Seriously, can you show me?

[AlegreFe]

If you consciously do not comply with the obligation to confess the remembered sins in a subsequent confession, is this failure in and of itself an additional sin? If so, venial or mortal?

As far as I know, no it is not. But we should still confess it nonetheless. Since ALL sin is forgiven when we go to confession than even the forgotten sin is absolved and forgiven.

Now if we deliberately “forget” to mention a sin in confession then NONE of the sins you confessed are forgiven and especially not the sin you deliberately “forgot” to confess. That in itself is a mortal sin as you’ve just committed a sacrilege.

 

[AlegreFe]

Ok, I’m done here.

Pax vobis.

 

[JohnWilliams]

Not in so many words.

That’s a relief. Because if a Priest told you your sins were forgiven, he would not only be indicating that he knew the condition of your heart, but that he also knows the mind of Jesus unto judgment.

But we are certainly “alive again” as we are reconciled to Jesus Christ again because we have repented of our sins.

 

[Allweather]

If you consciously do not comply with the obligation to confess the remembered sins in a subsequent confession, is this failure in and of itself an additional sin? If so, venial or mortal?

I don’t believe that it is, but don’t take my “belief” as doctrinal accuracy. My understanding is that the priest absolves all past sin, even those not remembered. It is important to understand the need for a good examination of conscience. One shouldn’t just pop into the confessional without one. In my case, I was away from the faith, from the sacraments, for some 8 years, and during that time I was leading an extremely sinful lifestyle. My examination of conscience is not something that can be done in a moment or two. Lately I’ve taken to marking things down as I remember them, and then going to confession often and mentioning them.

I do feel an obligation to examine my past sins in all their ramifications: as they affected God, me, and the people against whom I sinned. As I recall them, I do feel an obligation to mention them, even though forgiveness has already been obtained in a previous confession. I don’t know whether a conscious decision NOT to mention them would constitute addition sin, but I wouldn’t think of NOT mentioning them, as it is so much easier to unburden than to not unburden. Don’t you think?

 

[AlegreFe]

That’s a relief. Because if a Priest told you your sins were forgiven, he would not only be indicating that he knew the condition of your heart, but that he also knows the mind of Jesus unto judgment.

It seems you didn’t read my whole post.

The priest does forgive my sins as he says the words of absolution. But I know that it is Jesus Christ in that confessional and He is only hidden by the flesh of the Priest. The Priest is only standing “In Persona Christi” so I believe it is Jesus that is forgiving my sins just as Jesus gave power to His ministerial Priests to forgive sins when He breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21-23 (ESV)
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace
be with you. As the Father has sent
me, even so I am sending you.
22 And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of anyone,
they are forgiven; if you withhold
forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

He only gave that power to his disciples who were in the room when he entered. I’m sure you don’t think you can forgive my sins if I confess to you as Jesus did not give you the power to do so. That power only went to His disciples which is now passed on to our current Priests.

Once the priest absolves us of our sins we are “back in” as you put it. So we start again with a clean slate and not just a “covered up” slate as a lot of Protestants believe that their sin is “covered” by the blood of Jesus Christ. A Catholic knows that their sin is wiped clean and is in a state of Grace once receiving Jesus in Holy Communion after making a good confession.

But the Church also has conditions as to whether or not a sin is forgiven in the confessional;

If we deliberately do not confess a mortal sin we commit a sin on top of a sin. That is told to us so that we know whether a priest says “I absolve you of your sins” or not, we know that it is not forgiven by Jesus Christ. The teachings of the Church overrides what the Priest says in the confessional as it is also the power that Jesus gave to His disciples that is being enforced.

Cases are known when a Priest refuses to give absolution. We should usually go to the same priest for our confession that way the priest gets to know you and with time and getting to know you he can certainly withhold absolution from you. I just thank God that it never happened to me.

 

[Allweather]

As a former Protestant, I can say with personal experience that there is a pervasive absense among Protestants of a “feeling” of forgiveness. Protestants typically do not feel forgiven, and I believe this is because of their rejection of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance.

