Validity of Confession

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hailz
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

Hailz

Guest
When I went to confession today, the priest told me to omit the number of times I had committed each sin (even for mortal sins). I know that if you intentionally leave out the number, then that confession is invalid, but what I am confused about is whether or not it is valid if the priests *tells *you not to say the number. Also, what should I do if I am in that situation again? Should I do as the priest says, or go against his instructions and state the number of times? Thanks!
 
My priest never asks for the number of times for each sin. I don’t think it makes the confession invalid.
 
The number of times isn’t a requirement of confession. That would make it awfully difficult for people who have habitual sins, or often struggle with lustful thoughts.
 
We are requirred to tell the number and details unless the priest says not to.He probably had good reasons you just don’t know what they are.The priest is there to help us to get over our sins and to give us absolution.Trust the priest that he knows best.
 
Hailz said:
When I went to confession today, the priest told me to omit the number of times I had committed each sin (even for mortal sins). I know that if you intentionally leave out the number, then that confession is invalid, but what I am confused about is whether or not it is valid if the priests *tells *you not to say the number. Also, what should I do if I am in that situation again? Should I do as the priest says, or go against his instructions and state the number of times? Thanks!
Click to expand...
From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 987 To receive the salvific remedy of the sacrament of penance, a member of the Christian faithful must be disposed in such a way that, rejecting sins committed and having a purpose of amendment, the person is turned back to God.
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.
Kind and number…

Your confessor messed up. Having said that, the CIC does not specify that the confession would be invalid if you are instructed to not confess number.
 
PatrickSebast said:
The number of times isn’t a requirement of confession. That would make it awfully difficult for people who have habitual sins, or often struggle with lustful thoughts.
Click to expand...
This is NOT the case.

We are required to confess ALL Mortal sins in number and in kind for an integral confession. (and circumstance that changes the mortal sin…like it is your brother you murdered).

Yes it can happen that we do not know the number…that we need to “approximate” but it is needed to do so.
 
thomasf said:
My priest never asks for the number of times for each sin. .
Click to expand...
It is our responsibility to confess all mortal sins in* number *and in kind…it is confession…not interrogation. 🙂

If we honestly omit (like we forget…or do not realize we need to do so etc…(not hide etc)) the number of mortal sins…we need to say it in the next confession.
 
Hailz said:
When I went to confession today, the priest told me to omit the number of times I had committed each sin (even for mortal sins). I know that if you intentionally leave out the number, then that confession is invalid, but what I am confused about is whether or not it is valid if the priests *tells *you not to say the number. Also, what should I do if I am in that situation again? Should I do as the priest says, or go against his instructions and state the number of times? Thanks!
Click to expand...
The number is not relevant. You can say, for example, “occasionally”, or “several times”, or “many times”. Not saying the number does NOT make a Confession invalid. Where did you get that idea from?
 
Yes… as others have posted, you do need to confess the kind and the number of times (an approximate is ok - but must be a truthful approximate). In the end, as long as the priest gave you absolution (even if he told you incorrectly not to mention the number of times), you still have received absolution.

I suggest possibly setting up a time to speak with the priest outside of confession, and address your concern. If you want, bring the article from Canon Law that was posted above, and simply ask why.
 
We are required to confess ALL Mortal sins in number and in kind for an integral confession. (and circumstance that changes the mortal sin…like it is your brother you murdered).

Yes it can happen that we do not know the number…that we need to “approximate” (in a way he knows that is what we are doing) but it is needed to do so.

Only physical or moral impossibility excuse from this obligation.

One example could be a person honestly forgets and never remembers despite is examine.

Or a person is scrupulous in a particular way that the confessor gives them particular instruction to deal with their particular scrupulosity… which would not apply to others. Some cases have been extremely bad historically…like a person seems to think everything is a mortal sin is comes with a loads of never ending numbers and greatly burden themselves etc (this is not to say such is the the case with all scrupulosity etc…so those who are scrupulous out there…do not take this to mean necessarily you…but your confessor is there to guide you)

If one forgets or otherwise honestly omits a mortal sin …or the number…then one is obliged to confess them in the next confession once one remembers. (it is different if one hides such!)

If a Priest is telling his penitents to not give numbers for mortal sins …and it is not for some special case (like the above) such is an abuse can be reported directly to the Bishop…or perhaps the Vicar General of the Diocese. For such has been addressed by the Holy See and is not to happen…(but again do so directly…do not give names etc to other those who really need to know them…)…(and one may perhaps speak first to the Priest…for perhaps it was a misunderstanding).

Though perhaps there can be a misunderstanding as well…for example a person may have been confessing a lot of venial sins and giving lots of numbers…and the priest simply says…they do not “need” to give the numbers…but even in the case of venial sins…the penitent certainly can give numbers if they wish (though indeed such is not needed).
 
thistle said:
The number is not relevant. You can say, for example, “occasionally”, or “several times”, or “many times”.
Click to expand...
The number IS relevant. We are required to confess all mortal sins…not only in kind…but in number.

IF we do not know the number in examining things…then yes we do are we can and approximate …8-10x, 10-15x or even if need be…many x …or alot etc.
 
