Question about Confession

[LindaJM]

Hi there, I’m new here. I have been raised Catholic from birth but after leaving home in college didn’t really go to church at all…for many years. I’ve been back permanently for almost 10 years and I am raising my children in the Catholic faith. I went to confession last night for the first time since I was a young teenager, probably since my 8th grade confirmation. It was wonderful (because I finally did it! ), but I left there feeling a bit sad and like I didn’t make a very good confession because I felt like I forgot many many things. I wrote down all that I could think of but now I am thinking of all these other things I should have said, one of which I remembered while still in the confessional AFTER I was all done and saying my Act of Contrition, but I was too flustered to go backwards and say it at that point. I asked my priest before I started if I could generalize a bit and he said that was fine, so I did, but it’s not making me feel too absolved .

I really do have a question and this is it…in regards to how often to go to confession, I understand that I am only *obligated *to go at least once a year (though I plan on going at least once a month if not more), but if confessions ARE only done once a year how could one receive the sacrament of the Eucharist if they happen to be in a state of mortal sin? In other words, I just made my confession last night…so if I were to commit a mortal sin say…this week…but do not go to confession again before next Sunday I would be committing another mortal sin by receiving the Eucharist. Is that correct? If I commit a mortal sin should I not receive the Eucharist until I make a confession of that sin? What about folks who only confess once a year?

Thanks, and I have enjoyed reading this forum the last few days

 

[LilyM]

Firstly the Eucharist doesn’t have to be received on Easter day - there’s a grace period of a few weeks either side of Easter. So you should never be without the opportunity to go to Confession before making your Easter Communion.

Secondly, don’t worry about having forgotten sins or been flustered and not mentioned some after the Act of Contrition. I’m sure these things have happened to most if not all of us. God knows what’s in your heart and that your intent was to confess all your mortal sins, so you can rest easy.

Perhaps write them down when you think of them so as to not forget them again next time?

 

[maryceleste]

LindaJM:

In other words, I just made my confession last night…so if I were to commit a mortal sin say…this week…but do not go to confession again before next Sunday I would be committing another mortal sin by receiving the Eucharist. Is that correct? If I commit a mortal sin should I not receive the Eucharist until I make a confession of that sin?

Yes, that’s correct. When we realize that we’ve committed a mortal sin, we need to pray an Act of Contrition right away, and go to confession at the first opportunity. If confession isn’t offered regularly at your parish, you can ask at the rectory, and a priest will hear your confession individually.

What about folks who only confess once a year?

Well, for their sake, I hope they haven’t committed any mortal sins in the meantime!

There’s been very poor instruction on the importance of confession in many contemporary parishes. I believe Australia has had even more problems than the United States in this regard, with illicit practices such as the priest granting “general absolution” for entire groups of people (which is only permitted for extreme situations, such as soldiers about to go into battle). You’re to be commended for making the effort to figure out the correct way to do things.

 

[LindaJM]

Thank you for your replies! My parish priest does do regular confessions every Saturday at 4:00 before Mass, but we had a special confession on Monday evening for holy week and of course no confessions this Saturday. We have been attending that 5:00 Mass lately so I will just make sure I get there by 4:00 if need be. Well, actually, I’ll just try harder not to *need *that 4:00 confession

Fortunately my 12 and 13 y.o. boys feel comfortable about this sacrament, and while I cannot think of any mortal sins that they could possibly have, they go anyway and both say they feel better afterwards. We have a wonderful priest but they also go behind the screen anyway. Life feels so much better for all of us this week! Thank you for listening

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

LindaJM:

Hi there, I’m new here. I have been raised Catholic from birth but after leaving home in college didn’t really go to church at all…for many years. I’ve been back permanently for almost 10 years and I am raising my children in the Catholic faith. I went to confession last night for the first time since I was a young teenager, probably since my 8th grade confirmation. It was wonderful (because I finally did it! ), but I left there feeling a bit sad and like I didn’t make a very good confession because I felt like I forgot many many things. I wrote down all that I could think of but now I am thinking of all these other things I should have said, one of which I remembered while still in the confessional AFTER I was all done and saying my Act of Contrition, but I was too flustered to go backwards and say it at that point. I asked my priest before I started if I could generalize a bit and he said that was fine, so I did, but it’s not making me feel too absolved .

I really do have a question and this is it…in regards to how often to go to confession, I understand that I am only *obligated *to go at least once a year (though I plan on going at least once a month if not more), but if confessions ARE only done once a year how could one receive the sacrament of the Eucharist if they happen to be in a state of mortal sin? In other words, I just made my confession last night…so if I were to commit a mortal sin say…this week…but do not go to confession again before next Sunday I would be committing another mortal sin by receiving the Eucharist. Is that correct? If I commit a mortal sin should I not receive the Eucharist until I make a confession of that sin? What about folks who only confess once a year?

Thanks, and I have enjoyed reading this forum the last few days

You need to make an appointment with your pastor. To me it seems like you are and have been for 10 years trying to follow a “do-it-yourself” path back to the practice of the Catholic faith. You need pastoral guidance because you have missed a few steps.