Restitution

[The_Cavalier]

Hello, all, I hope everything is going better for you than it is for me.

I have a question about restitution. A very long while ago, I confessed to a sin that required restitution. I had damaged someone’s transmission, and he wasn’t aware of it when he got the repairs, so it was up to me to come forward in order to pay him back since he unknowingly spent all that money for something that was my fault.

Anyway, when I went to confession, I had the intention of informing this gentlemen, so we could get started on figuring out a way I could pay him back. For whatever reason, however, I put it off, and now (three years later) I’ve just brought it to his attention.

I’m not sure how restitution works, and my question is whether my putting off this matter retroactively invalidates my confession and makes the Communion I took (in good conscience at the time) a mortal sin. (

 

[Antegin]

Hello, all, I hope everything is going better for you than it is for me.

I have a question about restitution. A very long while ago, I confessed to a sin that required restitution. I had damaged someone’s transmission, and he wasn’t aware of it when he got the repairs, so it was up to me to come forward in order to pay him back since he unknowingly spent all that money for something that was my fault.

Anyway, when I went to confession, I had the intention of informing this gentlemen, so we could get started on figuring out a way I could pay him back. For whatever reason, however, I put it off, and now (three years later) I’ve just brought it to his attention.

I’m not sure how restitution works, and my question is whether my putting off this matter retroactively invalidates my confession and makes the Communion I took (in good conscience at the time) a mortal sin. (

CCC 2409

Willfully damaging public or private property is contrary to the moral law and requires reparation.

CCC 2412

… are obliged to make some restitution in proportion to their responsibility and to their share of what was stolen.

Restitution is not penance, but you need to pay the man. I would suggest you offer to pay your friend back with interest. The rate you pay on your credit card should suffice.

 

[The_Cavalier]

Thank you for your response. You said, “Restitution is not penance…”. Am I to understand, then, that the confession and subsequent Hply Communion were not invalidated?

 

[Antegin]

Yes, especially since your intent is to follow through with the restitution.

It would have been another matter if you said ‘‘Yes, l’ll make restitution’’ just to get absolution and you had no intention of paying it back.