Is confession the only way to get your sins forgiven?

[followingtheway]

If I repent to God in prayer or in my head or say the Act of Contrition, will that erase my sin also, or confession the only way?

 

[mark_a]

If I repent to God in prayer or in my head or say the Act of Contrition, will that erase my sin also, or confession the only way?

The normal way for Catholics is to confess mortal sin to the Church through one of her priests.

But don’t worry, if you die on the way to confessional, your still covered. He’s very understanding that way.

 

[Christine85]

I have heard you are meant to go to confession before Holy Communion is this true?

 

[blanc10]

This is true for mortal sins.

Theres always the time in which you meet god. He may forgive you. If you want it easy and have assurance, go to a priest.

 

[giuseppeTO]

If I repent to God in prayer or in my head or say the Act of Contrition, will that erase my sin also, or confession the only way?

You must seek to be sacramentally absolved by a priest. Your repentance in prayer, also referred to as true contrition for your sins, is an important component but does not absolve you of your mortal sins. You would risk eternal punishment if you did not seek sacramental absolution from your mortal sins and died. If you are unsure about the gravity of your sins, it is better to be safe than sorry and seek out a priest.

 

[Paxvobis]

If I repent to God in prayer or in my head or say the Act of Contrition, will that erase my sin also, or confession the only way?

Venial Sins can be cleaned through receiving a devout Holy Communion or even blessing yourself with Holy Water.

Confession can only be forgiven in ordinary circumstances through the Sacrament of Confession.

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

We should not forget there is a penitential rite at the beginning of Mass.

Many want to stay far from proportionalism and from a theory of sin based on a “fundamental option” for or against God that they fall into a legalism in regard to doctrine of confession. This leaves love and movements of man’s soul toward the good neglected and leaves people with a misanthropic view of God.

In Thomism, it is stated we don’t make God’s Grace efficacious by our act of acceptance but He moves our will to the good and our will agrees based on our nature as created by God. Our free will is moved freely but necessarily toward the good. A man who sins in this circumstance cannot do so arrogantly and mortally without a soul affected previously by grievous sin. The doctrine is true but incomplete as to its relation with other truths of Catholicism.

Confession is the only normal way to have sins forgiven and is the normative way God has willed it to be. No one can say where someone else is in relation to God’s forgiveness and often they merely elevate one doctrine to the detriment of the truth and to the detriment of peoples relation with God. It is for you to know your soul, your faith, and your circumstances to make this determination in ones best use of reason as to the necessity of sacramental confession. Catholic Opinion Forum should not be ones only nor determining view on any subject, especially important ones such as confession of sins. Study, read, and pray.

 

[Frankyh]

The venial sins can be cleaned, making fervent Holy Communion, or even a blessing yourself with holy water. Tera Items Rift Gold

 

[Little_One0307]

Oh and one’s sins can be forgiven if they die a martyr for the faith.

 

[raymond_king]

Hello All those who are perplexed: “Mortal and Venial Sins” are categories that I personally think are out dated as to a standard of our “examination of conscience”. Ray

 

[Little_One0307]

Hello All those who are perplexed: “Mortal and Venial Sins” are categories that I personally think are out dated as to a standard of our “examination of conscience”. Ray

Ray,

Well they sure are not outdated and they are put quite forth succintly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church which is as Blessed Pope John Paul II said, “a sure norm for teaching the Faith.”

God bless.

 

[James_Miller]

Baptism first and foremost.

 

[eegardner]

As most here know, the penitential rite is relevant for the forgiveness of venial sins. But for the forgiveness of mortal sins confession is required.

 

[Bookcat]

Mortal sins need to be confessed (in number and kind etc) and absolved…though via the grace of a perfect act of contrition God can forgive you prior to this (one still is to abstain from Communion until confession) See the Catechism on Contrition and the kinds.

