Returned to church last year

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I’ve been through confessions and have gone over everything I can think of in my past, but not the actual number of times or even the specific sins in question. I often referred to sexual sins as “impurity,” rather than “masturbation,” for example.

One of the priests at my church told me not to count my sins, but doesn’t the Catechism require number and species? I have no idea how many times I’ve committed such mortal sins as the above and using the Lord’s name in vain, etc.

Did I just get bad advice from a priest? Thanks in advance.
 
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Alt303 said:
I’ve been through confessions and have gone over everything I can think of in my past, but not the actual number of times or even the specific sins in question. I often referred to sexual sins as “impurity,” rather than “masturbation,” for example.

One of the priests at my church told me not to count my sins, but doesn’t the Catechism require number and species? I have no idea how many times I’ve committed such mortal sins as the above and using the Lord’s name in vain, etc.

Did I just get bad advice from a priest? Thanks in advance.
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General idea. Doesn’t need to be “exactly 37 times: at 9:47 AM on 8/02, at 10:46 PM on 8/04, …” But “every couple days over the last few months.” Just need to give him a sense of what you’re talking about.
 
Not exactly sure at this writing, but I’ve heard “number and species” of mortal sin.

I’m visiting a priest for confession by appointment very soon (as soon as he gets to his voicemail) and I’ll definitely ask him about the distinction.
 
I was away from the Church for much of my adult life (up until 2011), and when I went to confession and explained my situation to the priest, I was not asked to give an estimate on the # of times for any sin I was confessing. It would be impossible.
 
Yeah, same here. After 18 years I’m not going to remember the number of times I did sin X, Y or Z. I just said “did sin X regularly over 5 years till 2009 when I stopped” or whatever.

One thing, OP - we’re not expected to go in there with exact numbers of times we committed each sin, but it would be good if you could work towards getting those numbers down to the point where you couldn’t remember if it was 3 times or 5 times as opposed to not remembering whether it was 42 times or 45 times…you get the drift.
 
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Absolutely, Bearself. I abstain from sexual activity now (I feel worn out anyway). It’s great to be celibate. If I could just get my anger issues down to almost non-existent, I’d feel so much better. Thanx.
 
Those already baptised who are coming into full communion with the Catholic Church have between 20-70? years of sins to confess. It is a lot easier to say sins and numbers if there are two-four weeks since your last confession and you have to go again than if there have been years and decades. All the Church asks is that you do your best to remember.
 
Alt303 said:
Absolutely, Bearself. I abstain from sexual activity now (I feel worn out anyway). It’s great to be celibate.
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Me too. My husband died and the last thing I want is to get back on that tired old treadmill again. All the women I know my age who ended up single (they’re all divorced btw, not widowed) are now living with some guy. I decided I’d rather be lonely than go that route.

As for anger issues, try reading some of Mother Angelica’s stuff on anger. She’s funny in the way only an old Italian woman from Northeast Ohio can be.
 
IdaCatholic said:
What does the catechism say?
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It’s not stated specifically in the Catechism. It appears in the Code of Canon Law:
Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.

§2. It is recommended to the Christian faithful that they also confess venial sins.
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As others have said, this is not intended to require photographic memory and exacting detail. The Church does not require the impossible, and that would be impossible.

You want to give the priest an accurate picture of where you are at spiritually. Generally, though, if the priest needs more details, he’ll ask. I would listen to the counsel of the priest, though. There is no need to keep a log book of how many times you commit particular sins.
 
Follow your conscience not some formula. Some priests want to know numbers so they can help a person who might have an addiction, others just want a vague account of your sins. It’s all about how YOU feel about your sins, your confession will be valid if you are remorseful of your sins. If you purposely try and hide sins, then that’s a problem. And there is nothing wrong with toning down some of the words used to describe the sin if your doing it for the right reason, out of consideration for the priest. I’ve gone to confession at several different parishes, sometimes I’m completely mortified, and other times it seems way to easy. The mortification is usually when the line is way to close to the confessional and Father talks loud, oh my gosh lol.

The bottom line, trust in the mercy of Jesus, the fact that you even make it to confession is pleasing to the Lord. Just go with the flow and do the best that you can do, God will take care of the rest.
 
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