Reconciliation: What are mortal sins?

[juliegh23]

I am still learning, I will go to my first reconciliation soon and need to know, do we confess only mortal sins? What are all of the mortal sins? Are they only the 10 commandments, and if so do you go into detail on how you committed one, or do you say #1, #2, #3 etc, ? Are they isted somewhere? Maybe the CCC?

 

[mkw]

Yes, you must confess ALL KNOWN MORTAL SINS.
and yes, the CCC has a section that contains sins, both venial and mortal.

If you have a good Catholic book store available to you, find a book or a booklet on confessions for adults. Thats what I did when I first converted. Confession scared me, not knowing what to do or how to do it. The CCC is the very best source you can get, but sometimes, it tends to be a bit confusing for new converts.

Pray and ask God to help you with this. God HATES sin, so He is absolutly the best one to ask help from in uncovering your sins and making them known to you.

 

[Dr.Colossus]

When you go to confession you must confess all mortal sins, but may (and are encouraged to) confess venial sins as well. If you are not sure whether a certain sin is mortal or venial, it is likely venial because for a sin to be mortal you must know that it is. But regardless you should confess any sin on your conscience that you are able to remember.

The requirements for the manner of confessing are simply that you let the priest know in kind and number all of the sins you have committed. As I have seen it expressed: Be bold, be brief, begone. In other words, don’t hold back, don’t give more information than is necessary, and leave your sins at the confessional–you’ve been forgiven! Don’t worry about them anymore.

 

[C_S_P_B]

catholicparents.org/oxcart/examination.html

Here is an electronic copy of the Examination of Consience by Fr. Robert Altier, a respected priest in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

 

[Youngcatholic]

What do you do if you committed a mortal sin but you didn’t know it was a mortal sin until you either read about it or learned from another Catholic that it was mortal. Would you still have to confess it if the knowledge of the sin wasn’t there when you did it?

 

[Gunner]

The best no nonsense orthodox link on mortal sin I have so far found is

saintaquinas.com/mortal_sin.html

Hope this helps

God Bless

 

[cyprian]

There ARE mortal sins inside of mortal sins. Like thou shall not kill…killing the spirit in someone…knowing the true Church and leaving it(like removing a brick from the foundation)…thou shall not commit adultery…using your faculties in any way that contravene God’s law, not just cheating on your wife.

Thinking it’s ok to skip Mass on Sunday because you go during the week

and so on

 

[baltobetsy]

Youngcatholic:

What do you do if you committed a mortal sin but you didn’t know it was a mortal sin until you either read about it or learned from another Catholic that it was mortal. Would you still have to confess it if the knowledge of the sin wasn’t there when you did it?

If you did not know that what you did was mortally sinful, then one of the three conditions for committing a mortal sin (grave matter, meaning the act is seriously wrong; full knowledge and free consent of the will) is missing, and you have not committed a mortal sin. Of course, if you do it again, after you find out, then you will have committed a mortal sin.

But, while it is in no way required, it seems like a good idea to apologize to God anyway, in the same way that you would say, “Oooh, I’m so sorry!” when you accidentally step on someone’s foot. In your confession you could say, “I did such and such, but I didn’t realize at the time that it was sinful. I understand that I am not guilty of a sin, but I want to express my sorrow to God anyway.” That gives the priest an opportunity to counsel you regarding this sin, or answer any questions you may have. Also this gesture of humilty will surely please God.

Betsy