Self Confessing

[4eva_catholic]

Is it ok and is it allowed to confess on your own without going to the priest? And does God hear silent prayers? A non catholic friend once told me that you have to say out loud your prayers of which i find hard to do.

 

[englishredrose]

The Catholic Teaching is that Catholics go to confession with the priest and that is the only way sins will be forgiven is what I gather on these boards without going into what I think, seeing that you are Catholic and no wish to colour the matter.

I will leave prayer to others because whilst I know what I have been taught is Anglican and is also Catholic since a book what supported what I been taught was written by an American Catholic Monk longish ago (before the days of public internet) I wouldn’t want to confuse any formal Catholic teaching in case it differed.

 

[JerryZ]

God is Omniscient and knows everything that goes on our hearts.
So yes He can hear our silent prayers.
If you feel unconfortable saying them aloud you could start by saying in very low voice “murmur” and as you get used to hearing your own voice it will become easier and easier.
Some people have the same issue with singing in church.
Hope this helps.

Peace

 

[Bonnie]

Only mortal sins have to be confessed to a priest. Venial sins are forgiven by one’s contrition, which would include prayer confessing to God and taking part in the Mass. However, it is a good practice to go to confession even for venial sins.

As for saying prayers out loud, that is not a requirement at all in the Catholic Church. It may be in some Christian sects. You don’t even have to move your lips.

 

[Nige90]

When we sin against God, we sin against His Church, which is His body. It is for the reason that we must go to a priest for absolution so that we can be reconciled back to God and His Church.

Of course when we sin, we should say sorry to God immediately, and this can be done in the quietness of our hearts. And venial sins can be forgiven without having to go to a priest for confession. Sins of grave matter must be confessed to a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation though.

Personally I prefer to confess venial sins in confession as well (the ones that I can remember) because I need all the graces of God I can get.

 

[JRKH]

Is it ok and is it allowed to confess on your own without going to the priest?

This depends on the gravity of the sin. The Church teaches that all mortal sin needs to be confessed to a priest.
Mortal sin requires three things. 1) Grave matter, 2) Knowledge that it is sinful and, 3) Free will consent to sin.
What this amounts to basically is that you freely decide to do what you KNOW is sinful - thus turning your back on God’s sovereignty in your life. This “Kills charity” in the heart and requires the sacrament of reconciliation to restore.

Other - lesser sins - venial sins can be “self confessed” and are forgiven with true contrition and a commitment to avoid the sin in the future.

And does God hear silent prayers? A non catholic friend once told me that you have to say out loud your prayers of which i find hard to do.

Silent prayers are fine…God knows what we need even before we do…but prayer is a way of forming our thoughts and ideas, and places us in a disposition to hear God when he speaks to us.
So - silent prayer or vocal - it’s all the same to our Loving Father…

Peace
James

 

[Jon_S_1]

Is it ok and is it allowed to confess on your own without going to the priest? And does God hear silent prayers? A non catholic friend once told me that you have to say out loud your prayers of which i find hard to do.

I would encourage you to pray however you are comfortable and if convicted of sin in your heart to ask Gods forgiveness as soon as you feel the need.

God always hears and knows our hearts.

Now this does not mean you can skip confession.

Confession is the way God has asked us worship and reconcile with himself and the Church which he created. He commands this of us for OUR spiritual health, not for His. Going to Confession should be therapeutic and beneficial.

Most importantly, to avoid Confession is to place our will above God’s will which is serious sin. Focusing on ourselves is the cause of all sin.

 

[cmodrmac]

each denomination has their own teaching-I believe the RC teaching is clear that confession is with a Priest-although on rare occasions there are general confessions (for example in the military)

The Orthodox is with the Priest

Lutherans and Episcopals have a general confession in the service but confession with ( not to) a Priest is often encouraged

 

[4eva_catholic]

Thank you guys, you’ve really helped. May the good God bless you all…

 

[Lancer]

VII. THE ACTS OF THE PENITENT

1450 "Penance requires . . . the sinner to endure all things willingly, be contrite of heart, confess with the lips, and practice complete humility and fruitful satisfaction."49

Contrition

1451 Among the** penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place**. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity).** Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.**51

VIII. THE MINISTER OF THIS SACRAMENT

1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation,65 bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops’ collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

1462 Forgiveness of sins brings reconciliation with God, but also with the Church. Since ancient times** the bishop, visible head of a particular Church, has thus rightfully been considered to be the one who principally has the power and ministry of reconciliation: he is the moderator of the penitential discipline.66 Priests, his collaborators, exercise it to the extent that they have received the commission either from their bishop (or religious superior) or the Pope, according to the law of the Church**.67

Recommend that our Catechism can convey the beauty and reasons why/when this Sacrament is needed/required.
Pax Christi

1422-1498 ARTICLE 4: THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
1423-1424 I. What Is This Sacrament Called?
1425-1426 II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism?
1427-1429 III. The Conversion of the Baptized
1430-1433 IV. Interior Penance
1424-1439 V. The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life
1440-1449 VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
1450-1460 VII. The Acts of the Penitent
1461-1467 VIII. The Minister of This Sacrament
1468-1470 IX. The Effects of This Sacrament
1471-1479 X. Indulgences
1480-1484 XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance
1485-1498 IN BRIEF

 

[Chatter163]

each denomination has their own teaching-I believe the RC teaching is clear that confession is with a Priest-although on rare occasions there are general confessions (for example in the military)

The Orthodox is with the Priest

Lutherans and Episcopals have a general confession in the service but confession with ( not to) a Priest is often encouraged

No denominations here–only the Church.

