Was my confession valid or did I withhold a mortal sin?

[new_User1357246]

During confession, my first in years, I got really nervous at one point and admitted to doing what I thought was a certain sin when I did it, but said that I didn’t know if thats what I did.

For example (this is not what I confessed to), if I had said that I thought that I was abusing vicodin when I did it, but now I’m not sure; it may have been a placebo.

It was a scenario like that. Now I’m afraid that by saying “I’m not sure” when I was pretty darn sure, out of embarrassment, that I may have completely invalidated the sacrament and committed another mortal sin. Did I?

Please help!

 

[narrowpath]

Requirements for mortal sin:

1 knowledge that its a sin

2 it’s a grave matter

3 full consent

If you didn’t meet one of these requirements its not and i think you might not have entirely fulfilled #3

 

[LilyM]

Firstly were you literally 100% sure at the time you confessed? Doesn’t matter whether you’re 90% sure or only 50% sure, if there’s any level of real uncertainty it’s correct to say ‘I’m not sure’. Secondly, remember you didn’t hold back from confessing the sin which is the main thing.

 

[new_User1357246]

I’m not 100% sure, but I am very sure. I feel like any uncertainty comes from me hoping and not really from any facts.

Even if it was not a mortal sin, it could still invalidate the whole confession, right?

Just to be clear, more than anything I wanted to confess this sin and move on. It’s take me 6 months to work up the courage to go in and when I went in, I was fully intending to confess the whole thing and move on. Immediately after the confession I felt good about it, too. But now, the next day, I am far more nervous that I might have messed it up.

Should I try to go in and re-confess?

 

[LilyM]

I’m not 100% sure, but I am very sure. I feel like any uncertainty comes from me hoping and not really from any facts.

Even if it was not a mortal sin, it could still invalidate the whole confession, right?

Just to be clear, more than anything I wanted to confess this sin and move on. It’s take me 6 months to work up the courage to go in and when I went in, I was fully intending to confess the whole thing and move on. Immediately after the confession I felt good about it, too. But now, the next day, I am far more nervous that I might have messed it up.

Should I try to go in and re-confess?

Yes, since it will put your mind at ease to do so. Usually better to reconfess than doubt. :yup: And in future if anything like that happens, correct yourself while still in the confessional - even if it’s after the absolution already, the priest won’t mind (I’ve done it myself - ‘father, I’m sorry I didn’t mention this earlier, but …’).

Just say 'my last good confession was … (time before this last one) and start off saying ‘I wasn’t completely truthful in my last attempt at confession’. Then repeat what you did say at your last confession (without the qualification) and add any new sins that may’ve happened since then.

God bless you for working up the courage to confess - if only more people would do the same.

 

[new_User1357246]

Do I need to re-confess everything? (The confession was almost a 30 minute confession and I came in with a huge list which I have since destroyed).
Should I wait to receive communion until I do this?

 

[LilyM]

Do I need to re-confess everything? (The confession was almost a 30 minute confession and I came in with a huge list which I have since destroyed).
Should I wait to receive communion until I do this?

Remember you only need to confess mortal sins (that is, sins that you were aware the Church viewed as grave at the time you did them, and that you committed with full consent). So yes, you would need to repeat those. Just do your best to remember, God won’t hold it against you if you make the honest effort to recall.

No, don’t go to communion - there’ll be plenty of opportunity after you’ve confessed.

 

[new_User1357246]

Can I just email the priest, remind him of what I did and how I confessed it and then ask him if the confession was valid? Or was it for sure invalid because of what I did?

 

[LilyM]

Can I just email the priest, remind him of what I did and how I confessed it and then ask him if the confession was valid? Or was it for sure invalid because of what I did?

Email, or phone if it’s quicker. Please don’t be upset or discouraged if you do need to reconfess though - it’ll be worth it.

 

[new_User1357246]

If he says that I do not need to come in and re-confess, can I be sure that the first confession was valid?

 

[LilyM]

If he says that I do not need to come in and re-confess, can I be sure that the first confession was valid?

Yes, God won’t hold it against you at all if you trust your priest’s advice on such matters. Not unless it’s totally blindingly obvious that it’s wrong (say your priest counsels you to murder someone or tells you that beating up your child is OK or something)

 

[new_User1357246]

Yay! Thank you for your advice, Lily.
After consulting the priest, he said that my confession was just fine, as the part that I had trouble repeating was a “detail” of the sin that he does not need to know.