Venial sins while very highly recommended to be confessed …need not be. They can be forgiven in various ways including…contrite use of holy water, prayer, contrition, Holy Communion, penance …reading of Scripture…praying the Our Father (in some places the early Christians prayed it three times a day…which is my custom)

(for one is still in “true life”…“living in Christ”…venal sins can be forgiven and healed as it were …from the inside…but still good to bring some to confession…for there is very particular grace and remedy for sin etc)

(Mortal sins and venial sins …are categories of sins…see the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the Teaching of the Church on them)

Catechism on forgiveness of venial sin…:

1436 Eucharist and Penance. Daily conversion and penance find their source and nourishment in the Eucharist, for in it is made present the sacrifice of Christ which has reconciled us with God. Through the Eucharist those who live from the life of Christ are fed and strengthened. "It is a remedy to free us from our daily faults and to preserve us from mortal sins."35

1437 Reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and the Our Father - every sincere act of worship or devotion revives the spirit of conversion and repentance within us and contributes to the forgiveness of our sins.

 

[ajpirc]

Confession is necessary for mortal sins.

Venial sins can be forgiven by any sacramentals or can be confessed at Confession. You don’t even have to confess ANY venial sins at Confession and they would be forgiven (just as long as you confess all mortal sins). The Church even teaches that forgiveness of someone who has trespassed against you is a sacramental. So, if you forgive others, God will forgive your venial sins, but ONLY venial.

Also, I’m pretty sure, but not positive, that venial sins cannot be forgiven if one has a mortal sin on his soul. Nothing that you do can forgive your venial sins, not even praying one Rosary, until you go to Confession to rid of your mortal sin. I may be wrong about this. If I am, please correct me.

 

[Irishgal49]

I don’t split hairs if I sin I go to Confession weekly. It’s a pretty safe bet I’ll sin, but I always strive to do better.

I disagree about venial sins St Teresa of Avila stated it was the “venial sins that got me” meaning she would “overlook them” too often. It’s funny that for me I often find that those venial sins repeated over and over can lead into Mortal sin so I feel that when I confess it all the priest can point out where I maybe be tripping up.

 

[Warrior1979]

If I repent to God in prayer or in my head or say the Act of Contrition, will that erase my sin also, or confession the only way?

From the Catechism:

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

Also, as someone else noted, being a martyr seems to absolve sins (note: Christ places no conditions on the forgiveness of sins for the martyr. The Catholic Church makes a distinction between baptized and unbaptized martyr. However, only the unbaptized one is discussed). There also appear to be other possibilities known by God alone, as noted in the reference to suicide in the Catechism.

 

[smichhertz]

I don’t split hairs if I sin I go to Confession weekly. It’s a pretty safe bet I’ll sin, but I always strive to do better.

I disagree about venial sins St Teresa of Avila stated it was the “venial sins that got me” meaning she would “overlook them” too often. It’s funny that for me I often find that those venial sins repeated over and over can lead into Mortal sin so I feel that when I confess it all the priest can point out where I maybe be tripping up.

You nailed it. Its important to nip it at the bud. If we adopt an “I’ll let it slide as long as its not a mortal sin” attitude, we’re setting ourselves up to eventually commit mortal sin. We need to remove all sin from our lives, even venial sin.

 

[Mariangeles]

And indeed it is only God who forgives sins, as the priest acts as alter Christus in confession. It is Christ you confess to and are absolved by. Confession is a bit like talking to someone on the phone: you see the telephone and talk into the reciever, but you’re actually talking to someone on the other end of the line.

This is something I had never understood. Thank you for putting it in such a simple way as to compare it to a phone conversation! You clarified it to me.

 

[Ad_Altare_Dei_1]

I’ve never had a doubt about the sacrament of reconciliation nor the need for frequent confession even if only for venial sins. But I just gotta say I LOVE the sound teaching you all are giving [edited]. It’s nice to be reminded of the solid scriptural foundations for the sacraments and practices of Christ’s beautiful church!

May God be praised in His angels and His saints and may He bring all people come to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life through his one, holy, catholic and apostolic church, so that we all may be happy with Him for all eternity!