"I don't need to go to confession."

[JimG]

It’s also good to remember that confession isn’t just for mortal sins. Did you nag your wife? Did you hurt her feelings with cutting words? Did you yell at your kids? Did you gossip about the neighbor? etc, etc. I think if most people asked their close friends about their faults and got honest answers, they would get an earful. But most friends wouldn’t give honest answers, for fear of the sin of detraction!

 

[turtle18]

I am always dumbfounded when people tell me they don’t need to go to Confession, I can usually think of at least five things they need to go for-but I hold my tongue because I don’t want to be pulling the splinter out of their eye when I need to be focusing on the wooden beam in my own eye.

Grave sin is not the same as mortal sin. Grave sin is the breaking of any of the 10 Commandments. This is the first condition for mortal sin, as mortal sin must have three conditions to make it mortal.

Therfore, I believe almost everyone you know has committed a “grave” sin.

What it all boils down to, is that people refuse to examine their conscience. If Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa would go to Confession every day, what exactly are you doing that approaches their level of holiness.

Confession is a beautiful sacrament and the very refusal to go is a sign that you are not in tune with the grace God wants to bestow on you.

 

[thomas_jd]

Venial sins can sentence one to purgatory until the final judgment!
Sin is never without consequenses.

 

[Incomplete]

Grave sin is not the same as mortal sin. Grave sin is the breaking of any of the 10 Commandments. This is the first condition for mortal sin, as mortal sin must have three conditions to make it mortal.

Can you give a reference on this? From what I read, breaking the commandments can be grave matter, but grave matter is not the same as grave sin.

 

[Madzi]

Hi. I’m recently returned to this forum but upon reading your question I simply had to chime in.
By not availing himself of the sacrament of Penance, your father is cheating himself of the graces he’d obtain by going.
I rather liked the response mentioning asking others if we have erred! I am certain I don’t want to hear other’s opinions in that area regarding my own actions.
That said, example is a wonderful teacher. Continue to offer, smile, speak about the graces there for the asking and go joyfully, praying for your dad. You never know if and when those prayers might be effective in bringing him back!
God bless!

 

[Windmill]

I usually say what turtle said above: “If you haven’t sinned enough to go to confession in 30 years, and JPII went to Confession twice a week, then can I get a relic from you, because you’re obviously the holiest person on earth!!!”

A more subtle way is to say something self-deprecating like, “I hope to reach the level of holiness where I am not going to confession once a week. God has been very patient with me.” Make sure you are living a holy life before you try something like this, because people will be struck by how you apparent holiness is so different from your realization of your own lack of holiness and need for God’s grace. Obviously, they will see the contrast with their own lack of apparent holiness, yet their own content with their spiritual mediocrity. God will change more hearts by this than my snooty remarks above.

Grave sins are simply sins that are of grave matter. For a sin to be mortal, it must be grave, be done with full knowledge of its gravity, and be done with full consent of the will.

For a good guide on mortal vs. venial sins, I recommend the following Examination of Conscience. The one caveat is that they did not properly define the sin of presumption. Classic moral theology books do not say that it is presumption to sin knowing that you can simply confess the sin later in confession. That is human weakness, and it is to be avoided at all costs. True presumption is when you think that you can achieve Heaven on your own efforts apart from Divine Grace.

 

[hazcompat]

John 20:23

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven

New International Version (©1984)

peace

 

[aragonjohn1]

Does this mean that he is on the same level as Jesus the Christ?
God can forgive anything even though most people sin more than twice a day
That could be a reason to attend mass and confession because of Gods love

You are in my prayers
GOD BLESS

 

[Laudate_Dominum]

There is no requirement to confess once a year if you have no grave sins.

The just man falls seven times a day.

The problem is people have lost a sense of the true gravity and seriousness of sin.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Not always - a lot of the time it is just not knowing, because the person has never been told. See my previous post. If a person lives their entire life with priests who just don’t talk about sin or confession, how is the person to know that it’s important? Many are given the impression that it’s just not important anymore, so if you are taught to trust your priest, why would you ever question that?

~Liza

Exactly! I was never taught about reconciliation growing up…and then I left the Church…coming back thankfully I was taught about the grace of reconciliation from our priest…I usually go once a month. Sadly my dad still doesn’t see the need to go. For myself…I like having the ability to erase the “tape” on parts of my life…

 

[Glomung]

“I don’t need to go to confession.” is exactly the same as saying “I don’t need to bathe”.
For that is what confession is, a washing of the soul.

The smell of a dirty body only offends the neighbors nose, the stink of a dirty soul offends God Himself.