Mortal Sin and Confession Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Parker_James
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Parker_James

Guest
I’m sure this question has been asked more times than anyone can count but I am confused. I’ve heard that after you are done with confession, if you remember a serious sin that it is forgiven and you don’t have to worry about it. I’ve also heard and know that you must confess all mortal sins.

Is the rule confess all mortal sins you can remember at that time and you are forgiven of those you forget or remember later? Or is it you must confess all mortal sins even if forgot and have been forgiven?
 
If anyone believes they have an unconfessed mortal sin,they should confess it to be forgiven of it. If they are not sure if they have already confessed it or not, confess it again, it will never hurt to be sure, they could tell the priest they are not sure if they confessed it before or not… Sometimes we might confess something we didn’t know was a sin when we did it, but en enlightenment, might confess it later on.
 
Something I learned from the Jesuits as a boy: "When in doubt, Confess! "
 
At the end of my list of sins I say, “For these and all my sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry.” You receive, at this time, a true absolution.

If you forget a mortal sin, you are obliged to mention it was forgotten and to confess it next time.

But, yes, you did receive a full and complete pardon from the initial absolution. Don’t doubt God’s grace.
 
According to my great-aunt, a nun, this is how it works:

You have to confess any mortal sin you remember while in the confessional.
If you leave the confessional and later remember that you had a serious sin you forgot to mention, you can participate in the sacraments, etc, but you should mention the sin at your next confession.
 
Many people have called in to Catholic Answers Live with this question more times than I can count and as such I can probably recite Fr. Vincent Serpa’s response word for word lol. However the basic gist of the matter is this. If you are in confession and a great sin is burdening you and you get it off your chest but were so focused on that particular sin that another GENUINELY slips your mind then you are forgiven all sins that do not come to mind. However if you deliberately WITH HOLD a sin then that sin is not forgiven and you will face it at your day of judgement. Also if you later realize that you forgot to confess a mortal sin (not in the case of a venial sin) then yes that sin is forgiven however may require a penance and as such should still be mentioned at your next confession. Do a radio search for Fr. Vincent Serpa, The Chaplain is In OR just confession/absolution.
 
Parker_James said:
I’m sure this question has been asked more times than anyone can count but I am confused. I’ve heard that after you are done with confession, if you remember a serious sin that it is forgiven and you don’t have to worry about it. I’ve also heard and know that you must confess all mortal sins.

Is the rule confess all mortal sins you can remember at that time and you are forgiven of those you forget or remember later? Or is it you must confess all mortal sins even if forgot and have been forgiven?
Click to expand...
You need to confess all mortal sins in kind and number.

As senior apologist Jimmy Akin notes: “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
 
MonikaBarbara said:
According to my great-aunt, a nun, this is how it works:

You have to confess any mortal sin you remember while in the confessional.
If you leave the confessional and later remember that you had a serious sin you forgot to mention, you can participate in the sacraments, etc, but you should mention the sin at your next confession.
Click to expand...
Almost right. It is not should mention but must mention.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top