 

[MaryT777]

Thank you guys, you’ve really helped. May the good God bless you all…

God bless you as well and Welcome to the Forums!
Mary.

 

[4eva_catholic]

God bless you as well and Welcome to the Forums!
Mary.

Thank you Mary.

 

[4eva_catholic]

God bless you as well and Welcome to the Forums!
Mary.

 

[Brendan_64]

Venial sins may be forgiven by making your own confession, but do not neglect the sacrament of Confession. The sacrament of Confession grants absolution from **all **your sins.

I often wonder why so many people seem to not want to go to Confession. Personally I find it to be a wonderful experience. It’s a sad fact that if there were 6 people waiting for Confession I’d think, “Wow, there’s a big crowd this week!”.

 

[EasterJoy]

Venial sins may be forgiven by making your own confession, but do not neglect the sacrament of Confession. The sacrament of Confession grants absolution from **all **your sins.

I often wonder why so many people seem to not want to go to Confession. Personally I find it to be a wonderful experience. It’s a sad fact that if there were 6 people waiting for Confession I’d think, “Wow, there’s a big crowd this week!”.

It is the Mass that wipes away venial sins, although the confession of venial sins is strongly encouraged.

CCC 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.228 By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him:

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.229

**CCC 1395 **By the same charity that it enkindles in us, the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. the more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin. the Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins - that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation. the Eucharist is properly the sacrament of those who are in full communion with the Church.

 

[Brendan_64]

It is the Mass that wipes away venial sins, although the confession of venial sins is strongly encouraged.

That may be so, but it is a bit sad that today many people only view Confession as being something you do just once a year (if that) or if you commit some heinous in (and sometimes not even then). Communion is only meant to be received by those in a state of grace,. Almost the entire congregation seem to receive Communion, yet there are very few waiting for Confession. Do people not commit mortal sins these days?

Confession is a wonderful sacrament, yet very few seem to want to avail themselves of it. Is this because of embarrassment, or a sense of shame, or is it that people simply don’t want to confront the fault and imperfection in their lives? Confession is our most neglected sacrament, and that is a real shame.

 

[EasterJoy]

That may be so, but it is a bit sad that today many people only view Confession as being something you do just once a year (if that) or if you commit some heinous in (and sometimes not even then). Communion is only meant to be received by those in a state of grace,. Almost the entire congregation seem to receive Communion, yet there are very few waiting for Confession. Do people not commit mortal sins these days?

Confession is a wonderful sacrament, yet very few seem to want to avail themselves of it. Is this because of embarrassment, or a sense of shame, or is it that people simply don’t want to confront the fault and imperfection in their lives? Confession is our most neglected sacrament, and that is a real shame.

I did not mean to denigrate regular confession! I only meant to point out that it truly is sacramental grace that wipes away sins committed after baptism, even those venial sins that do not (strictly speaking) have to be confessed in the Sacrament of Penance in order to be wiped away. This isn’t something we do for God. It is something that God offers to us through the life of the Church.

I think there is an unfortunate move away both from that which is very desirable yet not obligatory and yet also away from thinking that the fact that there is such a thing as a religious duty is a good thing instead of a bad thing. We have all sorts of duties that are good things…why do they become some huge burden because we can’t in all good conscience let ourselves get out of them? Why do we resist good things that are not obligations? I don’t know. This pattern does show itself in the realm of confession, but not only there.

 

[Victory9]

Confession is an extraordinary and wonderful sacrament. It is a continuation of the sacrament of Baptism – you are washed clean. “Come to Me, all you who are burdened…and I will refresh you…” Think of sin on your soul as weeds in a garden. You want to pull out those weeds, because if you don’t eventually those weeds take over and choke out that which is good (virtue). A garden is delightful but when it’s full of weeds it’s a mess and needs tending to. Confession waters your garden with grace but a garden can’t survive drought. Why allow your soul to thirst?

 

[QuickCat]

Is it ok and is it allowed to confess on your own without going to the priest? And does God hear silent prayers? A non catholic friend once told me that you have to say out loud your prayers of which i find hard to do.

You can go directly to the “throne of Grace” [Heb 4:16] and pray directly to God the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ [Eph 5:20].
QC