Is it the confessor's (priest's) responsibility to ensure that a confession is valid?

[Edmundus1581]

We frequently see questions about confession here, particularly from people who are nervous and/or not sure what to confess, how to confess, etc.

I am wondering if, as a general rule, **if someone goes to confession, with sincerity, and confesses their sins, as they know them, is the confessor responsible **for ensuring that whatever else may be needed for a proper confession is addressed?

If so, could we also say that priests would actually like people who are confused, to “just do it”, rather than delay because they are not sure what to do.

(Obviously, the premise is excluding the cases of deceipt, or someone who “should know better” undervaluing the sacrament.)

Please don’t response with links to “Examination of Conscience” or “How to make a Good Confession”, unless it specifically addresses this question. These are all good for making a better confession, but I’m trying to address the problem of someone who might see that information, and then be more anxious than they were before.

 

[Vico]

We frequently see questions about confession here, particularly from people who are nervous and/or not sure what to confess, how to confess, etc.

I am wondering if, as a general rule, **if someone goes to confession, with sincerity, and confesses their sins, as they know them, is the confessor responsible **for ensuring that whatever else may be needed for a proper confession is addressed?

If so, could we also say that priests would actually like people who are confused, to “just do it”, rather than delay because they are not sure what to do.

(Obviously, the premise is excluding the cases of deceipt, or someone who “should know better” undervaluing the sacrament.)

Please don’t response with links to “Examination of Conscience” or “How to make a Good Confession”, unless it specifically addresses this question. These are all good for making a better confession, but I’m trying to address the problem of someone who might see that information, and then be more anxious than they were before.

Yes.

Here are given some guidlines for penance for the married.
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_12021997_vademecum_en.html

“2 … barring manifest proof to the contrary, he will receive the penitents who approach the confessional taking for granted their good will to be reconciled with the merciful God…”

“5. The confessor is bound to admonish penitents regarding objectively grave transgressions of God’s law and to ensure that they truly desire absolution and God’s pardon with the resolution to re-examine and correct their behaviour.”

 

[Spirithound]

We frequently see questions about confession here, particularly from people who are nervous and/or not sure what to confess, how to confess, etc.

I am wondering if, as a general rule, **if someone goes to confession, with sincerity, and confesses their sins, as they know them, is the confessor responsible **for ensuring that whatever else may be needed for a proper confession is addressed?

If so, could we also say that priests would actually like people who are confused, to “just do it”, rather than delay because they are not sure what to do?

(Obviously, the premise is excluding the cases of deceipt, or someone who “should know better” undervaluing the sacrament.)

I’m trying to address the problem of someone who might see that information, and then be more anxious than they were before.

The answer to your second question is undoubtedly YES! A priest would love for more people to celebrate this sacrament, even if the first couple times are a little rocky.

Your first question, however, is a little confusing because the penitent is required to do nothing except confess their sins sincerely. All sins that have been forgotten are absolved in the sacrament. Regarding sinful acts which the penitent did not realize were sinful, there is reduced culpability in those instances. It would certainly be impractical for the priest to ask the penitent about every grave sin that he knows.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Thankyou Vico and Spirithound for your answers. That has answered both my questions.

Spirithound, thankyou particularly for this comment on my first question: *the penitent is required to do nothing except confess their sins sincerely. All sins that have been forgotten are absolved in the sacrament. Regarding sinful acts which the penitent did not realize were sinful, there is reduced culpability in those instances. *