How do you confess sins of omission?

[Batfink]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice as to what to say in the confessional. I know how to confess sins of omission in specific circumstances, (like I write to a man on death row, but I’ve neglected him recently, I’ve sometimes been guilty of wasting my employer’s time etc), but I know how to confess those. What I’m wondering about is how to confess general inaction…

What I mean is, when examining my conscience, I find myself guilty of not acting to help my neighbour, but in a general way. There have been no specific instances where I have seen someone in need and failed to help, but I just think that I don’t do anything positive to help. Before I had a family, I used to volunteer with a couple of charities, campaign politically for social justice etc., but now all I ever do is donate money. I realise my priorities must be different now I have a child, but I still know that there is room in my life for me to do something that I’m not doing.

Since it’s a non-specific thing, how would I confess frequency? What I’m used to is a more ‘chatty’ style of confession where I would just say everything that I’ve said above, maybe slightly less repetitive/more fluently. However, I’ve noticed people here criticise that approach and advocate the clipped name of sin- frequency-any circumstances which affect its gravity. I can do that for sins which have a name and a number, but what do I do for ‘I’m lazy and selfish and do nothing to help others except those already close to me’?

Please help; I want to make a good confession!

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

I think you can break down the process of confession to the following steps:

1. Examine your conscience
2. Sincerely be sorry for your sins
3. Confess your sins
4. Resolve to change your life
5. Do the assigned penance

If you feel that you been uncharitable (e.g. showing a lack of love) simply confess it as such. Tell the priest that, although you may have not committed a specific sin through action, through inaction you’ve allowed yourself to become separated from the will of God. The question is, what are you going to do to change that?

 

[brikar]

I had a question similar to this and my priest told me I can just say I have sins of omission. So, that’s what I do. I don’t say a number.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

I had a question similar to this and my priest told me I can just say I have sins of omission. So, that’s what I do. I don’t say a number.

Yes, I’m personally not a fan of enumerating sins. Seems a little too pedantic but I try to recall to the best of my ability. I guess the goal it to confess the major sins. If you have too many to remember, I think that you need to go to confession a little more often.

 

[brikar]

I had a question similar to this and my priest told me I can just say I have sins of omission. So, that’s what I do. I don’t say a number.

 

[Bookcat]

I had a question similar to this and my priest told me I can just say I have sins of omission. So, that’s what I do. I don’t say a number.

If it is mortal sins of omission one is required to confess them in number and kind (and circumstance that changes the sin like the person you let starve to death was your brother). ('Ommissions" of such need to be taken care of…if one hid the mortal sins one will need to usually go back and give all the other mortal sins as well from that confession and those since …if one forgot etc…then they need to be confessed in the next confession…those though with scruples should speak with their regular confessor for they can often fear where there is no need etc…)

If it was a venial omission…it can be good to say something of what it was “Neglected some duties at work”

 

[Bookcat]

One says what the ommited:

I did not care for my dying mother 1x (taking it to be serious here)
I was a little neglectful in my duties at work
I ommitted such and such

Numbers are not needed for venial sins…one can say them rather generally too (unlike mortal sins)

But if one wants one can say give them or give an approximation since they are not required for venial sins…“often” “daily” alot

If your confession venial selfishness…just say “selfishness” if one wants to be more specific (which may or may not be helpful …depending) one can say I was selfish with my time and would did not help my friend with something he asked me to.

Also remember one does not need to try to “get” all ones venial sins directly…sometimes if one does it can be a long list depending on the week! It can be better to pick several to particularly work on and be sorry for the rest…

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

If it is mortal sins of omission one is required to confess them in number and kind (and circumstance that changes the sin like the person you let starve to death was your brother).

