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

[annad347]

@Annie, I guess what I posted was wrong, and for that I owe you an apology. I’m sorry.

I misunderstood the question asked, for that I also want to apologize to the OPer.

I’m sorry… God Bless.

 

[redal]

Is one more valid than the other or are both the same and just up to personal preference?

One (asking God for forgiveness) should precede the other. Most often asking God for forgiveness comes in personal prayer, or the prayers of the Mass, absolves us of venial sins, but the Sacrament of Reconciliation is needed for mortal sin…and its probably spiritually healthy for both to be pursued.

 

[Hodos]

Is one more valid than the other or are both the same and just up to personal preference?

I think there are a couple things going on here that bear expanding on. So number one, Christ died for sins, end of story. Whether they be venial or mortal sins, Christ died for them. So if someone confesses to sin (venial or mortal) in prayer, and through faith believes that Christ died that they might be reconciled before God, then they are forgiven before God. That being said, that person may bear the burden of a guilty conscience before God and man, and going before a priest who stands in the stead of Christ, hears their sins confessed, and then proclaims that they have been absolved of that sin, hears the gospel declared to them for their benefit that they might know that Christ’s death is sufficient to atone for their sin. The gospel is proclaimed through confession and absolution, and increases faith in the recipient of grace through Absolution. It is a means of grace. The other consideration is that, our sins also have temporal effects upon others who have been impacted by our sinful behaviors. Confession and Absolution are tools used to reconcile the sinner with the community who have been harmed by his/her sin and restore peace between them.

 

[Sirach2]

Whether I follow the Catholic specific teachings is done by my personal preference…

I say all my sins can all be confessed directly to God

The error is rather protestant, in believing all sins can be confessed directly to God. As you are studying to re-enter the Catholic Church, please understand that even from the very beginning in the Old Testament, God never permitted the Israelites to confess directly to God.

Lev. 4:27-31 makes it clear that only the priest was able to forgive their sins through the a sin offering from the penitent, and making atonement for them. While the atonement was made by our High Priest, Jesus, we still need to confess to the priest all mortal sins. The O.T. example prefigured what would be necessary - confession to a priest who will appropriate the forgiveness obtained through Christ.

 

[annad347]

what I posted was edited so it moot… thanks anyway.

 

[Jimbo]

Others have written here about the need to go to confession; particularly for mortal sins.

I’ll just add that I had been away from confession for YEARS before I took it back up (I’m still not great, but way better). When I went in it felt like someone was holding back my shirt and I had to walk against the pressure. I was SO nervous. But when you get out… It’s the greatest feeling in the world.

 

[Angela1269]

Guilt remorseful for sin committed but know and continue to do forgive for sin or not knowing feeling remorse enough

 

[Angela1269]

Confession for forgiveness forsin know continue sin although know feel guilty remorseful want forgiven is enough or not commit sin again is needed to be forgiven and if so how do comfess to sin