How To Confess Past, Forgotten Sins (an article from Father Zuhlsdorf)

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I don’t get this and would appreciate some help.

If this is in effect what happens
Keep in mind that when you make a good confession, to the best of your ability, even the sins that you have forgotten are forgiven.
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why would this be necessary?
If you remember them later, include them in your confession, by all means.
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Pfaffenhoffen said:
👍
I do not let this happen.
Always in the end of confession, I confess all my past sins and my forgotten sins.
End of all.
No unfinished business.
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Yes, I end by saying “for these and all my sins, I seek forgiveness.” Sorted!
 
Pfaffenhoffen said:
👍
I do not let this happen.
Always in the end of confession, I confess all my past sins and my forgotten sins.
End of all.
No unfinished business.
Click to expand...
philial said:
Yes, I end by saying “for these and all my sins, I seek forgiveness.” Sorted!
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Such does not constitute and end of all…with no unfinished business. It is a very good practice for it makes clear that you intend to include the forgotten sins. I do it myself.

But* if one remembers a mortal sin* that one has not confessed in number and kind (and circumstance that changes it like it was your Brother you murdered) then one is obliged to confess it in the next confession.

(Note: those who are scrupulous I will add for such readers “may” be in a different boat…for they can often start trying to confess things that were already confessed etc as if they have to do so again…they ought to have a regular confessor and discuss things with him).
 
Santi2 said:
I don’t get this and would appreciate some help.

If this is in effect what happens

why would this be necessary?
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Because it is a divine law…

One has simply “not confessed it yet”.

One must confess all mortal sins in number and kind (and circumstance that changes it such as it was your brother you murdered).

If I committed adultery 3x and I committed also murder and I went to confession and confessed the murder but due to my nervousness I forgot the adultery 3x …but I intended to confess it and was contrite for it etc…but just honestly forgot to confess such…well it was “indirectly absolved” along with the murder for all mortal sins are absolved together. One cannot not be “mostly dead” one is either among the living or among the dead.

But the obligation to confess all my mortal sins still remains. (though there are exceptions…such as I may forget it forever and never remember it so it is “impossible” to confess it (see note above too)). For it has not been confessed (see Canon Law etc).

Such still needs to be “submitted directly to the keys”.

In a similar way --if your one an airplane that is crashing and a Priest there gives everyone “general absolution” and you are rightly disposed and thus that mortal sin that you committed was absolved then and there. If you survive…you still have an obligation to confess it. For it has not been confessed. And actually in the case of general absolution one has the obligation to confess it as soon as possible. Where as in a “forgotten mortal sin” one does not need to go sooner to confession.

Note of course that forgotten venial sins need not be confessed…this only applies to mortal sins.
 
Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers:

"A reader writes:
Code: 
I am aware that if one goes to confession and supplies the requisite contrition, then all sins which the person committed are absolved--provided that the person does not intentionally conceal any mortal sins.
Correct.
Code: 
Also, I have been told by several priests that this means that if one remembers a mortal sin after confession, they should know that they are forgiven for it so long as they mention it the next time they go to confession.
Correct, though this should be formulated a little differently. You are forgiven if you meant to confess all your mortal sins and just forgot one. Having been forgiven of the one you forgot, you are still *obligated *to confess it the next time you go to confession. It’s not that your forgiveness of it is conditional on you adopting the intention to confess it next time. That sin has already been forgiven. It’s that you incur a new sin if you refuse to adopt the intention of confessing it."
 
Bookcat said:
Such does not constitute and end of all…with no unfinished business. It is a very good practice for it makes clear that you intend to include the forgotten sins. I do it myself.

But* if one remembers a mortal sin* that one has not confessed in number and kind (and circumstance that changes it like it was your Brother you murdered) then one is obliged to confess it in the next confession.

(Note: those who are scrupulous I will add for such readers “may” be in a different boat…for they can often start trying to confess things that were already confessed etc as if they have to do so again…they ought to have a regular confessor and discuss things with him).
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Finished business.
I do not dwell in the past and try to scrutinize were they sins or not, did I forget or not…
If I do not remember now, shall I remember one year from now?
Besides, I must make future confessions so if I bring past confessions in no time I will have a list of sins that will take me 10 hours and a PC to remember and say…
Forgiven, forgotten…
Ah! ah! Now I read that you address to scrupulous people. Good deed. Your approach may lead to some converts to scrupulosity…no fault of yours, just the approach is dangerous…
 
Pfaffenhoffen said:
Finished business.
I do not dwell in the past and try to scrutinize were they sins or not, did I forget or not…
If I do not remember now, shall I remember one year from now?
Besides, I must make future confessions so if I bring past confessions in no time I will have a list of sins that will take me 10 hours and a PC to remember and say…
Forgiven, forgotten…
Ah! ah! Now I read that you address to scrupulous people. Good deed. Your approach may lead to some converts to scrupulosity…no fault of yours, just the approach is dangerous…
Click to expand...
No danger for non-scrupulous people, no dwelling on past. It simply says that if one recalls an unconfessed mortal sin, one should confess it next time. Otherwise, human nature being what it is, the habit of forgetting and rationalizing it after the fact as “not dwelling on the past” can become too great.
 
Pfaffenhoffen said:
Finished business.
I do not dwell in the past and try to scrutinize were they sins or not, did I forget or not…
If I do not remember now, shall I remember one year from now?
Besides, I must make future confessions so if I bring past confessions in no time I will have a list of sins that will take me 10 hours and a PC to remember and say…
Forgiven, forgotten…
Ah! ah! Now I read that you address to scrupulous people. Good deed. Your approach may lead to some converts to scrupulosity…no fault of yours, just the approach is dangerous…
Click to expand...
The question was asked by a revert regarding learning of sins not confessed because the person didn’t know at the time that they were sins. This is the same as my priest says with regards to growing in holiness, we actually find ourselves committing more sins. Not because we’re sinning more, but coming to a realization of our sins.

BTW: I find your answer to be exceptionally over-exaggerated.
 
Pfaffenhoffen said:
Finished business.
I do not dwell in the past and try to scrutinize were they sins or not, did I forget or not…
If I do not remember now, shall I remember one year from now?
Besides, I must make future confessions so if I bring past confessions in no time I will have a list of sins that will take me 10 hours and a PC to remember and say…
Forgiven, forgotten…
Ah! ah! Now I read that you address to scrupulous people. Good deed. Your approach may lead to some converts to scrupulosity…no fault of yours, just the approach is dangerous…
Click to expand...
If one committed a mortal sin --lets say adultery-- and they forgot to confess it --they are obligated to confess it. Such is usually going to come to mind rather soon.

Those who are scrupulous need to follow the direction of their regular confessor …which may be something such as “unless you are certain it was both mortal and was not confessed --do not confess sins from the past” Or “do not search of past sins --but if they come to mind --only confess them if the above is the case”. Such can often be what a person who struggles with scrupulosity could hear from his confessor. In some cases of scrupulosity it may need to be that the person may need to be directed not to confess any sins from the past at all.

The advice given to say a person who struggles with scrupulosity --is not the advice to be given to those who do not. Such would be rather incorrect and actually dangerous to give to them (though I understand the concern having assisted those who struggle with scrupulosity). The “possible” exception does not change the norm.

In giving my answers I often take into account both what is the actual obligation…the usual way of things and I take in account those who struggle with scruples (including those who may be thus in a different boat in matter due to their difficulty of scrupulosity…)
 
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