Mortal Sin, Confession to God, Repentance and Forgiveness?

[zielwolf]

If a person commits what is traditionally considered a mortal sin (eg fornication or theft), but then realizes that he has sinned and confesses his sin to God and goes to God in prayer with a repentant heart asking God to forgive him of the sin through Christ’s blood and does it no more -

1. is that person actually guilty of a “mortal” sin, considering that mortal sin is usually considered to kill grace and turn a person completely away from God,
2. is that person totally forgiven even if for some reason he does not go to Confession to receive formal Absolution, and if he is not totally forgiven, how does that add up with Hebrews where Paul says:

‘Their sins and lawless acts I [God] will remember no more.’ And where these have been forgiven there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience…(10: 18,19,22)

I’m not saying that Confession isn’t a really wonderful sacrament when attended voluntarily and out of true desire for repentance.

But what if you can’t get to Confession for a long time? Do you then have to worry and fret about having really been forgiven? Is your forgiveness incomplete somehow? Should you be denied the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the meantime? Why, if you have repented of your sin? And I don’t mean forgiven of guilt, but still due the penalty of 10,000 or however many added years in Purgatory. I mean forgiven. Full stop. Or not?

I’m thinking of rural towns in my state where due to the shortage of clerics, a priest may only visit once a month to celebrate Mass and hear Confessions. On other Sundays, Communion Services led by a lay minister who distributes the reserved Sacrament are held.

In this context, if you are totally forgiven then why do you still have to go to Confession say 3 weeks later, to fulfil what then seems like little more than an “obligation” to be fulfilled?

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism:

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.52

1385 To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."216 Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.

Also see:

catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=35519

There can be times when the person has a grave reason and no opportunity to confess …ie. when a priest will not be by for months or something…where the Church permits the person to make an act of perfect contrition and receive communion…but this is not normal! Not ordinary… I am saying this in general…not as an application to any proposed case.

In any case…Confession is the ordinary way the blood of Christ washes us of our post baptismal mortal sins…hopefully such sins will not be an ordinary occurrence…if ever (of course if they do happen…Jesus is ready to forgive …and heal…) …

Mortal sins are a very serious event…a shipwreck that requires a serious rebuilding of the ship by God …and also effect the body of Christ not just the person…for which confession too involves…

And of course there are more graces etc via the sacrament that can further the healing that began with the perfect act of contrition (on the “way” to confession) *which too is by the grace of God …

 

[zielwolf]

There can be times when the person has a grave reason and no opportunity to confess …ie. when a priest will not be by for months or something…where the Church permits the person to make an act of perfect contrition and receive communion…but this is not normal! Not ordinary… I am saying this in general…not as an application to any proposed case.

In any case…Confession is the ordinary way the blood of Christ washes us of our post baptismal mortal sins…hopefully such sins will not be an ordinary occurrence…if ever (of course if they do happen…Jesus is ready to forgive …and heal…) …

Mortal sins are a very serious event…a shipwreck that requires a serious rebuilding of the ship by God …and also effect the body of Christ not just the person…for which confession too involves…

And of course there are more graces etc via the sacrament that can further the healing that began with the perfect act of contrition (on the “way” to confession) *which too is by the grace of God …

You’re the only person so far to have answered my question. Thanks. However I sense a hesitance in the tone of your answer.

My question is - if, when the Bible says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us - then if we confess our sins to God with a contrite heart, repenting of our sins our sins are forgiven and as according to Hebrews 10:18 “And where [sins] have been forgiven, there is no more sacrifice.” why do we still need to go to Confession later?

I am a Catholic, I know the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the assurance it gives - that’s not what I am questioning. When you know you need it you will go. If you don’t feel the need you won’t go. It’s not about that initial drawing near.

It’s about this - if I sin, and confess my sin to Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit with a contrite and repentant heart, then what else do I need to be forgiven? If I cannot see a priest for another month to go to to confession, then is God faithful in His promise in the New Testament to wipe away my sins and remember them no more, or do I first have to go to a priest, and then do penance, and then receive communion etc. before my sins are really forgiven? And if they are and God has already forgotten all about them, then why do I still need to confess to a priest weeks later?

I just don’t understand the application of the grace of the Sacrament of Penance if God has already forgotten all about the sin anyway.

 

[Bookcat]

You’re the only person so far to have answered my question. Thanks. However I sense a hesitance in the tone of your answer.

Nope…no hesitance…what I answered …or rather what the Church answered is correct

My question is - if, when the Bible says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us - then if we confess our sins to God with a contrite heart, repenting of our sins our sins are forgiven and as according to Hebrews 10:18 “And where [sins] have been forgiven, there is no more sacrifice.” why do we still need to go to Confession later?

Mortal sins are …well MORTAL they are deadly…the kill the new life that we have in Christ. Such needs to be confessed and absolved…this is the way that Jesus wills it…this is how Hebrews 10:18 is applied to a person who has fallen into mortal sin…and it is also needful for the reconciliation with the Church…with the Body of Christ. Absolution is the application of the blood of the Sacrifice of Christ spoken of in Hebrews…to the soul

(God is not bound by the Sacraments…but we are…in order to show Peter that the Gentiles were to be admitted to the Church…God sent the Holy Spirit on Cornelius etc in Acts…at which point Peter said to Baptize them! Though God had already given them the Holy Spirit…Peter still had them receive the Sacrament of Baptism…

I am a Catholic, I know the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the assurance it gives - that’s not what I am questioning. When you know you need it you will go. If you don’t feel the need you won’t go. It’s not about that initial drawing near.

The Sacrament of course is not just for mortal sins…venial sins are good to confess too…at least some…and the grace from the Sacrament is particular to that Sacrament…

It’s about this - if I sin, and confess my sin to Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit with a contrite and repentant heart, then what else do I need to be forgiven? If I cannot see a priest for another month to go to to confession, then is God faithful in His promise in the New Testament to wipe away my sins and remember them no more, or do I first have to go to a priest, and then do penance, and then receive communion etc. before my sins are really forgiven? And if they are and God has already forgotten all about them, then why do I still need to confess to a priest weeks later?

In truth one my not actually have the perfect contrition…(such is possible…for example a person may not be sorry out of love of God…but rather just cause they do not want to go to Hell …)…one must of course pray and seek to have such…and of course live in hope…and continue to pray and seek to follow Jesus…and of course one may actually have such contrition and thus is forgiven sooner…of course for a Catholic to have such contrition he must intend to go to confession for any mortal sins as soon as possible…that is part of it …for Mortal sins are serious things…

and it is important to return via the Sacrament…via the Church…it was not for nothing that Jesus gave us this Sacrament…and it is not “Jesus and me” it is Jesus and communion with the Church etc

I just don’t understand the application of the grace of the Sacrament of Penance if God has already forgotten all about the sin anyway.

…it is not just forgiveness…but it is that!

Catechism:

IX. THE EFFECTS OF THIS SACRAMENT

1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship."73 Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation."74 Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.75

1469 This sacrament reconciles us with the Church. Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion, but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members.76 Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ, whether still on pilgrimage or already in the heavenly homeland:77

It must be recalled that . . . this reconciliation with God leads, as it were, to other reconciliations, which repair the other breaches caused by sin. The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his innermost truth. He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way offended and wounded. He is reconciled with the Church. He is reconciled with all creation.78

1470 In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which he will be subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by grave sin.79 In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and "does not come into judgment."80

 

[Bookcat]

So even if a persons mortal sins were forgiven …they still need to be “submitted directly to the keys” …to the Church…unless of course this is not possible…he dies or something without being able to…

…and the Sacrament is a GREAT benefit to him…and to the Church…