Order of sins in confession?

[thewanderer]

I’ve heard some people say that when confessing ones sins one should always start with the most serious and then bring up the less serious sins at the end. I, on the other hand, have always confessed in the opposite order, starting with the smaller sins and leading up to the bigger ones. I prefer to do it in this order as it means the priest will probably pay more attention to the smaller sins, after all, they are still sins. I mean, if someone confessed murder to their priest, is he really going to pay attention to the fact that the penitent participated in gossip? but that is just my opinion. I’m really curious what other people think about this. Is there really a ‘right’ way? or is it simply a matter of preference? What reasons do you have for confessing in the order that you do?

 

[Bookcat]

Time for one…there may short time …hence one can omit directly confessing the venial sins…

Mortal sins are necessary to be confessed …venial are not.

But you may be here meaning by “more serious” the more deliberate venial sins not “serious sins” (AKA mortal sins) …

But if one has mortal sins – put em at the front.

 

[Aeden]

Say the mortal sins first. That way, if you get interrupted for any reason, you can have them forgiven. That just strikes me as common sense, although I don’t know if there is any particular section in cannon law discussing the order in which to confess sins.

 

[IrishRush]

I try to put the ones I feel more of a need for counseling on at the end, so that it all flows easier for the priest and myself. I feel like any sin I commit is “serious” so that doesn’t come in to the process for me.

 

[rcurtis555]

I have a question for anyone out there? What exactly are the “common” mortal sins? for instance, is missing mass a mortal sin?

 

[Bookcat]

I have a question for anyone out there? What exactly are the “common” mortal sins? for instance, is missing mass a mortal sin?

Yes

Catechism:

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm#II

(note that one is not obliged to receive the Eucharist though such is important if one is in communion with the Church and prepared without mortal sin)

Common?..those against chastity are in the more “common” area…lust, fornication, pornography, masturbation, adultery, contraception etc etc…

But of course there can be serious theft, missing Mass as noted above, unfortunately abortion is all to common among the “general” population …given the number of them done each year …

Read the section in the Catechism on the Commandments and a good examination of conscience.

scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc.htm

 

[Bookcat]

From the compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI

1. What is sin?

1849-1851
1871-1872

Sin is “a word, an act, or a desire contrary to the eternal Law” (Saint Augustine). It is an offense against God in disobedience to his love. It wounds human nature and injures human solidarity. Christ in his passion fully revealed the seriousness of sin and overcame it with his mercy.

1. Is there a variety of sins?

1852-1853
1873

There are a great many kinds of sins. They can be distinguished according to their object or according to the virtues or commandments which they violate. They can directly concern God, neighbor, or ourselves. They can also be divided into sins of thought, of word, of deed, or of omission.

1. How are sins distinguished according to their gravity?

1854

A distinction is made between mortal and venial sin.

1. When does one commit a mortal sin?

1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.

1. When does one commit a venial sin?

1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

And Catechism: scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm

 

[Pekita]

I paticipate in Opus Dei, and we are urged to say the worst sin first, the one that most hurts. The confesor, whom is almost always my spiritual guide, will guide and give me the best advice since he´ll know that the first is the one that I´m struggling most with.The mortal ones first, but we are also suggested to say the venial ones because God´s grace through confession will help us rid of them.

 

[Victory9]

My personal preference is to confess the mortal sins first because I feel so filthy that I want to get rid of it as fast as I can. If you are walking through an airport with a heavy piece of luggage and a light piece of luggage, which would you put down first when the opportunity presented itself?

 

[Joan_M]

The mortal sins first - always. Why? Well, the devil doesn’t want you to confess those. If you start off with venial sins the devil has more time to whisper to you that that one you think is mortal really isn’t so bad, or that one is so huge it cannot be forgiven… You know what I mean. Confessing mortal sins can be difficult, as we can all feel embarrassment at our s sinfulness. Confess them first and get them off your chest!

You will cheat the dumb devil (he wants you to become dumb and not confess them).

