Weird Question RE: Confession

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JKirkLVNV

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Before I put my question, I should say that I’ve been very tired and stressed out, from my teaching job and a health crisis in my family. So if the situation sounds stupid (and it does), well, I’m exhausted:

I went to confession this am, made my confession to a very good priest/confessor, etc. He gave me my penance, which was to read/pray the entire 5th chapter of Saint Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. I was concentrating on getting the penance down correctly (I would have been saying the act of contrition, but he asked me to say it outside of the confessional, due to the length of the line), and even then, after what I supppose was the absolution, I had to ask to make certain I had the right passage. At any rate, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RECOLLECTION AT ALL OF HEARING THE WORDS OF ABSOLUTION! I don’t remember him saying it. I’ve no idea whether he did or not. If he was as tired as I was, it was entirely possible that he didn’t. Priests slip and forget stuff, too. So I’m wondering, since I made a good faith confession, should I just assume I was absolved and am free to go to Holy Communion?
 
I dont have a clue brother. But I am going to pray for your family situation and I think you are a good person for wondering about this. He most likely absolved you and you did not hear it, but if it really bothers you try to catch
him before Mass to ask him, or call him and leave a message. You could refrain tomorrow and set up an appointment to get a private confession again ASAP…
Dont let yourself get more upset. You sound so sincere and I’m sure after prayer on this you will know what to do. Just ask yourself if it is worse to partake tomorrow than to skip.
 
Don’t stress over it! You did everything right; your priest probably did too and you just didn’t catch it. If it really bugs you, don’t take Communion tomorrow and get to confession again as soon as you can.
 
Isn’t a massive part of confession the act of grace on your part to examine your conscience and confess your sins to another human being?
You are forgiven. Don’t worry! 🙂
 
It’s just a guess but I think you’d be OK to go. Of course, absolution is not dependent on us hearing it. I think you did you end of the confession and, if the priest forgot, it would either be his fault and or the intent to do the confession properly was there. I find it hard to believe that a priest who gave you that penance didn’t intend to give you absolution. I believe, even if you confessed you sins to someone whom you believed to be a priest and wasn’t, your sins are forgiven so I would think that you’d be covered in this circumstance too. I’m sure you’re not the only one this has ever happened to. I had to ask the priest what my penance was again last week. I’m easily distracted by bright, shiny objects.😉
 
Even in the busiest moments particularly the holiday season, it is almost unheard of that a priest will not give you absolution. Your sins have been forgiven. Relax and let God in your life. I think we are the ones who are hardest on ourselves. In this case, let God and Let God!
 
It has bothered me so much that I spent some time thoughtfully retracing my steps. He MUST have given me absolution, because he kept talking while I was thinking, “1st Thessalonians 5, all of it. How many epistles to the Thessalonians ARE there? There’s a couple to Timothy, but I only think there’s one to the Thessalonians, so why would he say ‘FIRST’,” yada, yada, yada. Like I said, I was tired and I still had to ask him to repeat the penance. So I’m going to chill about this.
 
Your sins are forgiven. The priest gave absolution, you were distracted. Do NOT worry about this.

(Maybe when the lines are long, priests should give simpler penances!)
 
Don’t stress out - you know the number of times I’ve walked out of the house in the morning and thought ‘did I brush my teeth?’ ‘Did I put on deodorant?’ or some such silly question.

The answer to those questions has invariably been yes 👍 - thank heavens my morning routine training kicks in well even when I’m on autopilot. I’m sure it’s the same for your priest - he’s done that many confessions that he would probably not forget the absolution even in his sleep 😃
 
LilyM said:
Don’t stress out - you know the number of times I’ve walked out of the house in the morning and thought ‘did I brush my teeth?’ ‘Did I put on deodorant?’ or some such silly question.

The answer to those questions has invariably been yes 👍 - thank heavens my morning routine training kicks in well even when I’m on autopilot. I’m sure it’s the same for your priest - he’s done that many confessions that he would probably not forget the absolution even in his sleep 😃
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I dont know about anyone else- but I’m breathing easier now that I know deodorant is a thing we should keep in mind! J/K

You are right again Lily M!👍
 
What can I say, it’s been unseasonably warm here for the last week or so. When hot weather comes you tend to worry more about smelling sweet 😉
 
There are many times when I go to Confession that the Priest will say the words of absolution whilst I am saying my act of contrition. There are times i am aware he is saying them and times I am not. He must however ‘say’ them and not merely think them. it is not necessary for us to hear them.

If you think about it, as I have just done now, that makes perfect sense. When the words of absolution are spoken, whether audibly or inaudibly, those words have an extraordinary power, which certainly does not come from the priest. The Priest is asking the Almighty for pardon and peace for you and through the ministry of the Church is absolving you from your sins. At the same time, you are telling the Almighty how sorry you are and are asking for forgivness. At that moment of simultaneous prayer, both of you are in communion with Christ and hence the wonderful mystery of the Sacrament. Valid proof that it is ultimately God who forgives sin!

So no. You do not have to hear the words. I know it is nice when you do, but it is not necessary for a valid confession.

Relax friend. your sins are forgiven, go in peace!
 
Well some Priest give you the absolution while you are saying the Act of Contrition. But I remember there was a time when the Priest gave the penance, forgot the act of contrition, and gave the absolution.
 
You confessed and when you go to Mass you will recieve absolution (general) from the priest immediately after the penitential Rite. So I guess you are good to go. Also meet with your priest again. You know you can never have to much insurance:D
 
I think that in these situations of doubt we have to trust in God’s mercy.

