the Exercises of the First Week.

The how would be:

First Point. The first Point is to give thanks to God our Lord for the benefits received.

Second Point. The second, to ask grace to know our sins and cast them out.

Third Point. The third, to ask account of our soul from the hour that we rose up to the present Examen, hour by hour, or period by period: and first as to thoughts, and then as to words, and then as to acts, in the same order as was mentioned in the Particular Examen.

Fourth Point. The fourth, to ask pardon of God our Lord for the faults.

Fifth Point. The fifth, to purpose amendment with His grace.

There is a general examen (sic) of conscience on the site referenced above, about 4/5 down the page.

I’ve done a general confession twice, each time when I had reached a particular stage in spiritual journey where I began to see lifelong actions as more sinful than I had in the past. Granted I wasn’t as culpable when I didn’t know they were sinful, but by confessing them in a general confession, I could examine the patterns of sin that were life long, and hopefully receive the grace to begin to master them.

 

[puzzleannie]

you will find a description of general confession, and steps to prepare for it, in any guide to the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola, Fr. Hardons is especially good.

 

[Shoshana]

Thank you everyone! Having made the Spiritual Exercises myself 3 times, this did not come to mind…ah…the blessing of community!

The reason for this query has to do with a friend of mine who does believe/or see the wonderful graces received by this kind of confession. I was unable to answer her question…although myself have done it twice. Once to prepare myself for the Exorcism ministry (not mine but another’s) and when I visited the Holy Land for the second time. And what graces I received on that trip!!! The devil was working overtime…

Again thank you for your time and effort…God bless you all!

Thank you Jesus for the blessing of Catholic Answers’ friends! :dancing:

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[JimG]

Here are a couple of other links:

latin-mass-society.org/sacramentofpenance.htm (see the section on general confession)

catholic.net/teaching_the_faith/template_article.phtml?channel_id=14&article_id=803#RTFToC6 (baltimore catechism)