Need clarification

[Monica4316]

Hi,

was it the teaching of the Church prior to VII also that only mortal sins MUST be confessed, and venial sins are optional in Confession? how are venial sins forgiven?

thank you

 

[Barbkw]

Reciting the Confiteor

 

[LoyalViews]

Yes it was, and venial sins can also be forgiven in the confessional, by blessing yourself with Holy Water, by reciting the Confiteor as the poster above hath said. God Bless :byzsoc:

 

[Mumbles140]

and receiving Communion. One can also confess venial sins. I always finish with “For these and all of my sins” to catch all of them, but I do try and actually confess those which can lead to mortal sin, or those that I struggle with / make a habit of.

 

[FAB]

Hi,

was it the teaching of the Church prior to VII also that only mortal sins MUST be confessed, and venial sins are optional in Confession? how are venial sins forgiven?

thank you

I wouldn’t worry about prior VII, In the sacrament of penance you are to name all sins, venial and mortal. there may be some you have forgotten, but a decent effort is to be made.
When the preist gives you forgiveness, it is for all your sins.

 

[ANNE_2]

Forgiven Mortal Sins and Venial Sins still require reparation for our actions in Purgatory. Confessing venial sins is recommended.

(Ref: indulgence)
CCC - " 1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence.
Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin.
On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory.
This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin.
A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain."

For a Plenary indulgence one must go to Confession even though not in a State of Mortal Sin.
One can only obtain a Plenary indulgence for himself, or someone who is deceased and in Purgatory.

This is an example.
divinemercysundayusa.com/bulletininsert11.pdf

God has great Mercy for those seeking his forgiveness, but He is also just.

 

[Monica4316]

I agree that it’s good to confess venial sins as well as mortal sins…

however the Church teaching is that it’s only necessary to confess mortal sins? am I correct? So if we leave out venial sins we’re still forgiven?

(btw I’m not talking about leaving out venial sins because you feel too ashamed to tell them to the priest or something. Not for any bad reason like that).

 

[FAB]

I agree that it’s good to confess venial sins as well as mortal sins…

however the Church teaching is that it’s only necessary to confess mortal sins? am I correct? So if we leave out venial sins we’re still forgiven?

(btw I’m not talking about leaving out venial sins because you feel too ashamed to tell them to the priest or something. Not for any bad reason like that).

You are required to confess ALL sins.

 

[Monica4316]

ALL sins, or all mortal sins?

A priest might advise a very scrupulous person to only confess mortal sins for some time. That is something they might need to do out of obedience to their confessor.

I want to ask though ,how venial sins are forgiven… so the answers I got are: Confiteor, Communion.

 

[KarenElissa]

You are required to confess ALL sins.

No, we are required to confess all MORTAL sins. Confessing venial sins is good practice, but not REQUIRED.

1456 Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance: "All mortal sins of which penitents after a diligent self-examination are conscious must be recounted by them in confession, even if they are most secret and have been committed against the last two precepts of the Decalogue; for these sins sometimes wound the soul more grievously and are more dangerous than those which are committed openly."54

…

1458** Without being strictly necessary**, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60

 

[FAB]

No, we are required to confess all MORTAL sins. Confessing venial sins is good practice, but not REQUIRED.

Sin is Sin, the Canon requires a full confession of all sins by name and act.

 

[laszlo]

Hi,

was it the teaching of the Church prior to VII also that only mortal sins MUST be confessed, and venial sins are optional in Confession? how are venial sins forgiven?

thank you

The original meaning of the Third Precept of the Church was that one shall make confession once in a year

1. Q. What is meant by the command of confessing at least once a year?

A. By the command of confessing at least once a year is meant that we are obliged, under pain of mortal sin, to go to confession within the year.

“Within the year”–that is, the time between your confessions must never be longer than a year, or, at least not longer than the period between the beginning of one Eastertime and the end of the next. All persons who have attained the age of reason are bound to comply with this precept, and parents should remind their children of it.

cin.org/users/james/ebooks/master/baltimore/bcommch.htm#Lesson36

The new canon law (1983) made a change adding that only mortal sins must be confessed.

Can. 989 After having reached the age of discretion, each member of the faithful is obliged to confess faithfully his or her grave sins at least once a year.

This is confusing because it makes anyone his/her own judge, what is mortal sin and waht is not. Probably the correct interpretation is that the obligation for at least yearly confession is unchanged, but only known mortal sins are to be confessed by number and type.

