Is there a difference between asking God for forgiveness vs going to confession at a church?

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Is one more valid than the other or are both the same and just up to personal preference?
 
There are going to say it depends if its a venial sin or a mortal sin.

From my understanding, the Catholic church teaches that mortal sins need to be confessed to a priest. Venial sins can be confessed directly to God during mass. . . .

I do have to remember to go to a priest at least once a year if I want to continue to being a practicing Catholic.
 
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Why would you post your own contrary opinion when someone is asking about Church teaching?
 
Here is a quick explanation of your question.

Thus, our sins can be forgiven if we have perfect contrition, but such a love for God will also cause the person to want to go to Confession so the point is moot.

If we have imperfect contrition, then Confession is what the Church teaches is the only way for us to obtain absolution (ie, God is not bound by the sacraments, but we are, so we must confess sacramentally but God might under certain circumstances).

The answer to the question in that thread is that any “mixture” of perfect and imperfect contrition is by definition still imperfect. The two motives can be mixed but not the two kinds of contrition.
 
So does general absolution sometimes given during mass count for mortal sins also?
 
Annie said:
Why would you post your own contrary opinion when someone is asking about Church teaching?
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because they asked… I’m a member of the church… and its not contrary, just different.
 
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steph03 said:
So does general absolution sometimes given during mass count for mortal sins also?
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General absolution is something that should only be done in extraordinary circumstances (for example, a military Chaplain absolving soldiers before a battle). Even then, the persons absolved still have a responsibility to make a proper confession if and when they can.

(The Penitential Rite in the beginning of the Mass is not the same as a general absolution)
 
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It is contrary in that the Church teaches that Confession is necessary for the absolution of mortal sins.
 
q54332 said:
Is one more valid than the other or are both the same and just up to personal preference?
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It is not up to personal preference, except for venial (less serious) sins, or in cases of moral impossibility to confess a serious (mortal) sin, in which case the individual confession can occur later, but if the contrition for a mortal sin is imperfect then absolution is not obtained without individual confession.
 
A general confession of this type is supposed to be used when a large number of people are in such imminent danger of death that they cannot all have their confessions heard, and they must have the intention of confessing their sins as soon as possible thereafter.
 
Here:
annad347 said:
I say all my sins can all be confessed directly to God, but if I feel I need to seek advise about a sin I committed, then I’ll go to a priest for confession… but that’s just me.
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Serious sins (mortal sins) need to be confessed in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

A mortal sin is:
  1. a sin of grave matter
  2. a sin where the person is knowledgeable and aware that it is a sin, and a serious one at that
  3. the person freely and deliberatly chooses (consents) to commit the sin
 
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Several reasons for the sacrament pf confession–
Such a person receives grace, or help from God, helping him to stop, and maybe for other reasons. Maybe, for example, grace to forgive yourself?
Sins just don’t involve you, but the community. For example, if you sin against another person, it involves others besides yourself. The priest represents the Christian community, offering forgiveness.
 
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and I said because she/he asked… What I posted was based on my personal preference… when I go to a priest is done by my personal preference, when I confess to God directly is done by my personal preference.

Weather I follow the Catholic specific teachings is done by my personal preference… everything I do on the planet is done by my personal preference, and if I’m asked, what I answer is done by my personal preference.

Correction I said I confess… but I’m still not sure what I said that got you upset?
 
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I am not upset. I merely do not understand why a person would answer a question about what the Church teaches with their own personal preference. It seems odd to me.
 
Because its truth about what I believe. I also posted what the Catholic church teaches… you gave her a fuller, more informative, specific answer, my answer was more broader, which probably have the OP more questions…then told her what I do. Different… but still the same.
annad347 said:
From my understanding, the Catholic church teaches that mortal sins need to be confessed to a priest. Venial sins can be confessed directly to God during mass.
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maybe I was wrong about Venial sin… but that was from my understanding.
 
Because i didn’t understand that you were talking about venial sin I got the wrong impression. Please accwpt my apologies!
 
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