Greetings Tony1972,If during confession a venial sin is deliberately not mentioned due to discomfort but the individual holds it in their mind and heart throughout confession and contrition–is it technically forgiven? In other words, can they receive Communion thereafter?
Thanks
Well, not really. Repentance (contrition) is mandatory; simple receipt of Holy Communion won’t clear the sin. The Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass is where the venial sin is forgiven. Sanctifying grace is restored at Holy Communion.A venial sin is forgiven through receipt of Communion, not only through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Greetings JamestheOlder,Well, not really. Repentance (contrition) is mandatory; simple receipt of Holy Communion won’t clear the sin. The Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass is where the venial sin is forgiven. Sanctifying grace is restored at Holy Communion.
Specific corrections to this post are possible; this is from long-ago memory. Remember when we used to say the Confiteor at the beginning of EVERY Mass, and the subsequent “minor” absolution pronounced by the Celebrant?
#1394 As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins. 231 By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him:
#231 - 231 Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1638.Since Christ died for us out of love, when we celebrate the memorial of his death at the moment of sacrifice we ask that love may be granted to us by the coming of the Holy Spirit. We humbly pray that in the strength of this love by which Christ willed to die for us, we, by receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, may be able to consider the world as crucified for us, and to be ourselves as crucified to the world… Having received the gift of love, let us die to sin and live for God. 232
Thank you for the CCC quote (I couldn’t find it before) and the quote from Trent. I stand corrected (nicely, thank you).Greetings JamestheOlder,
If I might make a correction to your post with all due respects. Commuion will clear the venial sin.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 1394
#231 - 231 Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1638.
CITED TEXT:
Council of Trent (1551): DS 1638
“He who eateth me, the same also shall live by me” [John 6:58], and as an antidote, whereby we may be freed from daily faults and be preserved from mortal sins."
God Bless You.
Anathama Sit
Greetings JamestheOlder,Thank you for the CCC quote (I couldn’t find it before) and the quote from Trent. I stand corrected (nicely, thank you).
Two last, trailing thoughts…
- Does the quote from Trent, using the word “faults”, imply that we recognize our actions as “faults”, i.e., that we repent of them?
- Do we not precede Holy Communion with a Penitential Rite in almost every case, including Mass, and using the Rite for Holy Communion Outside of Mass for (public) Communion Services and taking Communion to the Sick?
Tell me what you think of the point that I raise in response to your questioning in your second inquiry. What is the efficacy of the priest’s absolution in the Sacrament of Penance? It is the wiping away of all sin. The pentitential Rite in the Mass does not do this I think. I shall do some more research on this and share in this thread what I find. However, I do think perhaps it can wipe away venial sins."Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite conclused with the priest’s absolution, which however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.
Dear Anathama Sit,Greetings JamestheOlder,
You raise some interesting questions to be sure.
I found something in the GIRM that sheds an interesting light on this. It is from No. 51. The bolded part is my emphasis. I am going to do some more research but according to this, I do not think you get absolution from your sins. If you did, then you would not have to confess the Mortal sins. After the penance services in Lent and Advent or other services, one is still obligated to go to Confession if they have Mortal sins on their heart.
- Yes in almost every case Holy Communion is preceded with the Penitential Rite.
Tell me what you think of the point that I raise in response to your questioning in your second inquiry. What is the efficacy of the priest’s absolution in the Sacrament of Penance? It is the wiping away of all sin. The pentitential Rite in the Mass does not do this I think. I shall do some more research on this and share in this thread what I find. However, I do think perhaps it can wipe away venial sins.
God Bless.
Anathama Sit
Greetings JamestheOlder,Dear Anathama Sit,
The priest’s absolution in the Sacrament of Penance is complete, for all sins confessed and those forgotten.
The “minor” absolution at end of the penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass, or beginning of a communion service, or communion to the sick does NOT have the same effect as in the specific Sacrament of Penance. That is why I call it “minor” in quotes. Also, to confirm that it is not the same, the celebrant who speaks the “minor” absolution to restricted from making the sign of the cross over the assembly at this point. This used to be done, but became an abuse when various priests claimed this was an act of GENERAL absolution. People stopped going to the Sacrament of Penance (and that has hardly recoved from this blow)…they thought, “if I have received General Absolution, why do I need to go to The Sacrament for forgiveness.”
Also, in a community penance service, the actual recounting of sins and absolution must be done individually (personally), to/by a priest. It would be very unusual (emergency, battlefield) for a priest to give GENERAL absolution. That is prohibited under “normal” circumstances.
IMHO, the act of penance and contrition at the beginning of the noted forms of Eucharistic Liturgy is not there by accident, any more than it was in the Tridentine Mass (EF). I think it was placed there, in that way, for contrition for venial sins (faults). That is personal opinion.
Peace be with you.
However, a person dying with only unrepented venial sins on their soul is nevertheless saved.Well, not really. Repentance (contrition) is mandatory; simple receipt of Holy Communion won’t clear the sin. The Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass is where the venial sin is forgiven. Sanctifying grace is restored at Holy Communion.
Specific corrections to this post are possible; this is from long-ago memory. Remember when we used to say the Confiteor at the beginning of EVERY Mass, and the subsequent “minor” absolution pronounced by the Celebrant?
References? I would suspect Purgatory would be a proper destination if “unrepented”.However, a person dying with only unrepented venial sins on their soul is nevertheless saved.
The Church teaching is very clear. Those who die in a state of mortal sin go to Hell.References? I would suspect Purgatory would be a proper destination if “unrepented”.
Peace.
Of course if one remembers a mortal sin…one is to confess it the next time.Dear Anathama Sit,
The priest’s absolution in the Sacrament of Penance is complete, for all sins confessed and those forgotten.
Greetings Bookcat,Of course if one remembers a mortal sin…one is to confess it the next time.
Thank you, Thistle. I agree fully with the highlighted section in blue, above. I think the operative words for that point (and my position) are highlighted in red. Would you agree?The Church teaching is very clear. Those who die in a state of mortal sin go to Hell.
Dying with only venial sins on your souls means you are saved but will likely spend time in Purgatory before getting to Heaven.Venial sins do not separate a person from God.
CCC 1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God’s grace it is humanly reparable. “Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness.”
I wish to differ slightly from your summation and alibi. The OP stated:One poster suggested that if the OP deliberately withholds a venial sin during confession because he is embarassed, the sin of pride bars him from receiving Holy Communion. I think that this is a rash pronouncement. While the Church does encourage us to confess our venial sins, she does not bind us to do so - thus, I hardly see how deliberately withholding venial sins, assuming one confesses and is contrite for all one’s mortal sins, could constitute grave matter.
We are not to impose undue burdens on our brothers - especially if they are struggling in the spiritual life. Should the OP ideally confess all venial sins? Of course. Should we condemn him if he does not? Not at all…because Holy Mother Church does not require him to do so. For some, it is difficult enough to get to confession in the first place! We all must advance in the spiritual life at our own pace, and as long as we are meeting the Church’s requirements, lets not try to impose new ones.
=Tony1972;8455079]If during confession a venial sin is deliberately not mentioned due to discomfort but the individual holds it in their mind and heart throughout confession and contrition–is it technically forgiven? In other words, can they receive Communion thereafter?
YES! But can an actual “venial sin” be such a chore?Thanks