Is confession necessary?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Debora123
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Debora123 said:
If a person is truly sorry for something she has done and prays to God to forgive her but then dies before going to confession, is that sin forgiven just as much as it would have been if she had made it to confession?

If the answer is yes, then **is confession truly necessary for forgiveness? **Or is it something we do so that we can be strengthened, encouraged, and hopefully receive some good advise from the priest (apart from also being forgiven)?
Click to expand...
Yes, confession is truly necessary. Why? Because it was Jesus himself who instituted the sacrament. We are required to go to confession. Of course, we should pray for God’s forgiveness when we are aware that we have sinned, but we MUST go to confession. Why do you question God?
 
You know Debora, When I was thinking I needed confession because I wanted to return to the Church, I realized something- my sins were not only sins against God but against His people the Church. I was reminded of Jesus telling Peter/ the apostles " whose sins you forgive are forgiven…or retained. And I knew I didn’t only need God’s forgiveness I also needed ya’ll to forgive me too!!. You were out of town that day;) so I stopped off at Church and Father forgave me in Jesus’ name and that of the Holy Church!

Joking aside, I really wanted to be reconciled not only to God but the Church I spent so many years bad-mouthing. I know God forgave me before I ever confessed - my relationship with Him told me that. But it would have been a bit presumptuous to assume the rest of ya’ll did.For that matter, even though I am blessedly assured of God’s Mercy, it would be wrong for me to assume He know’s I’m sorry and the grace He offers is automatic ( in case other than sudden death) . For me that is a dangerous territory of pride and arrogance. And being absolved by someone ordained to do that on behalf of God and Church is assurance that I don’t fall into that. So for me Confession is absolutely necessary.-- peace, rhonda
 
Debora123 said:
*If a person is truly sorry for something she has done and prays to God to forgive her but then dies before going to confession, is that sin forgiven just as much as it would have been if she had made it to confession? *

If the answer is yes, then is confession truly necessary for forgiveness? Or is it something we do so that we can be strengthened, encouraged, and hopefully receive some good advise from the priest (apart from also being forgiven)?
Click to expand...
The issue is over the gravity of the sin. That’s why John makes the following distinction

1 Jn 5:
16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God * will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.

iow, prayer for forgiveness of venial sin is okay. But John doesn’t say that’s okay for mortal sin. In fact he says it’s not recommended.

That’s why the Church teaches

**1457 **According to the Church’s command, “after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.” Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession. Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.
 
Joan_M said:
Yes, confession is truly necessary. Why? Because it was Jesus himself who instituted the sacrament. We are required to go to confession. Of course, we should pray for God’s forgiveness when we are aware that we have sinned, but we MUST go to confession. Why do you question God?
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:

Good grief, I wasn’t “questioning God…”

I was asking what the Church teaching was in regards to this issue. I was asking because I didn’t know the answer.

The answers I’ve gotten here have ranged everywhere from “God forgives you as soon as you are remorseful” to “God won’t forgive you until you go to confession.”

With that being said, I still don’t know the answer. I will talk about it with my priest. Thank you all for the responses! 👍
 
Debora123 said:
:rolleyes:

Good grief, I wasn’t “questioning God…”

I was asking what the Church teaching was in regards to this issue. I was asking because I didn’t know the answer.

The answers I’ve gotten here have ranged everywhere from “God forgives you as soon as you are remorseful” to “God won’t forgive you until you go to confession.”

With that being said, I still don’t know the answer. I will talk about it with my priest. Thank you all for the responses! 👍
Click to expand...
I think that you keep forgetting about the reconciliation with the Church. raaucoin made a very good point about it and she reminded us that God’s does not want a personal relationship, He wants a communion of saints and that is why we need to be reconciled with Him and with the Church.
 
Debora123 said:
The answers I’ve gotten here have ranged everywhere from “God forgives you as soon as you are remorseful” to “God won’t forgive you until you go to confession.”
Click to expand...
One can be forgiven of venial sins anytime via prayer etc etc…mortal sins are possible to be forgiven prior to confession via the grace of perfect contrition which includes amendment and the intention to confess as soon as possible.

Can God give them the grace they need even in the last moments of life? Yes it is possible.

But while we are to have confidence …hope…we are to avoid presumption too.

Jesus tells us the parables of the Good Shepherd and the lost coin and the Prod. Son…and he also tells us to repent…and the parable of the man who builds the tower thinking he has all his life to use his stored grain (his soul is demanded of him that night!)…as well as to “watch” for we do not know the last hour…or his coming.
**
The Catechism of the Catholic Church**

Contrition

1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.52
Venial sins can be forgiven in many ways…contrition…prayer etc etc
 
I asked a priest this question and he said (paraphrased cause I don’t remember the exact words), “you may be forgiven (without confession) but with confession you absolutely KNOW (have assurance) you are forgiven.”
 
Debora123 said:
:rolleyes:

Good grief, I wasn’t “questioning God…”

I was asking what the Church teaching was in regards to this issue. I was asking because I didn’t know the answer.

The answers I’ve gotten here have ranged everywhere from “God forgives you as soon as you are remorseful” to “God won’t forgive you until you go to confession.”