This is a very good point. If it is a mortal sin of omission, then enumerating it would be important. I was working under that assumption that the sins of omission were going to be venial in nature but that is not always the case.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice as to what to say in the confessional. I know how to confess sins of omission in specific circumstances, (like I write to a man on death row, but I’ve neglected him recently, I’ve sometimes been guilty of wasting my employer’s time etc), but I know how to confess those. What I’m wondering about is how to confess general inaction…

What I mean is, when examining my conscience, I find myself guilty of not acting to help my neighbour, but in a general way. T!

there can be no sin when there is no specific obligation binding under law, commandments or church law. a good intention to do something you later neglect is in no way a sin of omission. Relax. don’t make it harder than it is. We already have enough commandments, don’t make up your own.

Suppose you did omit something binding under law–Mass attendance may be the most common–you simply say, I missed Mass deliberately and willfully two times.

You can ask the priest after confessing your real sins, that you feel a void because you are neglecting general duties of charity etc. and ask for his guidance, but don’t confess sins that do not exist.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

there can be no sin when there is no specific obligation binding under law, commandments or church law. a good intention to do something you later neglect is in no way a sin of omission.

I do agree with what you say. However, there is the concept of a sin of omission…

oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Omission

The concept entails not simply neglecting to do something but failing to do something that which you ought to do. We need to be clear of the difference, which can be confusing.

 

[Batfink]

Thank you for your replies.

I’m not prone to scrupulosity in general, but I really thought that failing in charity would be a grave sin.

Is it not true that charity towards one’s neighbour would be binding under law? I know that it’s not mentioned in the 10 Commandments, but it would seem to be encompased in Jesus’ numerous exhortations to love our neighbour (the Sheep & the Goats comes to mind especially), John’s discourses on what love is, and the general teachings of the Church about our duties etc. I’m not going for a sola scriptura argument, I just mean that the whole tenor of Christianity seems to be about loving those in need in any way we can.

I suppose it could be called sloth? Or oppressing the poor and defrauding them of their wages are two of the ‘sins which cry out to heaven’ and I could be said to be complicit in these by failing to act.

Can. 222 §2 says:

[The Christian faithful] are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources.

I appreciate you trying to reassure me, Annie, and it may be that I’m worrying about nothing. But if, as you say, we have a duty of charity, then is neglecting it not a sin?

SoldierofGod - I know what I’m going to do to change, although I would still like the priest’s advice, but I do need to confess this as well (if it does turn out to be a sin). Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Bookcat]

Yes there can be grave sins (mortal sin) against charity…

 

[puzzleannie]

I
The concept entails not simply neglecting to do something but failing to do something that which you ought to do. .

I take issue with OP’s definition of “ought”. As I said, “ought” should mean something that is a direct obligation or duty of your state in life, or something binding in law, not something you have told yourself would be a good thing to do, or you want to try to do, or you wish you could do.

I am bound to pray daily so if I fail that can be a sin.
I am not bound to pray the LOTH, although I have resolved to do so, so failing in that is not a sin of omission.

I am bound to attend Sunday Mass, so failure is a sin of omission. I am not bound to attend daily Mass, although it is something I try to do and feel bad when I cannot. No sin.

I am bound to contribute time, talent and treasure to the support of the Church and God’s poor. If I don’t do that in any way through deliberate negligence or rejection of that law of the Church, that is a sin of omission. I have done that most years through a tithe based on taxable income, but if I give less one year, fail to volunteer at the food bank, that is not a sin.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

I take issue with OP’s definition of “ought”. As I said, “ought” should mean something that is a direct obligation or duty of your state in life, or something binding in law, not something you have told yourself would be a good thing to do, or you want to try to do, or you wish you could do.

I am bound to pray daily so if I fail that can be a sin.
I am not bound to pray the LOTH, although I have resolved to do so, so failing in that is not a sin of omission.

I am bound to attend Sunday Mass, so failure is a sin of omission. I am not bound to attend daily Mass, although it is something I try to do and feel bad when I cannot. No sin.

I am bound to contribute time, talent and treasure to the support of the Church and God’s poor. If I don’t do that in any way through deliberate negligence or rejection of that law of the Church, that is a sin of omission. I have done that most years through a tithe based on taxable income, but if I give less one year, fail to volunteer at the food bank, that is not a sin.