So one can say: Father I missed the Holy Mass three times but I always had excuse; we plan the size of our family, but I believe this is our duty and responsibility by any means. – and let the priest ask questions, instad of just saying: oh, I have no mortal sins, why to confess.

 

[KarenElissa]

Sin is Sin, the Canon requires a full confession of all sins by name and act.

You are goingv to have to provide some evidence for that statement then. I provided a quote from the catechism that clearly says otherwise, so I would like to see your evidence.

 

[sylviasgift]

I wouldn’t worry about prior VII, In the sacrament of penance you are to name all sins, venial and mortal. there may be some you have forgotten, but a decent effort is to be made.
When the preist gives you forgiveness, it is for all your sins.

monica this person knows what he talking about i agree’

 

[FAB]

You are goingv to have to provide some evidence for that statement then. I provided a quote from the catechism that clearly says otherwise, so I would like to see your evidence.

To confess grave sins once a year does not mean not to confess ALL sins. Sins weigh heavily on the soul and prevent us from having a close relationship with God. A grave sin is breaking one of the ten commandments. Little white lies count, missing church on Sunday counts, eying skin bare women or men count. Yes there are the big ones, like adulatory, but lying, cheating and stealing still effect our relationship with he Lord.
God already knows what your sin is, the sacrament is to provide a chance to be totally honest, not only with him but with yourself. To do anything else defeats the purpose.

Peace,
Deacon FAB

 

[laszlo]

Sin is Sin, the Canon requires a full confession of all sins by name and act.

Either the 1917 and the recent Canon law requires only to confess by number and kind the mortal sins.

1917

Can 901. Qui post baptismum mortalia perpetravit, quae nondum per claves Ecclesiae directe remissa sunt, debet omnia quorum post diligentem sui discussionem conscientiam habeat, confiteri et circumstantias in confessione explicare, quae speciem peccati mutent.

Can 902. Peccata post baptismum commissa, sive mortalia directe potestate clavium **iam remissa, sive venialia, sunt materia sufficiens, sed non necessaria, ** sacramenti poenitentiae.

1983

Can. 988 - §1. Christifidelis obligatione tenetur in specie et numero confitendi omnia peccata gravia post baptismum perpetrata et nondum per claves Ecclesiae directe remissa neque in confessione individuali accusata, quorum post diligentem sui discussionem conscientiam habeat.
§2. Commendatur christifidelibus ut etiam peccata venialia confiteantur.

 

[FAB]

Either the 1917 and the recent Canon law requires only to confess by number and kind the mortal sins.

1917

1983

This is such an odd discussion. The Canon requires that the faithful go to confession for all sins, at least once a year, and for grave sins as soon as humanly possible and until done, the person cannot recieve the Eucharist.
This seems to be splitting hairs and a deliberate misinterpetation of Church teaching, for what reason I can’t imagine.

 

[Monica4316]

My question was just - has it always been the Church teaching that if a person confessed only mortal sins, they can receive Communion. I’m not talking about once a year. I mean regularly. What if this person is doing this not because they don’t care about venial sins, but because they have been advised to only confess mortal sins because they are scrupulous.

 

[FAB]

My question was just - has it always been the Church teaching that if a person confessed only mortal sins, they can receive Communion. I’m not talking about once a year. I mean regularly. What if this person is doing this not because they don’t care about venial sins, but because they have been advised to only confess mortal sins because they are scrupulous.

Being scrupupous is a different mannor.
Even though sin is sin and we do so in some way daily, we ask for forgivenss in the penitential rite for forgivness of our failings in doing the Lords work. If a person has committed a grave sin, they are not to receive the Eucharist until they have gone to confession. The Church teaches that all sins need to be confessed on a regular bases which has been defined at least once a year.

 

[JM3]

Hi,

was it the teaching of the Church prior to VII also that only mortal sins MUST be confessed, and venial sins are optional in Confession? how are venial sins forgiven?

thank you

The Douay Catechism of 1649

Q. 700. What are the necessary conditions of a good confession?
A. That it be short, diligent, humble, sorrowful, sincere, and entire.
Q. 701. How, short?
A. By avoiding superfluous words and circumlocutions.
Q. 702. How, diligent?
A. By using a competent time and care in the examining of our conscience.
Q. 703. How, humble?
A. By making our confession with humble hearts.
Q. 704. How, sorrowful?
A. By stirring up sorrow for our sins.
Q. 705. How, sincere?
A. By confessing our sins plainly, without seeking to lessen or excuse them.
Q. 706. How, entire?
A. By confessing not only in what things we have sinned mortally, but also how often, as
near as we are able to remember.