 

[couponfit]

I’ve heard some people say that when confessing ones sins one should always start with the most serious and then bring up the less serious sins at the end. I, on the other hand, have always confessed in the opposite order, starting with the smaller sins and leading up to the bigger ones. I prefer to do it in this order as it means the priest will probably pay more attention to the smaller sins, after all, they are still sins. I mean, if someone confessed murder to their priest, is he really going to pay attention to the fact that the penitent participated in gossip? but that is just my opinion. I’m really curious what other people think about this. Is there really a ‘right’ way? or is it simply a matter of preference? What reasons do you have for confessing in the order that you do?

If starting out confession after a long absence, a single sin! The worst! The one that bothers you the most. The one you must let go of. Seek forgiveness, do the penance. Get into a routine to confess. Weekly at least. As you confess more and more, put focus into Christ in your confession, in your prayers, and in your life and deeds. You will find that it sort of snowballs.

 

[Bookcat]

If starting out confession after a long absence, a single sin! The worst! The one that bothers you the most. The one you must let go of. Seek forgiveness, do the penance. Get into a routine to confess. Weekly at least. As you confess more and more, put focus into Christ in your confession, in your prayers, and in your life and deeds. You will find that it sort of snowballs.

Such would be not correct advice --the first part. If you mean that one simply confesses one single sin in the first confession back.

For we are obliged to confess ALL Mortal sins in number and kind (and circumstance that changes it --like it was your brother you murdered).

Thus assuming the person has more than one mortal sins --such is not to be done.

To knowingly hid the other mortal sins that where committed renders the confession invalid and can bring another grave sin of sacrelige and requires the re-confession of that sin that was confessed.

The Church has strongly corrected this false notion that you picked up somewhere (it was in vogue with some in the past).

I can see here your zeal and love for Christ and conversion – but if I am reading your post correctly --you have picked up a wrong notion innocently somewhere.

Now if one has only venial sins (or not conscious after the examine of any mortal sin that was actually committed) --one may if one likes confess as few or as many as one desires. But in terms of mortal sins this is not an option.

(though I will note for some readers some with say severe scrupulosity may be in a different boat than the rest–their confessor can guide them …)

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Your at confession and you cannot fool God by the order in which you arrange your sins. Remember the priest is acting in the person of Christ, God will give them the wisdom to see through our weak attempts to hide sin. And if we hide sin we are doing what Satan wants. God is Truth and the Truth cannot be hidden forever. Whoever said it earlier - get the most painful and embarassing sins out of the way first since these generally are the ones we want to hide and are our personal greatest sins.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I was taught to always confess serious to less so. So any mortal sins first (kind and number), then deliberate or persistent venial sins, then any other venial.

The reasons I was given are all those mentioned here - you must confess mortal sins, so do those first, you may be interrupted, you may forget, become embarrassed, etc.

I also was taught to do frequent confession. I encourage monthly confession as a general thing. Usually after only a few months, mortal sins that are not habitual (usually porn and related) are rooted out and one has only venial sins to confess.

The graces we receive from this sacrament are life giving and necessary. Like water or sunlight! We shouldn’t go too long without them!

 

[thewanderer]

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut, I guess I’m just weird that I like cofessing this way! I realized though that its not just for the priest, but also for me. I don’t tend to have a problem remembering anything I consider to be a more serious sin, (and I’m not even just talking mortal sins) but whenever I’m really worried about a particular sin, I find it really easy to forget all the rest I want to confess, so, while I understand it’s not necessary to confess any genial sins, I prefer to confess all of them and end up putting the less serious ones first to make sure that happens. The point about being cut off is interesting, I guess I’ve just been lucky and never had that problem, I’ve always had easy access to frequent, dedicated confession times, with pretty short lines. That is one I’ll have to think about more…

 

[Vico]

… The Church has strongly corrected this false notion that you picked up somewhere (it was in vogue with some in the past). … Now if one has only venial sins (or not conscious after the examine of any mortal sin that was actually committed) --one may if one likes confess as few or as many as one desires. …

I think that idea came from confession of venial sins. See Baltimore Catechism No. 3:

Q. 782. What should one do who has only venial sins to confess?
A. One who has only venial sins to confess should tell also some sin already confessed in his past life for which he knows he is truly sorry; because it is not easy to be truly sorry for slight sins and imperfections, and yet we must be sorry for the sins confessed that our confession may be valid – hence we add some past sin for which we are truly sorry to those for which we may not be sufficiently sorry.

ourladyswarriors.org/faith/bc3-19.htm