My confession, was it invalid?

[Mezz2015]

Hello all, I’m new here.

I stayed out of the Church for 12+ years and did a lot of bad things in my life.
Recently, my conversion happened and I came back, so I got an appointment with a priest I know and I went there for my general confession.

It was really, really long, 3 hours or more I guess, probably because I wrote down every single sin and confessed it.

The problem is: I made an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments and wrote it on eight blocks of paper, like six or seven pages of sins against the 1st commandment, more seven pages of sins against the 2nd etc.

Instead of confessing: I had sex outside my marriage x times during the last 10 years or I stole a lot of things from a lot of people and even betrayed my friends etc. I confessed every single sin, every single time in every single circunstance.

I was really nervous because I did a lot of things and I wanted to be sure everything would be forgiven.

I confessed all. but when I started the last block of pages, regarding the 8° commandment , the priest said: Look, you are repeating the sins too much, you only need to confess like “I did this thing x times for x years” and there is no need to say “I stole this thing from my friend, and this other from another friend etc”.

And I did so, that’s how I said the last sins: I lied a lot of times, created lies to put others in trouble etc.

I don’t want to go to Hell and I want to be sure I did the things right, at least this time.

The pages with my sins were all burnt.

What do you guys think?

 

[marytk]

You followed what the priest said. He dosn’t need to know whom you sinned against. He thought it was good to absolve you so you are. AND if you remembr somethng you forgot don’t worry. YOu can mention it next time but you meant to confess all so you are forgiven

 

[AttendeDomine]

Welcome home.

We should confess the type of sin that we committed, how many times we did so, and any circumstances that might change the sin. This article might be helpful: wdtprs.com/blog/2013/07/quaeritur-do-i-have-to-add-details-when-i-confess-sins/

In terms of the validity of your confession: unless you deliberately withheld a mortal sin because you refuse to give it up, or unless you absolutely lacked any sort of contrition for your sins, then you need not worry. IMO as a lay person, anyone who actually wants to go to confession and who sincerely wants to be forgiven does not simply invalidate their confession through a lack of contrition. You should know whether or not you were thinking, “Hm, I really should confess to being a mafioso, and to all the crimes that I commit, but I just really don’t want to give up all that dough, so I’m not gonna bother.” But if you did something like that, then your confession would not be valid.

 

[z_0101]

You followed what the priest said. He dosn’t need to know whom you sinned against. He thought it was good to absolve you so you are. AND if you remembr somethng you forgot don’t worry. YOu can mention it next time but you meant to confess all so you are forgiven

The only caveat - deliberate omission… otherwise, peace be with you!

Please take a moment to read thru this article along with the prior one suggested.
Scrupulosity: The Occupational Hazard of the Catholic Moral Life

 

[victrolatim]

Mezz2015, welcome back .

As long as you followed what the priest said, you’re fine. I commend you for doing such a thorough examination of conscience.

 

[utah_rose]

Welcome back! I was away for 20 years and I remember how nervous I was at that first Confession.

 

[808Catholic]

Hello all, I’m new here.

I stayed out of the Church for 12+ years and did a lot of bad things in my life.
Recently, my conversion happened and I came back, so I got an appointment with a priest I know and I went there for my general confession.

It was really, really long, 3 hours or more I guess, probably because I wrote down every single sin and confessed it.

The problem is: I made an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments and wrote it on eight blocks of paper, like six or seven pages of sins against the 1st commandment, more seven pages of sins against the 2nd etc.

Instead of confessing: I had sex outside my marriage x times during the last 10 years or I stole a lot of things from a lot of people and even betrayed my friends etc. I confessed every single sin, every single time in every single circunstance.

I was really nervous because I did a lot of things and I wanted to be sure everything would be forgiven.

I confessed all. but when I started the last block of pages, regarding the 8° commandment , the priest said: Look, you are repeating the sins too much, you only need to confess like “I did this thing x times for x years” and there is no need to say “I stole this thing from my friend, and this other from another friend etc”.

And I did so, that’s how I said the last sins: I lied a lot of times, created lies to put others in trouble etc.

I don’t want to go to Hell and I want to be sure I did the things right, at least this time.

The pages with my sins were all burnt.

What do you guys think?

Sounds like you have a valid confession. Welcome home!

 

[brad90956]

If you followed the directions of the priest and did not intentionally omit any sins, your confession was valid.

Welcome back! I, myself, just returned to the church. When I made my first confession since coming back, I had about 30+ sins to confess but I never mentioned the number of times for each sin because I honestly could not remember.

In your case, for example, if you stole something from each of your 3 friends, you do not to confess it 3 separate times. Just say, “I stole from my friends 3 times or I stole 3 times.”

I understand you wanting to confess everything and not leave anything out, but you do not need to be that specific about your sins.

 

[Latinitas]

Hello all, I’m new here.

I stayed out of the Church for 12+ years and did a lot of bad things in my life.
Recently, my conversion happened and I came back, so I got an appointment with a priest I know and I went there for my general confession.

It was really, really long, 3 hours or more I guess, probably because I wrote down every single sin and confessed it.

The problem is: I made an examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments and wrote it on eight blocks of paper, like six or seven pages of sins against the 1st commandment, more seven pages of sins against the 2nd etc.

Instead of confessing: I had sex outside my marriage x times during the last 10 years or I stole a lot of things from a lot of people and even betrayed my friends etc. I confessed every single sin, every single time in every single circunstance.

I was really nervous because I did a lot of things and I wanted to be sure everything would be forgiven.

I confessed all. but when I started the last block of pages, regarding the 8° commandment , the priest said: Look, you are repeating the sins too much, you only need to confess like “I did this thing x times for x years” and there is no need to say “I stole this thing from my friend, and this other from another friend etc”.

And I did so, that’s how I said the last sins: I lied a lot of times, created lies to put others in trouble etc.

I don’t want to go to Hell and I want to be sure I did the things right, at least this time.

The pages with my sins were all burnt.

What do you guys think?

You’re scrupulous. Trust the priest - he’s right.

Nonetheless, God be praised, that you’ve returned to the Truth - it’s all a matter of trusting Him now.

Benedicat Deus,
Latinitas

 

[Mezz2015]

Thanks for all the answers

I didn’t omit sins, at least not intentionally. It took me 3 months to write down my confession and go to the priest, so I wanted to be sure everything was ok. I wanted to confess every detail, every ciscumstance, every feeling I had while committing sins etc.

Actually I confessed details not required by the priest, I said a lot of disgusting details and I think he realized how nervous I was.

Most of the sins were like: I stole x from my friend A, x from friend B, x from my mother, and the list woud never end.

I will read the thing about scrupulosity, thanks

 

[808Catholic]

Thanks for all the answers

I didn’t omit sins, at least not intentionally. It took me 3 months to write down my confession and go to the priest, so I wanted to be sure everything was ok. I wanted to confess every detail, every ciscumstance, every feeling I had while committing sins etc.

Actually I confessed details not required by the priest, I said a lot of disgusting details and I think he realized how nervous I was.

Most of the sins were like: I stole x from my friend A, x from friend B, x from my mother, and the list woud never end.

I will read the thing about scrupulosity, thanks

Live in the peace of God. He has forgiven your sins; be glad and praise Him!