Two Questions About Confession

[Alex_H]

1. When we say, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” is the father we are referencing that particular priest? Or are we referring to our Father in heaven?

The reason I ask is because we have two priests at our parish, and one is a monsignor. Shouldn’t I be saying,“forgive me monsignor, for I have sinned?” or when we say “father” we are talking to God? Also, when the priest asks me a question during confession, do I say “Yes, Father” or “Yes, Monsignor?”

1. Is there any point in confessing sins directly to God before you are able to make it to confession? I guess I am confused about how the forgiveness aspect works, are we forgiven by confessing to God through prayer, or are we forgiven by confessing to the Priest, who acts *in persona christi. *

Thank you for any responses.

Sincerely,

A new Catholic (Sorry, still learning!)

 

[peter26]

1. Pretty sure this is addressed to the priest. After all, the priest acts in persona Christi, not in persona Pater. You say “Bless me/Forgive me father for I have sinned” because it is the traditional formula for starting a confession.
2. Yes. Firstly, because venial sins can be forgiven in this way. Secondly, because it is possible for mortal sins for be forgiven by perfect contrition (i.e. that you are sorry for your sins because they offend God, not just because you don’t want to go to hell). Maybe you achieve perfect contrition and maybe you don’t, but its worth a try!

 

[Alex_H]

1. Pretty sure this is addressed to the priest. After all, the priest acts in persona Christi, not in persona Pater. You say “Bless me/Forgive me father for I have sinned” because it is the traditional formula for starting a confession.
2. Yes. Firstly, because venial sins can be forgiven in this way. Secondly, because it is possible for mortal sins for be forgiven by perfect contrition (i.e. that you are sorry for your sins because they offend God, not just because you don’t want to go to hell). Maybe you achieve perfect contrition and maybe you don’t, but its worth a try!

Thank you!

 

[Vico]

1. When we say, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” is the father we are referencing that particular priest? Or are we referring to our Father in heaven?

The reason I ask is because we have two priests at our parish, and one is a monsignor. Shouldn’t I be saying,“forgive me monsignor, for I have sinned?” or when we say “father” we are talking to God? Also, when the priest asks me a question during confession, do I say “Yes, Father” or “Yes, Monsignor?”

1. Is there any point in confessing sins directly to God before you are able to make it to confession? I guess I am confused about how the forgiveness aspect works, are we forgiven by confessing to God through prayer, or are we forgiven by confessing to the Priest, who acts *in persona christi. *

Thank you for any responses.

Sincerely,

A new Catholic (Sorry, still learning!)

It is to the priest and the priest gives absolution for the Church.

I don’t know about proper use of titles, but I just say Father to a priest.

If you have a mortal sin to confess, then, if you have perfect contrition you can immediately make a mental confession to God and receive forgiveness, and then must make the individual sacramental confession to receive absolution.

Baltimore Catechism

Q. 764. How many kinds of contrition are there?

A. There are two kinds of contrition; perfect contrition and imperfect contrition.

Q. 765. What is perfect contrition?

A. Perfect contrition is that which fills us with sorrow and hatred for sin, because it offends God, who is infinitely good in Himself and worthy of all love.

Q. 766. When will perfect contrition obtain pardon for mortal sin without the Sacrament of Penance?

A. Perfect contrition will obtain pardon for mortal sin without the Sacrament of Penance when we cannot go to confession, but with the perfect contrition we must have the intention of going to confession as soon as possible, if we again have the opportunity.

baltimore-catechism.com/lesson18.htm

 

[Wesrock]

A mental confession with perfect contrition doesn’t absolve you of the responsibility of going to confession if you can reasonably do so. It’s meant for situations in which Confession isn’t currently available to you. But it’s a good thing to do in preparation for a Confession if you become aware of a mortal sin but, for reasonable reasons, can’t make it to Confession for a few days, too.

Er, I say that without meaning any contradiction to what’s been stated above. I’m too lazy to take the time to reword it on my phone, though.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

1. We can call any confessor “father,” even if he is a bishop.
2. We don’t confess our sins to God, he already knows our sins. We can always make an act of contrition for our sins. We are forgiven mortal sins, ordinarily, through sacramental confession and absolution.

 

[Polyphony]

Is there any point in confessing sins directly to God before you are able to make it to confession?

Of course!

Making an act of perfection contrition can forgive your sins, and I think it’s wonderful to do that before being fully reconciled with the Church. In fact, your confession will be better, IMO, and you will have more true sorrow for your sins should you make an act of perfect contrition beforehand.

Moreover, in the case of mortal sins, such an act will restore sanctifying grace into your soul, which will mean that you can now pray more meritoriously, you can be given strength against further sin, and you don’t have to be concerned about going to hell should you die.

But above all, there’s just the fact that such an act will restore supernatural charity into our soul, and loving God is the most wonderful thing in the world. Don’t hold yourself back from that should you, God forbid, fall into a state of mortal sin.

By the way, I’ve often heard people say that making an act of perfect contrition is incredibly difficult, if not impossible. I absolutely disagree. Here’s a wonderful article on this fascinating topic: catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/Perfect%20Contrition.pdf.

I think every Catholic would do well to read that article several times a year for the rest of their life. It’s even pre-Vatican II, for some of our more nervous traditionalist friends.

Here’s a pertinent excerpt:

As contrition cleanses the soul even before confession, one may ask: “Why then, go to Confession at all?” The answer is that the Sacrament of Penance is the ordinary means to obtain forgiveness. Perfect Contrition produces the same effect, but not independently of Confession. It does so, partly at least—in virtue of the intention of Confession which it implies. “The reconciliation (produced by Perfect Contrition) is not to be ascribed to Contrition itself without the desire of the Sacrament (of Penance), which desire is included in contrition,” says the Council of Trent. Without this intention of Confession Perfect Contrition could not remit a single sin.