Waiting on Confession?

[Layp3rs0n]

Okay, say I commit a mortal sin for which I am experiencing perfect contrition. Earliest I can get to Confession in 7:00 the next morning. Now I really like two of the priests at my parish. The third priest is very stern and God bless the man I am just not comfortable with him as my Confessor. I also feel my Confession would take a bit longer than average and wish to be able to really engage the priest. Now the CCC says that mortal sins are forgiven by perfect contrition if there is a firm resolution to confess asap. Now since I would like to confess with a certain priest and require some extra time,is it sinfull to call said priest a to schedual a Cofession later in the dy or must I go to the earlier one to be in a state of temporary grace? I guess what I am asking is if I like die of an anurism before a schedualed Confession instead of going to the earlier one because I am more comfortable with a certain priest will I go to hell for procrastinating despite the above reasons?

 

[puzzleannie]

the comfort level is not a consideration, go to the first available priest at the earliest opportunity, it is confession, and is supposed to hurt, more like the gym than the spa.

 

[LRThunder]

Think of Confession as a spiritual check up. Sometimes when you go to the doctor, you’ll have to do something to get rid of an illness or heal a wound and it might not be pleasant, but its necessary. Confession might not be pleasant at times (depending on the “sternness” of the priest), but it’s necessary.

 

[teachccd]

While I agree with the above responses, I must insert that God knows your heart and if you instantly die slightly before your next confession God will not say," Sorry kid, too late." I’d hate to think that the God that I worship is so legalistic that the intentions of my heart are to no avail. Get to confession and rest in the mercy of a God who thought so much of you that He came to earth and died. He would not have gone through all of that if He were looking for minor details to find you guilty of eternal damnation.

With that said, I never mean to undermine the importance of Confession. If there is a priest that brow beats you then he is not providing the ministry that Jesus intended. Jesus never brow beat anyone. Quite the contrary, in fact. He just says, “Go and sin no more.” We don’t need to be made to feel like we are hung on the Cross. Jesus did that for us already. This is a Sacrament of Healing and should be administered as such.

God loves you…teachccd

 

[Matthias123]

If you are in Mortal sin run to a priest. If you are 100% sure you have committed a mortal sin, don’t even wait for the next confession time. Phone and make an appointment. You could also knock on the priest’s door. You don’t want to risk dieing in that state.

You are forgiven with perfect contrition. But why the heck would you risk it? How do you know for sure that your contrition is perfect? I personally would never take the chance. Remember time is short, eternity is long.

 

[Pious_Mat]

Okay, say I commit a mortal sin for which I am experiencing perfect contrition. Earliest I can get to Confession in 7:00 the next morning. Now I really like two of the priests at my parish. The third priest is very stern and God bless the man I am just not comfortable with him as my Confessor. I also feel my Confession would take a bit longer than average and wish to be able to really engage the priest. Now the CCC says that mortal sins are forgiven by perfect contrition if there is a firm resolution to confess asap. Now since I would like to confess with a certain priest and require some extra time,is it sinfull to call said priest a to schedual a Cofession later in the dy or must I go to the earlier one to be in a state of temporary grace? I guess what I am asking is if I like die of an anurism before a schedualed Confession instead of going to the earlier one because I am more comfortable with a certain priest will I go to hell for procrastinating despite the above reasons?

Supposing you are experiencing perfect contrition. That’s a BIG supposing. Perfect contrition is very rare, and if you have made an act of perfect contrition, you probably don’t know it. In fact, given that contrition is founded in humility, if you think you have made a perfect act of contrition, you probably haven’t. Either way, it’s not an issue you need to face unless you’re struck by lightning between now and your next confession. Imperfect contrition suffices for confession.

In terms of who and when, you ought to go to any priest at any parish as soon as possible. They can all give you absolution. Call for an appointment if you must.

Mat.

 

[jcoldc]

While I agree with the above responses, I must insert that God knows your heart and if you instantly die slightly before your next confession God will not say," Sorry kid, too late." I’d hate to think that the God that I worship is so legalistic that the intentions of my heart are to no avail. Get to confession and rest in the mercy of a God who thought so much of you that He came to earth and died. He would not have gone through all of that if He were looking for minor details to find you guilty of eternal damnation.

I’m glad someone else brought this up. I also, believe whole heartedly in confession. I go frequently. But I have a hard time believing that a person can’t wait until Saturday to go to confession. (Not that it’s wrong to make a private appt.) Why do parishes bother holding specific confession hours if everyone who really should be going is really supposed to just make appointments ASAP? Also, I really feel that if every Catholic was calling priests for private confessions, priests would be absolutely overwhelmed. They couldn’t handle it.

What’s to become of a devout Catholic, who follows Catholic teaching well, including confession, but happens to die in an accident, after having committed a mortal sin?

It doesn’t seem to me, that committing a mortal sin is altogether that difficult. There are plenty of people in turmoil over sexual sins. Missing mass can be frequent. Why does the Church only require people to go to confession once a year? But then say if you’ve committed a mortal sin run to the nearest priest?