You raise some good points. It’s important to differentiate between true obligations and perceived obligations.

 

[puzzleannie]

an similar issue that gets raised here all the time is “promises to God” as in, I made a promise to God to stop smoking, is it a sin if I light up? We cannot make promises binding under law except by permission, and unless we meet the conditions. For instance I cannot make religious vows without the permission of the bishop or religious superior of an order, and then only after proper preparation. So if I made such a vow privately and then violated it, there would be no sin, because I cannot even make such a binding vow. An underage person cannot make any sort of promise binding under law, so say a 12 year old promises to remain a virgin, but later marries, she has broken no vow and committed no sin.

 

[PJM]

=Batfink;7957285]Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice as to what to say in the confessional. I know how to confess sins of omission in specific circumstances, (like I write to a man on death row, but I’ve neglected him recently, I’ve sometimes been guilty of wasting my employer’s time etc), but I know how to confess those. What I’m wondering about is how to confess general inaction…

What I mean is, when examining my conscience, I find myself guilty of not acting to help my neighbour, but in a general way. There have been no specific instances where I have seen someone in need and failed to help, but I just think that I don’t do anything positive to help. Before I had a family, I used to volunteer with a couple of charities, campaign politically for social justice etc., but now all I ever do is donate money. I realise my priorities must be different now I have a child, but I still know that there is room in my life for me to do something that I’m not doing.

Since it’s a non-specific thing, how would I confess frequency? What I’m used to is a more ‘chatty’ style of confession where I would just say everything that I’ve said above, maybe slightly less repetitive/more fluently. However, I’ve noticed people here criticise that approach and advocate the clipped name of sin- frequency-any circumstances which affect its gravity. I can do that for sins which have a name and a number, but what do I do for ‘I’m lazy and selfish and do nothing to help others except those already close to me’?

Please help; I want to make a good confession!

Sins of OMISSION ought to be confessed WHEN we have specific examples of Failing in this or that area.

I had an opportunity to help a sick neighbor or friend BUT DIDN"T

I Had an OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLE … BUT DIDN’T

I HAD an OPPORTUNITY to voluenter for … BUT choose not to

I was asked to fill in as a …but made an excuse not too

BUT BE SURE THEIR WAS NO VALID REASON FOR NOT DOING IT.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[FrancesMonica]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice as to what to say in the confessional. I know how to confess sins of omission in specific circumstances, (like I write to a man on death row, but I’ve neglected him recently, I’ve sometimes been guilty of wasting my employer’s time etc), but I know how to confess those. What I’m wondering about is how to confess general inaction…

What I mean is, when examining my conscience, I find myself guilty of not acting to help my neighbour, but in a general way. There have been no specific instances where I have seen someone in need and failed to help, but I just think that I don’t do anything positive to help. Before I had a family, I used to volunteer with a couple of charities, campaign politically for social justice etc., but now all I ever do is donate money. I realise my priorities must be different now I have a child, but I still know that there is room in my life for me to do something that I’m not doing.

Since it’s a non-specific thing, how would I confess frequency? What I’m used to is a more ‘chatty’ style of confession where I would just say everything that I’ve said above, maybe slightly less repetitive/more fluently. However, I’ve noticed people here criticise that approach and advocate the clipped name of sin- frequency-any circumstances which affect its gravity. I can do that for sins which have a name and a number, but what do I do for ‘I’m lazy and selfish and do nothing to help others except those already close to me’?

Please help; I want to make a good confession!

 

[Carlan]

Generally, most of us are most aware of the deliberate mortal sin we commit. The concern of omission would be our lack of concern and the indifference we feel to ward our neighbor in general, of course if we are guilty of direct blatant neglect, when we are able to help and care for an obvious need, then we should confess that. Other wise in general I would say I am sorry for all of my sins of omission. Good examples from Pat…:shrug:Hope that makes sense, Peace, Carlan