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Bookcat
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If one forgets a mortal sin and later remembers a forgotten mortal sin --one confesses it in the next confession…
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Bookcat
Guest
If one forgets a mortal sin and later remembers it --one simply confesses it in the next confession…
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Brendan_64
Guest
You don’t actually have to, as any genuinely forgotten sins will have been absolved during your previous Confession. It might be a good idea to confess them at the next Confession, but they have already been absolved, so technically there is no necessity to do so.
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Bookcat
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One is obliged to confess them if remembered (forgotten but absolved mortal sins).
There is a obligation to do so.
More from Jimmy Akin - Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers:
jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html
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Brendan_64
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If a sin has been absolved, then it has been absolved.
Unless the absolved forgotten sin becomes ‘unabsolved’ when the sinner remembers it, then there is no need to have the sin absolved again. If the sin has been absolved then it is gone, permanently. What is Confession if not gaining absolution for our sins?
According to the last priest I spoke to in Confession about this (a very spiritual, pious and orthodox priest) forgotten sins are absolved and that’s the end of them, they’re gone. No need to trawl over such matters, simply accept the forgiveness of Our Lord and move on.
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Bookcat
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One is still obliged to confess it. It may have been absolved but it has yet to be confessed. This is part of the nature of the Sacrament.
It is an obligation to confess all mortal sins. If one forgets one --one confesses it when it is remembered (next confession basically).
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Bookcat
Guest
We are obliged to confess in number and kind all mortal sins not yet submitted directly to the keys …not yet confessed. Even if they have been “indirectly absolved”. They have yet to be confessed.
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Brendan_64
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Not according to my priest, if it has been absolved then that’s the end of the matter. We shouldn’t trawl over the past unnecessarily, an absolved sin has been dealt with.
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Bookcat
Guest
Such has nothing to do with “trawling over the past unnecessarily”.
I one remembers one forgot to confess that murder …that act of adultery etc one is obliged to confess it in the next confession.
It has NOT YET been confessed.
This is a certainly.
Compendium of the Catechism issued by Pope Benedict XVI
304.** Which sins must be confessed?**
1456
All grave sins not yet confessed, which a careful examination of conscience brings to mind, must be brought to the sacrament of Penance. The confession of serious sins is the only ordinary way to obtain forgiveness.
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
See also the Code of Canon Law…Council of Trent…etc.
PS:
And speaking of “absolved mortal sins” that have been dealt with – another case is that when there is legit “general absolution” like when the boat is going down – if they person survives they are obligated further to confess all mortal sins “as soon as possible” -even though they have been “absolved”.
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Bookcat
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And of course Catholic Answers Senior Apologist Jimmy Akin:
“You are forgiven if you meant to confess all your mortal sins and just forgot one. Having been forgiven of the one you forgot, you are still *obligated *to confess it the next time you go to confession. It’s not that your forgiveness of it is conditional on you adopting the intention to confess it next time. That sin has already been forgiven. It’s that you incur a new sin if you refuse to adopt the intention of confessing it.”
jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html
(Now there can be exceptions – but they are exceptions) (and some are tormented by particular scruples about the past and need to be told by a “regular confessor” not to confess something from the past unless they are both certain it was mortal and certain it was not confessed…etc)
“You are forgiven if you meant to confess all your mortal sins and just forgot one. Having been forgiven of the one you forgot, you are still *obligated *to confess it the next time you go to confession. It’s not that your forgiveness of it is conditional on you adopting the intention to confess it next time. That sin has already been forgiven. It’s that you incur a new sin if you refuse to adopt the intention of confessing it.”
jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html
(Now there can be exceptions – but they are exceptions) (and some are tormented by particular scruples about the past and need to be told by a “regular confessor” not to confess something from the past unless they are both certain it was mortal and certain it was not confessed…etc)
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Brendan_64
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Fair enough Bookcat. You make some very good points.
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dividus
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My experience since returning to the faith bears out everything Brendan says. I have tried to bring up past mortal sins which I forgot about on my first visit to Confession only to be instructed to put them from my mind as they are forgiven.
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Bookcat
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See Jimmy Akin etc.
There is no question here that one is obliged to confess forgotten mortal sins.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=11459808&postcount=48
Such is regarding Mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent) only.
(though as I noted there can be at times exceptions – they are exceptions)
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Brendan_64
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If a new sin is incurred through not confessing previously forgotten, but absolved, mortal sins, is the new sin (the sin of failing to reconfess a forgotten, but absolved mortal sin) a venial sin or a mortal sin? Because if it is a venial sin it, can it not be confessed through a personal act of contrition and absolution through the Holy Eucharist?
