Valid confessions?

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Kima

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Hello.

I saw a topic some weeks ago on confession and how people personally go to confession.
Someone said that if you had committed a mortal sin and went to confession to get absolution for this sin, you need to mention the number of times it´s committed to recieve a valid absolution.

I have personally been a catholic for only a year, and I have for personal reasons went to confessions quite a lot of times. As it is, I have been reading online to know more about the sacrament and sin etc, and I found out that it´s this thing that you should try to mention the amount of times the possible mortal sin is committed. Even though no priest ever told me to do so… So as a matter of fact, I started to do so, when I remembered to. Still I know for sure, that before I started remembering that, I went to confessions for sins I suspected that could be serious. I believe that Jesus knows my heart and that I wanted to seek forgiveness regardless of the amout the sin was committed. I believe I recieved valid absolution, and I still do believe that.

I want some more familiar catholics (than me) to please answer me on whether my confessions are valid or not. I remember being unsure whether it was a thing we had to do or not, and at most times I didn´t think about it at all.

I hope my confessions are valid, if not I would feel quite hopeless…

Thanks anyway for taking the time to try to answer me properly 🙂
 
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You’re fine. I have been asked by a priest how many times I’ve committed a particular sin and told him, other priests have not asked me that question, all those confessions were valid I can assure you.
Peace be with you.
 
We are to confess “in kind and number all serious sins.” In some cases, the number is obvious. In others, we can only guess. I don’t think that there is any reason to doubt the validity of your confessions. You weren’t trying to conceal anything. Mention this concern to your confessor.
 
In general we have to state how many times a sin is committed, especially if it is a serious sin. If it is a habitual sin, then you don’t have to say exactly how many times, but you can say the frequency with which you committed the sin. For example, you can say that you committed it once a day, or twice a week, etc. Approximate number is good enough.

If you have omitted saying the number of times out of ignorance or sheer forgetfulness, then your confession was still valid. God will not penalize you for something you didn’t know or honestly forgot.

If you did not confess the sin at all because you honestly forgot it (which could happen even if you made a good examination of conscience), your confession is still valid and your sins (including the one you forgot to mention) are all forgiven. However, you still need to mention the sin that you forgot to mention next time you go to confession, even if that sin was already forgiven. Just tell the priest that you honestly forgot to mention it the last time.

Well, that’s how I do it myself. 'hope it helps.
 
If the priest wanted to know how many times etc., he will most likely ask. i think you are fine as you are doing it.
 
A Catholic - for one year - how wonderful !
I cant give you any sort of perfect text book answer -
but I can say this, sins not confessed - can causes a gulf between God - and the believer.
It’s not worth it - being that way.
And there’s almost a reversal - in all of one’s personal relationships too -
Confession - is a great form of reconciliation - for tomorrow’s spiritual growth.
 
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