I once had a similar experience. I was in Spain and the priest, after counseling me in English and hearing my act of contrition, began speaking in a different language. I assumed it was Spanish and tried to follow along with the little Spanish that I knew. I realized it wasn’t Spanish just in time to hear “in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.” So it was Latin but I realized it too late to follow those precious words. I was at first troubled, but I just tried to trust in God’s mercy. Surely he said the right words.

I encourage you also to trust and hope that you will have peace.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
Before I put my question, I should say that I’ve been very tired and stressed out, from my teaching job and a health crisis in my family. So if the situation sounds stupid (and it does), well, I’m exhausted:

I went to confession this am, made my confession to a very good priest/confessor, etc. He gave me my penance, which was to read/pray the entire 5th chapter of Saint Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. I was concentrating on getting the penance down correctly (I would have been saying the act of contrition, but he asked me to say it outside of the confessional, due to the length of the line), and even then, after what I supppose was the absolution, I had to ask to make certain I had the right passage. At any rate, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RECOLLECTION AT ALL OF HEARING THE WORDS OF ABSOLUTION! I don’t remember him saying it. I’ve no idea whether he did or not. If he was as tired as I was, it was entirely possible that he didn’t. Priests slip and forget stuff, too. So I’m wondering, since I made a good faith confession, should I just assume I was absolved and am free to go to Holy Communion?
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You’re all right Kirk. Don’t worry too much about it. Just for info though, I’ve noticed that some, I don’t know how many, but some Priests who will give scriptural readings, advise you to pray one of two prayers of your own choosing or do an act of kindness as penance, often, at least in my experience, don’t say the absolution. Why, I don’t know. Often they will just say something like go in peace and remember the Lord loves you, or God loves you or something like that…

I always figured they had their reasons. As long as you made a good faith confession you are all right.

And if you think not, say a perfect act of contrition, go to confession at the first opportunity and voila, you’re home free.👍
 
atsheeran said:
I think that in these situations of doubt we have to trust in God’s mercy.

I once had a similar experience. I was in Spain and the priest, after counseling me in English and hearing my act of contrition, began speaking in a different language. I assumed it was Spanish and tried to follow along with the little Spanish that I knew. I realized it wasn’t Spanish just in time to hear “in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.” So it was Latin but I realized it too late to follow those precious words. I was at first troubled, but I just tried to trust in God’s mercy. Surely he said the right words.

I encourage you also to trust and hope that you will have peace.
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In the old days, the Priest would tell you to make a good act of contrition and while you were saying it, he would recite the absolution in Latin in a very low voice which you often could not hear completely…
 
demerzel85 said:
Well some Priest give you the absolution while you are saying the Act of Contrition. But I remember there was a time when the Priest gave the penance, forgot the act of contrition, and gave the absolution.
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He probably didn’t forget. It is not a required part of confession to say the Act of Contrition in the confessional, since it is no more than a verbal indication of our sorrow at our sins. I know one priest, a great confessor by the way, who never asks for an Act of Contrition.

In such cases you are welcome to say it privately outside the Confessional.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
Before I put my question, I should say that I’ve been very tired and stressed out, from my teaching job and a health crisis in my family. So if the situation sounds stupid (and it does), well, I’m exhausted:

I went to confession this am, made my confession to a very good priest/confessor, etc. He gave me my penance, which was to read/pray the entire 5th chapter of Saint Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. I was concentrating on getting the penance down correctly (I would have been saying the act of contrition, but he asked me to say it outside of the confessional, due to the length of the line), and even then, after what I supppose was the absolution, I had to ask to make certain I had the right passage. At any rate, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RECOLLECTION AT ALL OF HEARING THE WORDS OF ABSOLUTION! I don’t remember him saying it. I’ve no idea whether he did or not. If he was as tired as I was, it was entirely possible that he didn’t. Priests slip and forget stuff, too. So I’m wondering, since I made a good faith confession, should I just assume I was absolved and am free to go to Holy Communion?
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Absolutely -

You were absolved. you DO NOT NEED TO HEAR the words of absolution.

In the confessional where I go all I hear is the Latin words of the pre Vatican II formula which I do not understand yet I know when I leave it has taken effect because I believe what the Church teaches on the Sacrament.

Ken
 
decn2b said:
You confessed and when you go to Mass you will recieve absolution (general) from the priest immediately after the penitential Rite. So I guess you are good to go. Also meet with your priest again. You know you can never have to much insurance:D
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Actually, the formula for the penitential rite is not general absolution, nor does it replace confession. The Penitential Rite is a means of forgiveness for venial sins (so is an act of contrition, for that matter), but it does not absolve serious sins. That requires sacramental confession to a priest.

General absolution is something else, and, unfortunately, it has been abused in this country. The bishops have had to say that General Absolution only valid when there are serious circumstances (imminent danger of death, plane crash, soldiers going into war, etc…), not merely if there are too many confessees and few confessors. In short, you will practically NEVER find general absolution in the United States. If you do, be very careful. It also assumes that if you survive, you get to a regular confession ASAP.

P.S. There is no sign of the cross after the penitential rite (“May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive our sins, and bring us to everlasting life”). That sign of the cross was from the Tridentine rite, and it didn’t complete the penitential rite, but rather, it STARTED the Indulgentiam prayer which immediately followed the PR. Many Catholics back then would cross themselves at the end of the PR in anticipation of the Indulgentiam. however, the Vatican purposely suppressed this prayer precisely because of the growing concern that many Catholics were starting to believe that the prayer absolved from serious sin. Despite the Vatican II GIRM, many Catholics, to this day, cross themselves at the end of the PR - not even realizing that the prayer that SotC corresponded to no longer even exists in the Mass.
 
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