Was my confession valid

[WordisLove]

I went to a different parish the other day for confession because it is near my work. The priest was just there sitting in the room. That was weird but not my question. I confessed my sins then we talked a few moments and he gave me absolution. He did not ask me to say an act of contrition or anything and gave me a penance to do over the next week. Is this valid? I think it is but would like to be sure. I am a relatively new catholic and do not know what the bounds are with these types of things. Thanks in advance.

 

[LilyM]

I went to a different parish the other day for confession because it is near my work. The priest was just there sitting in the room. That was weird but not my question. I confessed my sins then we talked a few moments and he gave me absolution. He did not ask me to say an act of contrition or anything and gave me a penance to do over the next week. Is this valid? I think it is but would like to be sure. I am a relatively new catholic and do not know what the bounds are with these types of things. Thanks in advance.

The Act of Contrition is not a required part of confession - although HAVING contrition, even if it be only imperfect, and intellectually known contrition rather than emotionally ‘felt’, is a requirement. For that matter even a penance is optional.

Only the matter (your actual contrition and confession of your mortal and/or venial sins), form (the priest’s pronunciation of the words ‘I absolve you …’) and intent (his intent to absolve you) is required for a valid sacrament.

 

[Pious_Mat]

All that is necessary for a confession to be valid (on the part of the priest) is for him to say “I forgive you your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (he makes the sign of the cross) Amen.” If he did this, which he most likely did, your sins were absolved.

 

[puzzleannie]

I went to a different parish the other day for confession because it is near my work. The priest was just there sitting in the room. That was weird but not my question. I confessed my sins then we talked a few moments and he gave me absolution. He did not ask me to say an act of contrition or anything and gave me a penance to do over the next week. Is this valid? I .

If you confessed all your mortal sins and gave you absolution you received a valid sacrament and all your sins of any kind are forgiven. Nowdays Catholics are more used to simply saying the act of contrition on their own initiative, as the priest just assumes they know to do it, then, or afterward.