In confession, we HEAR the words of Jesus’ forgiveness spoken to us through the priest. This is a profoundly wonderful thing God has done for us, and so sad that Protestants through their rejection of the priesthood and the Sacraments have ceased to avail themselves of it. Not that they aren’t forgiven. We believe they ARE forgiven when they go before God with a truly contrite heart and ask for it. But, the absence of the physical feedback is a terrible silence.

 

[AlegreFe]

As a former Protestant, I can say with personal experience that there is a pervasive absense among Protestants of a “feeling” of forgiveness. Protestants typically do not feel forgiven, and I believe this is because of their rejection of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance.

In confession, we HEAR the words of Jesus’ forgiveness spoken to us through the priest. This is a profoundly wonderful thing God has done for us, and so sad that Protestants through their rejection of the priesthood and the Sacraments have ceased to avail themselves of it. Not that they aren’t forgiven. We believe they ARE forgiven when they go before God with a truly contrite heart and ask for it. But, the absence of the physical feedback is a terrible silence.

Most converts that I know do embrass the Sacrament of Confession and are so glad to have it and use it often.

There are even some famous converts to the faith that love the Sacrament of Confession. They admit that it is hard sometimes to confess but they know they have to and when they are finished they feel relieved and they are at peace.

Besides yourself and possibly some friends, I don’t know where you’ve heard that Protestants have rejected the Sacrament of Confession.

If a former Protestant now Catholic does not “feel” forgiven that is their own despair talking and is not Trusting in the Mercy of Jesus Christ. We Catholics believe that the Fount of Mercy comes forth in the Confessional when we are truly sorry for our sins. Here’s a testimony that you can read about the Sacraments.

 

[Allweather]

If a former Protestant now Catholic does not “feel” forgiven that is their own despair talking and is not Trusting in the Mercy of Jesus Christ. We Catholics believe that the Fount of Mercy comes forth in the Confessional when we are truly sorry for our sins. Here’s a testimony that you can read about the Sacraments.

Sorry, I may have not been clear. I meant among Protestants still practicing whatever brand of Protestantism they practice. I didn’t mean former Protestants converted to the RCC. I’m a convert, and I am deeply grateful for it. When I was a Protestant, I never met anyone who would think to do any confessing to a minister. Reconciliation was seen as one of the specific “wrongs” of Catholicism, right up there with “Mary worship” and “Eucharistic cannibalism.” To be fair, though, I did know a few fundamentalists along the way who believed that serious sin could be profitably confessed to a brother in Christ, who might then offer some advice. But, that is far from what we know as the Sacrament.

 

[AlegreFe]

Sorry, I may have not been clear. I meant among Protestants still practicing whatever brand of Protestantism they practice. I didn’t mean former Protestants converted to the RCC. I’m a convert, and I am deeply grateful for it. When I was a Protestant, I never met anyone who would think to do any confessing to a minister. Reconciliation was seen as one of the specific “wrongs” of Catholicism, right up there with “Mary worship” and “Eucharistic cannibalism.” To be fair, though, I did know a few fundamentalists along the way who believed that serious sin could be profitably confessed to a brother in Christ, who might then offer some advice. But, that is far from what we know as the Sacrament.

I see now. I can see your point. Many protestants don’t get that we confess our sins to anyone much less to a priest.

But there are some denominations (as you stated) out there that do confess to their pastor or minister if they feel the need to. And they both pray, after the full confessing, that God has forgiven the person who has just confessed. This sounds like our Sacrament but of course lacks so much also. But I do believe that person is forgiven by God since they trusted someone else to hear them out as they confessed their sins. But that of course, wouldn’t be the only reason why I believe that. I also believe they are forgiven if indeed they were truly sorry out of great Love for God and they want to change their ways. That takes guts to confess sins like that to a pastor or minister, as it does for us Catholics to confess our sins to a priest. The only difference is that we are absolutely sure, without a single doubt that we are forgiven when we hear those words of absolution. Sanctifying Grace is then poured into our souls so that we can receive Jesus in Holy Communion. What a great feeling to be in a state of Grace! Praise God!