Hailz said:
When I went to confession today, the priest told me to omit the number of times I had committed each sin (even for mortal sins). I know that if you intentionally leave out the number, then that confession is invalid, but what I am confused about is whether or not it is valid if the priests *tells *you not to say the number. Also, what should I do if I am in that situation again? Should I do as the priest says, or go against his instructions and state the number of times? Thanks!
Click to expand...
oh…I see now you are a “Canidate”

Sounds like this was your FIRST confession…

I would go see the priest again this week (or another one? not sure how it works with RCIA) …so you can enter the Church without this hanging over your head. Explain what happened and confess all your mortal sins in number and kind as you can (approximate if you do not know the number)…and if some you are not sure were mortal …say so…(doubtful should be said to be doubtful if confessed) and confess everything “as it is before God”. It may be that the Priest was thinking that since you were not Catholic then…that you did may not have committed mortal sins…or that there was doubt etc…I do not know his reasons per se…I was not there :). But you are right we are obliged to confess all mortal sins in number and in kind (and circumstance that changes the sin…like it was your brother you murdered)…But you can discuss them with him. But if it were me I would go do this before your received…so there is not question in your mind…to bother the wonderful event!

And welcome home as they say!

In Jesus of Nazareth the Christ…is true life! Soon you will be rejoicing at his resurrection and your entry into full communion with the Catholic Church!
 
Bookcat said:
It is our responsibility to confess all mortal sins in* number *and in kind…it is confession…not interrogation. 🙂

If we honestly omit (like we forget…or do not realize we need to do so etc…(not hide etc)) the number of mortal sins…we need to say it in the next confession.
Click to expand...
so then you have two confessions. This kindof happened to me. I was so excited during my first confession that I forgot to confess a sin. So I went to confession again and confessed that one. Now that makes two confessions. Is there both of them valid then, or maybe none of them valid as I didn’t mention all of them in one confession?
 
504Katrin said:
so then you have two confessions. This kindof happened to me. I was so excited during my first confession that I forgot to confess a sin. So I went to confession again and confessed that one. Now that makes two confessions. Is there both of them valid then, or maybe none of them valid as I didn’t mention all of them in one confession?
Click to expand...
If one* forgets *a mortal sin (or to say the number)…the confession is valid…for you were sorry for all your mortal sins …and intended to confess them…something was just forgot 🙂 It was actually “indirectly absolved” with the others. And of course one can for example return to Holy Communion…

But in the next confession one is obliged to confess that forgotten mortal sin…(one does not need to re-confess the others…for you forgot it…(not hid it intentionally!..in that case one would for then one would not have been absolved for any mortal sins…and one would need to not go to Communion…but you are not talking about that!..))
 
Bookcat said:
If one* forgets *a mortal sin (or to say the number)…the confession is valid…for you were sorry for all your mortal sins …and intended to confess them…something was just forgot 🙂 It was actually “indirectly absolved” with the others. And of course one can for example return to Holy Communion…

But in the next confession one is obliged to confess that forgotten mortal sin…(one does not need to re-confess the others…for you forgot it…not hide it intentionally!)
Click to expand...
ah o.k I understand. Everything’s good then. Thanks a lot Bookcat 🙂
 
Thank you for the replies, everyone. It’s greatly appreciated.

thistle, where did I get that idea from, you ask?
*
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. [emphasis mine].*
The way I understand it is that for a confession to be valid, you must state the number of times you committed a mortal sin *if *you know it (which I did), but if you don’t, then you can say “occasionally”, “about once a week”, “too many times to remember” etc. Am I correct?

Bookcat, it wasn’t my first confession. I really wish it was a misunderstanding, but I don’t see how it could have been. The very first sin I mentioned was without a doubt a mortal sin, but he interrupted me as I was saying the number and told me not to. He did the very same thing to my fiancé. We intend on speaking to the priest about it, or at least writing him a letter expressing our concerns.

So, there is no need for me to re-confess those sins? Why is that? Canon Law says that I am “obliged” to confess grave sins in kind and number. Sorry, I can’t stop worrying about it!
 
Hailz said:
Thank you for the replies, everyone. It’s greatly appreciated.

thistle, where did I get that idea from, you ask?
*
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. [emphasis mine].
The way I understand it is that for a confession to be valid, you must state the number of times you committed a mortal sin *if *you know it (which I did), but if you don’t, then you can say “occasionally”, “about once a week”, “too many times to remember” etc. Am I correct? correct…one of course does what one can…if one knows for example that it was around 5-8 so so…not just “a few”
Click to expand...
 
Hailz said:
Bookcat, it wasn’t my first confession. I really wish it was a misunderstanding, but I don’t see how it could have been. The very first sin I mentioned was without a doubt a mortal sin, but he interrupted me as I was saying the number and told me not to. He did the very same thing to my fiancé. We intend on speaking to the priest about it, or at least writing him a letter expressing our concerns.

So, there is no need for me to re-confess those sins? Why is that? Canon Law says that I am “obliged” to confess grave sins in kind and number. Sorry, I can’t stop worrying about it!
Click to expand...
Such can be reported as I noted above (read above …long post)…a Priest should NOT be doing this.

No I am not saying one should not. Rather one should confess the mortal sins in number and kind (and circumstance that changes it) you can tell the priest basically what you are doing… (you do not say at this point who the priest was…that info is for the Bishop…). I would re-confess all the mortal sins (even if one was just once) in this case…but not sure if you would be obliged to re-confess the ones that where just once due to the Priest stopping you…and not your hiding them…but it I would suggest in this case doing so.
 
PS: if one is not yet received into the Church…but is going to be at Easter…one in making the confession prior to this (when allowed…I am not up on the “when’s” in this case) should state I would think…their state…that is the fact they they are being received into the Church …at least if the Priest does not know that…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top