Please someone help, I’ve been bothered by this for a while.

 

[jmcrae]

Okay, say I commit a mortal sin for which I am experiencing perfect contrition. Earliest I can get to Confession in 7:00 the next morning. Now I really like two of the priests at my parish. The third priest is very stern and God bless the man I am just not comfortable with him as my Confessor. I also feel my Confession would take a bit longer than average and wish to be able to really engage the priest. Now the CCC says that mortal sins are forgiven by perfect contrition if there is a firm resolution to confess asap. Now since I would like to confess with a certain priest and require some extra time,is it sinfull to call said priest a to schedual a Cofession later in the dy or must I go to the earlier one to be in a state of temporary grace? I guess what I am asking is if I like die of an anurism before a schedualed Confession instead of going to the earlier one because I am more comfortable with a certain priest will I go to hell for procrastinating despite the above reasons?

You say you have “perfect contrition” but you are picky about which priest you want to Confess to? Something doesn’t quite jive, here - if you are humble enough to have perfect contrition, then why would it even matter to you which priest you confess your sins to? Since worrying about their possible reaction, or the inconvenience or difficulty level of the potential penance, shows that you are still thinking of your own comfort level, rather than about how severely you have offended God.

 

[Ruthie]

Just a semantic note:

“Why does the Church only require people to go to confession once a year?”

The Church doesn’t require confession only once a year. It’s a minimum. If someone has committed only venial sins, once a year works. (Though I go more often - carrying venial sins around makes me feel dusty and dirty.)

So it doesn’t conflict at all with the advice to run to a priest, any priest, when you’ve committed a mortal sin.

To the OP:
If you commit a mortal sin, you are out of God’s grace and bound for Hell. The desire to confess as soon as possible means just that. It doesn’t mean “as soon as my favorite priest is available.”

Here are some selections from the relevant part of the Catechism:

[1855](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1855.htm’) Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him. … [1856](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1856.htm’) Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation…

[1861](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1861.htm’) Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell… [1864](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1864.htm’) “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Mt 12:31) There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit.137 Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

 

[coda]

Okay, say I commit a mortal sin for which I am experiencing perfect contrition. Earliest I can get to Confession in 7:00 the next morning. Now I really like two of the priests at my parish. The third priest is very stern and God bless the man I am just not comfortable with him as my Confessor. I also feel my Confession would take a bit longer than average and wish to be able to really engage the priest. Now the CCC says that mortal sins are forgiven by perfect contrition if there is a firm resolution to confess asap. Now since I would like to confess with a certain priest and require some extra time,is it sinfull to call said priest a to schedual a Cofession later in the dy or must I go to the earlier one to be in a state of temporary grace? I guess what I am asking is if I like die of an anurism before a schedualed Confession instead of going to the earlier one because I am more comfortable with a certain priest will I go to hell for procrastinating despite the above reasons?

If you are able to be perfectly contrite which does not mean ONLY " perfectly" contrite; just that you are sorry for offending God MORE than your fear of his punishment} Grace is already restored. Perfect contrition should not be that hard, and certainly should not be regarded as " nearly impossible". If on the same day you promised to go to confession you choose to go to your normal confessor, I doubt that constitutes grave sin, which would remove Grace once again. We are also taught that if we are faithfully on our way to confession and get killed in a car wreck etc. , our sins are forgiven. Trust in Jesus’ Mercy but be “prudently sensible” about your fears of salvation. Ask your priest your question for the best answer though…

 

[CathPhilosopher]

“Why does the Church only require people to go to confession once a year?”

The Church doesn’t require confession only once a year. It’s a minimum. If someone has committed only venial sins, once a year works. (Though I go more often - carrying venial sins around makes me feel dusty and dirty.)

So it doesn’t conflict at all with the advice to run to a priest, any priest, when you’ve committed a mortal sin.

Just a small clarification: The Church requirement is to confess grave (mortal) sins at least once a year. Strictly, someone who has only committed venial sins is not obliged to make a sacramental confession at all.

[Relevant Canons from the Code of Canon Law]
Can. 988
§ 1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and in number all serious sins committed after baptism and not yet directly remitted through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which one is conscious after diligent examination of conscience.
§ 2. It is to be recommended to the Christian faithful that venial sins also be confessed.

Can. 989
After having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."

Nonetheless, it is a good idea to go to confession at least once a year even if we are not aware of having committed any grave sins.

First, it is possible that we are unaware of grave sin because we have darkened our own conscience. God (the God who died out of love for us) is our only true judge. “I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Cor 4:4). In submitting even our venial sins to his forgiveness in the sacrament of confession, we submit also any graver sins that we may not be entirely aware of.

Secondly, the sacrament of confession brings many graces with it, which help us to purify ourselves also of venial sins, and thus increase in love for God.

God has given us such generous means for growing in grace. Why not use them?

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