With that being said, I still don’t know the answer. I will talk about it with my priest. Thank you all for the responses! 👍
Click to expand...
Maybe it’s something we can’t find out. but yes your priest will definitely know more than us lay people.
 
Bookcat said:
See the quote from the CCC above.
Click to expand...
I did… in fact here it is again:

Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

So see, the quote actually agrees with me.
That forgiveness can and does happen prior to conefession in the private conversation between contrite soul and God. Of course it is like this. I would say; somethings we should know instinctly if we know Jesus personally.
 
GraceDK said:
I did… in fact here it is again:

Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

So see, the quote actually agrees with me.
That forgiveness can and does happen prior to conefession in the private conversation between contrite soul and God. Of course it is like this. I would say; somethings we should know instinctly if we know Jesus personally.
Click to expand...
yes of course if one has the grace of perfect contrition as described.
 
First of all, is confession necessary? YES! It’s a sacrament! They aren’t optional.

It’s one of the means of obtaining God’s grace and building our faith. When we are in the state of mortal sin, we have fallen out of God’s grace. HE has given us this sacrament as a means to obtain those graces directly. Why on earth would you want to roll the dice and hope that your sin is forgiven by confessing in private through prayer, when you can take part in the sacrament and KNOW that you are forgiven and know that you are receiving His grace? That’s like being deathly ill, being given a cure by a doctor, and tossing it out because you think your body can handle it. Why not get the cure? Sacramental confession, absolution, and the grace received through that sacrament is a cure for being in mortal sin.

I don’t understand people’s reluctance to go to confession. It’s an amazing gift from God.

And frankly, any ‘catholic’ that would assert that it’s not necessary and that you don’t have to take part in the sacrament does not know their faith.
 
thomasf said:
I don’t understand people’s reluctance to go to confession. It’s an amazing gift from God.

And frankly, any ‘catholic’ that would assert that it’s not necessary and that you don’t have to take part in the sacrament does not know their faith.
Click to expand...
Since re-embracing my faith a few years ago, this is a notion I’ve struggled with as well. Confession leaves me with this wonderful, “clean slate” feeling. I don’t see why someone would want to try to find loopholes to avoid it. Even though the CCC says an Act of Perfect Contrition may leave you in a state of grace (that’s assuming you did it with the proper mindset and that you can somehow determine God’s will in the matter after the fact), you can rest assured that going to Confession will leave you in a state of grace. I’d think that even that little bit of uncertainty would be enough to convince someone of the need for Confession.
 
thomasf said:
First of all, is confession necessary? YES! It’s a sacrament! They aren’t optional.

It’s one of the means of obtaining God’s grace and building our faith. When we are in the state of mortal sin, we have fallen out of God’s grace. HE has given us this sacrament as a means to obtain those graces directly. Why on earth would you want to roll the dice and hope that your sin is forgiven by confessing in private through prayer, when you can take part in the sacrament and KNOW that you are forgiven and know that you are receiving His grace? That’s like being deathly ill, being given a cure by a doctor, and tossing it out because you think your body can handle it. Why not get the cure? Sacramental confession, absolution, and the grace received through that sacrament is a cure for being in mortal sin.

I don’t understand people’s reluctance to go to confession. It’s an amazing gift from God.

And frankly, any ‘catholic’ that would assert that it’s not necessary and that you don’t have to take part in the sacrament does not know their faith.
Click to expand...
I guess I didn’t word it very accurately in the title. Of course, I know that as a sacrament, it is absolutely necessary. My question was whether or not a person needs to go to confession in order to be forgiven by God. I’ve gotten a couple different answers, some of which conflict with each other… so I plan to ask my priest for clarity.

Thank you for the (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
Gordon_Sims said:
Since re-embracing my faith a few years ago, this is a notion I’ve struggled with as well. Confession leaves me with this wonderful, “clean slate” feeling. I don’t see why someone would want to try to find loopholes to avoid it. Even though the CCC says an Act of Perfect Contrition may leave you in a state of grace (that’s assuming you did it with the proper mindset and that you can somehow determine God’s will in the matter after the fact), you can rest assured that going to Confession will leave you in a state of grace. I’d think that even that little bit of uncertainty would be enough to convince someone of the need for Confession.
Click to expand...
I don’t think anyone is trying to find “loopholes” to avoid it… I think we, as Catholics, all appreciate the feeling we get from going to confession. I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t.
 
The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Contrition

1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.52
Venial sins can be forgiven in many ways…contrition…prayer etc etc
 
Debora123 said:
I don’t think anyone is trying to find “loopholes” to avoid it… I think we, as Catholics, all appreciate the feeling we get from going to confession. I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t.
Click to expand...
Debora123 said:
Alright, now let’s take the dying part out of it.

When we ask for forgiveness through prayer, does God forgive us then? Or are we not truly forgiven until we go to confession?
Click to expand...
There’s a lot more to it than a ‘feeling’. There’s absolution and the graces that come from the sacrament. If you want a technical answer to your question, you’ll probably find a conditional yes. If you want the same things you get from confession without going to confession, you’re not going to find it. Why roll the dice when you can get the assurance of confession? God forgives, that much is certain. But the stain of sin and the loss of grace, which affect your immortal soul, remains.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top