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dividus
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Thanks for the link to Jimmy Akin. Yes, he is quite clear about the obligation to confess forgotten mortal sins.
I quote from his article :
It’s that you incur a new sin** if you refuse to adopt the intention of confessing it.**
Since I had the intention of confessing the forgotten mortal sins but was instructed by my confessor to put them from my mind it seems to me that I no longer have the obligation to confess these sins. Indeed, to do so would amount to committing the sin of disobedience to my confessor, who is the medium through whom I confess my sins to Jesus.
I too would be very interested in seeing an answer to that question.
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christinme
Guest
Since my confession 1 1/2 yrs ago (after 42 yrs), I occasionally remember an unconfessed sin. I always tell the priest the situation … “I came back to the church after 42 yrs away and made a thorough and sincere confession, but this sin came to mind recently that I did not confess in the first confession when I returned to the Church.” This has happened 3 times and the priest has never told me it was not necessary to confess it. Once I kept trying to convince MYSELF that it was not necessary to confess a remembered sin from long ago, since all my sins were forgiven after my first confession back, and it bothered me every time I went to communion. Once I finally confessed it, I never thought about it again. I guess if the priest hearing your confession is telling you that it is not necessary, that would get a little confusing … I’m glad that didn’t happen in my case.
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Bookcat
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(absolution does not happen via the Holy Eucharist -but venial sins can yes be forgiven --and in other ways too)
There is an obligation to confess all mortal sins in number and kind (and that which changes the kind -like it was a chalice you stole so it was also sacrilege). If I say commit 3 mortal sins adultery 2 x, murder and missing Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day (without the dispensation or excusing reason). That is there was grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent.
And I go to confession and deliberately omit the adultery 2x but confess the others --such is an invalid confession-nothing was absolved. I need to confess all three again and confess that I hid the adultery (which can be another mortal sin -sacrilege -having the needed knowledge and consent).
And I should not receive the Eucharist until I go to confession again as noted.
Now lets say I went to confession and got all nervous with confessing the first 2 that I forget to confess the Missing Mass -what then? Well I was contrite etc and intended to confess them all but just forgot. That other mortal sin was indirectly absolved. I am obliged to confess it if I realize this of course. But it was indirectly absolved.
Now what if I deliberately then omit that sin in the next confession? Well I know that such is to be confessed – so I would commit again a mortal sin ( I have full knowledge and deliberate consent) and am not absolved in that confession and will need to again go to confession (like the above).
And I should not receive the Eucharist.
Now what if Frank innocently did not realize that he needed to confess it and thought he was doing what he should do? Thought innocently there was no need to. That is a different story.
But what if down the road Frank finds out one must confess (cause they are not yet confessed) a forgotten mortal sin that was absolved? And he remembers -I never confessed that adultery…then he should confess it in the next confession.
Of course we are not obliged to be Mr. Spock – our memories are simply human not Vulcan - and we may need to “approximate” at times according to what we know or we may simply forget and it not come to mind. We make a good diligent examination of our conscience -but that is not a Vulcan examination- it is human.
Also there can be certain exceptions -like for example a particular person struggling with a particular scrupulosity where they start fearing unduly that such and such may not have been confessed --or start wanting to confess all sorts of unneeded things or unneeded details --they might be told by their confessor to for example -not confess any old mortal sins unless they are 1. certain it was mortal and 2. certain it was not confessed as it ought… that sort of thing. They need to have a regular confessor to guide them.
Or the person is dying and cannot confess etc…
(now it can also happen that one who is not scrupulous in that particular way about confession --can have some undue concerns about old sins -and may need some guidance from the Priest).
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Bookcat
Guest
Remember while there yes the obligation to confess all mortal sins (number and kind) -and if we forget a mortal sin (and remember it) we are to confess it in the next confession -such is not to be a open window to scruples or undue concern.
As Pope Francis notes confession is not a “torture chamber”.
In confession we encounter the Good Shepherd loves us and who is also the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Who heals us and gives us true life.
As Pope Francis notes confession is not a “torture chamber”.
In confession we encounter the Good Shepherd loves us and who is also the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. Who heals us and gives us true life.
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Brendan_64
Guest
Perhaps absolution was technically the wrong choice of word, but yes repented venial sins are forgiven through the receiving the Eucharist, and as you rightly say in many other ways.
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Bookcat
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