Was my Confession Valid?

[Minion_w_a_drum]

Well, my opinion is that priests who have gone through seminary are very well equipped to counsel.
Also I believe that it’s not a card that we punch to get absolved, but a process to conversion. For me, conversion involved encouragement and counsel/.

And this is one of the great parts of the catholic church- different strokes for different folks. It is a lot like different Mass times on Sunday. They don’t try to pigeon hole anyone. There is early Mass for early birds, usually a bit later Mass time and at times a late morning, mid day or afternoon Mass. Lots of places even have a Spanish Mass nowadays. There is usually a Saturday evening Mass for those that want to go the night before and some lucky catholics get the opportunity to attend Sunday Mass on Sunday evening. And all of them are the same. And all are just as valid as any other! What a great religion!

Besides, going behind the curtain should not deter a priest from counsel. I don’t believe they have to actually see you to offer advice, but maybe they do. I don’t know I’m not a counselor.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

I can’t believe a priest would say that, especially to a child of ten! Considering your young age and your very anxious state I highly doubt you committed a mortal sin. It not like you purposely lied in confession to somehow “deceive” God and the priest.

I remember those days from my youth. It was a mindset that needed to go away.

There was much that needed to be fixed, as I can recall all to well.

 

[Minion_w_a_drum]

I remember those days from my youth. It was a mindset that needed to go away.

There was much that needed to be fixed, as I can recall all to well.

Recognizing that this behavior to which this quote is referring existed in the past and not that long ago (relatively speaking) dovetails nicely into the other thread about leading with fear and force.
While my observations of these types of actions was on a somewhat limited basis, I grew up in a household where my parents experienced these types of behaviors from the church regularly in their childhood. And they handled their children’s (me) spiritual guidance in much the same manner. And so it somewhat lives on, albeit diluted.

Religion will hold many more members if they scare and force their members to comply. If people believe they can live as they choose without fear or without some entity forcing them into other behavior, attendance and participation will surely decline. It is only human nature to do so.

 

[Melodeonist]

So I told father that I was worried that I deceived him during confession last time and he said that I did not deceive him. I went on to confess my new sins.

However, I forgot to mention that I paraphrased his words in this thread.

Second, taking notes on something said in Confession while you’re in Confession, or recording what is said during Confession, is actually a violation of the seal of the confessional (if I remember correctly, and if I’m not remembering extraordinary cases). If you can’t remember what Father said, then you just can’t remember. Possibly God doesn’t want you to remember.

May I receive the Eucharist tomorrow, or am I still in a state of mortal sin?

 

[Don_Ruggero]

So I told father that I was worried that I deceived him during confession last time and he said that I did not deceive him. I went on to confess my new sins.

However, I forgot to mention that I paraphrased his words in this thread.

May I receive the Eucharist tomorrow, or am I still in a state of mortal sin?

The issue is: that you would even ask, immediately after receiving the sacrament of penance, if you remain in a state of mortal sin or if you could receive the Eucharist and that you are “confused” is an urgent indicator of two things:

1. Your need to speak to your parish priest precisely about the things I have just mentioned.
2. Your need, beyond urgent care for scrupulosity, for revisiting your education and formation in the faith. The effect of the sacrament of penance and the criteria by which we know that we can approach the Eucharist are basic and fundamental.