Remembering a sin during absolution

[MartyrForJesus]

Okay, I have a specific problem in that once I have finished my confession, I often remember a sin as soon as the priest starts absolution. I don’t say anything because I read on this forum some time ago that you shouldn’t interrupt absolution. Today when I went to confession, I finished listing my sins and the priest asked ‘And that’s all?’, to which I replied ‘Yes.’ Just before he said ‘I absolve you of your sins…’ I remembered a sin I was supposed to confess because I had forgotten in prior confessions. He was in the middle of saying ‘Through the ministry of the Church…’ I didn’t say anything and held it back, because as stated earlier I remember reading that you shouldn’t interrupt the absolution process and that he probably would of been annoyed with me interrupting during ‘I now absolve you…’ with a shouted ‘Wait there’s still one more’.

I remember that keeping things back from confession invalidates it. Please tell me I didn’t invalidate the confession.

 

[Bookcat]

You are correct that one ought not interrupt the absolution …in terms of mortal sins remember it in the next confession…in terms of venial sins …no need per se to remember it.

 

[mfrances]

You did not mean to (with intent) “hold it back”, thus you did not invalidate your confession. You are absolved. You remembered it after you finished confession, this happens to most people at least once in their lives! Rest assured, you are already forgiven , just try to remember to confess it next time.

 

[Luvtosew]

funny you should ask,

Last time I went in , I told him that I want to confess a couple things from when I was younger that I’m not sure I confessed, and he said

“All you sins are forgiven” so I guess I was good to go,

although I had already confessed to Jesus directly about this stuff when I had remembered it.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

Thanks guys. It was an on the stop decision but I felt really guilty afterwards.

 

[Bookcat]

funny you should ask,

Last time I went in , I told him that I want to confess a couple things from when I was younger that I’m not sure I confessed, and he said

“All you sins are forgiven” so I guess I was good to go,

although I had already confessed to Jesus directly about this stuff when I had remembered it.

If one remembers a mortal sin that was not confessed one is obliged to confess it when one remembers it (the next confession).

(those who struggle with scrupulosity sometimes will scruple here…so they need to discuss with their regular confessor…they are often told to only confess it it later if they are certain it was mortal and certain it was not confessed).

 

[LilyM]

I have a few tines been in the same situation. While it’s never a good idea to interrupt the priest WHILE he’s saying the absolution, or anything else for that matter, IMHO there’s nothing preventing you from mentioning it afterwards, so that you ‘get everything out’ before leaving the confessional. I don’t see anything rude or wrong in that, especially if you recall a mortal sin.

 

[Bookcat]

IMHO there’s nothing preventing you from mentioning it afterwards, so that you ‘get everything out’ before leaving the confessional.

Such is an option (but not required)//…but then I understand he would give you absolution again (directly absolving that which was newly submitted to the keys)…so it may be better to save it for the next confession since it was absolved indirectly already and others may be waiting.

Make yourself a “coded” note.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

It is for reasons like this that a good examine and preparation before confession is so important. If you have prayerfully gone through an examine and even made a few notes to yourself, you will identify all mortal sins since your last confession. Then you can pick an area of improvement and concentrate on venial sins in that area.

When you go in for confession, always start with your mortal sins. Once you have confessed all of those (in kind and number), then you can confess the venial sins. If you forget a venila sin or “run out of time”, they are all absolved during a sacramental confession anyway.

A little note to yourself and good preparation will go a long way. Also, if you refrain from getting caught up in details, you will be more likely to remember everything you came in to say. The priest does not need to know scurrelious detail. He will ask if he needs more information.

 

[Hailz]

Jimmy Akin wrote about this topic, and I found it very helpful. He compares it to interrupting a baptism or the consecration of the Eucharist. Not something you should do!

 

[opus101]

Okay, I have a specific problem in that once I have finished my confession, I often remember a sin as soon as the priest starts absolution. I don’t say anything because I read on this forum some time ago that you shouldn’t interrupt absolution. Today when I went to confession, I finished listing my sins and the priest asked ‘And that’s all?’, to which I replied ‘Yes.’ Just before he said ‘I absolve you of your sins…’ I remembered a sin I was supposed to confess because I had forgotten in prior confessions. He was in the middle of saying ‘Through the ministry of the Church…’ I didn’t say anything and held it back, because as stated earlier I remember reading that you shouldn’t interrupt the absolution process and that he probably would of been annoyed with me interrupting during ‘I now absolve you…’ with a shouted ‘Wait there’s still one more’.

I remember that keeping things back from confession invalidates it. Please tell me I didn’t invalidate the confession.

Why not just tell the priest then and there (after the absolution) that, while he was saying the absolution you remembered something else. He will instruct you as to what to do.