What counts as an imperfect confession?

[sidetrack]

I’ve heard that if you make an imperfect confession it is sacreligious.Does it count as an imperfect confession if just like “casually” forget to mention a sin during your confession?.By this I mean like for example you leave the booth after confessing and you just forgot to mention one of your sins.

 

[LilyM]

If you genuinely forgot, during the time that you were in the confessional, that you had that sin on your soul, then no it doesn’t invalidate the confession.

If you remember your sin while in the confessional and CHOOSE not to mention it (assuming it’s a mortal rather than venial sin), then your confession is invalid.

 

[TeenageConvert]

If you remember teh sin during confession and choose not to confess it, it’s sacrilige, a very very grave sin.

 

[Joan_M]

There is no such thing as “casually” forget to mention a sin. If someone is so casual, it is very likely that they do not see Confession as the wonderful sacrament that it is.

It is very possible that a person really forgets a serious sin - but this would most likely be if it had been a really long time since their last confession. If we commit a mortal sin, I’m pretty sure, since in order to commit one the person has to know that it is a mortal sin and choose deliberately to do it anyway, that we would not forget about this, unless a lot of time has passed. So, to “casually” forget to bring that sin to confession really means that they, for whatever reason, have no real intention to confess it.

There is no such thing as an “imperfect confession”. It is either a good confession or it is a bad, sacrilegious confession, meaning that, even though the priest said the words of absolution, there is no absolution, and there is another mortal sin on the person’s soul.

Even if you have a doubt about whether you really forgot or deliberately withheld the sin, go to confession and confess - not just the sin you did not confess at the last confession - but all mortal sins since the previous good confession and that your last confession may have been a bad confession because of the sin you did not confess.

You will feel so much better, knowing that you have put things right with God.

 

[Batfink]

Are you perhaps confusing imperfect confession (which, as Joan says, is not a term used by the Church) with imperfect contrition?

newadvent.org/cathen/02065a.htm

Imperfect contrition is a sorrow for one’s sins which springs from a motive other than the pure love of God, e.g. fear of damnation. hth

 

[Bookcat]

I’ve heard that if you make an imperfect confession it is sacreligious.Does it count as an imperfect confession if just like “casually” forget to mention a sin during your confession?.By this I mean like for example you leave the booth after confessing and you just forgot to mention one of your sins.

If one withholds a mortal sin …such is an invalid confession and can be a sacrilege (another mortal sin!)…

But honestly forgetting a mortal sin…does not invalidate things (presuming one was sorry for all ones mortal sins of course …such is indirectly absolved). One is still obliged to confess it in the next confession…

Venial sins never need be confessed…they can be forgiven in other ways…but it is recommended to confess at least some of them…forgetting or withholding one of these…does not invalidate the confession.

 

[thistle]

I’ve heard that if you make an imperfect confession it is sacreligious.Does it count as an imperfect confession if just like “casually” forget to mention a sin during your confession?.By this I mean like for example you leave the booth after confessing and you just forgot to mention one of your sins.

Like the other poster I think you are confusing imperfect confession with imperfect contrition. I have never heard of imperfect confession.
Also you cannot casually forget to mention a grave sin. Either you genuinely forget or you deliberately do not mention it. There is no in-between!

A confession is either valid or not.

It is valid if you sincerely confess all the grave sins you remember.
It is still valid if you genuinely forget to confess a grave sin.

It is not valid if your confession is not sincere, even if you mention all the grave sins you have committed.
It is not valid if you deliberately do not confess a grave sin.

 

[Petergee]

Like the other poster I think you are confusing imperfect confession with imperfect contrition. I have never heard of imperfect confession.
Also you cannot casually forget to mention a grave sin. Either you genuinely forget or you deliberately do not mention it. There is no in-between!

A confession is either valid or not.

It is valid if you sincerely confess all the grave sins you remember.
It is still valid if you genuinely forget to confess a grave sin.

It is not valid if your confession is not sincere, even if you mention all the grave sins you have committed.
It is not valid if you deliberately do not confess a grave sin.

If you are worried because you intended to confess a particular mortal sin, but then you got nervous/flustered and forgot to actually mention it during confession, you have been forgiven, but it would be a good idea to mention it during your next regular confession.

If you have a poor memory or easily get nervous, it’s a good idea to write down the sins you want to confess, especially the mortal ones. Don’t write out the whole details, just a list of key words to jog your memory. And of course destroy (shred or burn) the list afterwards.

Also if you remember the sin you forgot to confess, after confessing your other sins, but before leaving the confessional, it’s quite OK to say “sorry father there is also this mortal sin which I forgot to mention earlier”.

 

[Bookcat]

If you are worried because you intended to confess a particular mortal sin, but then you got nervous/flustered and forgot to actually mention it during confession, you have been forgiven, but it would be a good idea to mention it during your next regular confession.

.

Tis not only a good idea…but an obligation…(See Canon Law).

However those who have a difficulty with scruples do not scruple over this…but talk with ones confessor…for often persons in that boat will want to re-confess or over confess things that need not be confessed…