What exactly makes a confession invalid?

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The_Scott

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Hi everyone,

So there are many threads about whether a poster’s confession was invalid. There are several examples, such as “I forgot to confess a mortal sin,” or “the priest didn’t ask me to say the Act of Contrition,” or “I don’t remember the proper way to do a confession,” and so on. These threads always end up being answered with the negative: “No, forgetting a sin/not saying the Act of Contrition/not knowing the proper technique/etc did not make your confession invalid. You are still absolved.”

Now, what exactly makes a confession invalid? I’m looking for faults on both the one confessing and the priest. There are always threads saying “Your confession is still valid” but never ones that say “_____ would make it invalid.”

I’d like to make a little list, for future reference.

Thank you!

God bless.

Scott
 
It is my understanding that a confession is invalid in two situations:

1.) The person is not sorry for their sins.
2.) The priest does not say the words, “I absolve you of your sins…”.

Those are the only two I of which I’m aware.
 
Not confessing mortal sins that one knows is mortal and that one freely chose to do anyway
 
The_Scott said:
Hi everyone,

So there are many threads about whether a poster’s confession was invalid. There are several examples, such as “I forgot to confess a mortal sin,” or “the priest didn’t ask me to say the Act of Contrition,” or “I don’t remember the proper way to do a confession,” and so on. These threads always end up being answered with the negative: “No, forgetting a sin/not saying the Act of Contrition/not knowing the proper technique/etc did not make your confession invalid. You are still absolved.”

Now, what exactly makes a confession invalid? I’m looking for faults on both the one confessing and the priest. There are always threads saying “Your confession is still valid” but never ones that say “_____ would make it invalid.”

I’d like to make a little list, for future reference.

Thank you!

God bless.

Scott
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Not receiving absolution for sure. I wonder if you aren’t even the slightest bit sorry but PRETEND to be…I imagine that would make it invalid.
 
I just thought of another scenario. Help me people on where this is listed (Canon Law) isn’t it invalid if you and the priest are in cahoots in a crime and he’s absolving you?
 
I think you also need a repenance. One time our priest forgot to give me one so I lined up again and went back in and told him. Lol
 
504Katrin said:
I think you also need a repenance. One time our priest forgot to give me one so I lined up again and went back in and told him. Lol
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No that is outside the sacrament of confession. If the priest does not give you a penance, or you forget to do it, or you refuse to do it your absolution is still valid. However, if you refuse to do your penance you are sinning again because you are being disobedient to the Church,and so you have to go back to confession.
 
504Katrin said:
I think you also need a repenance. One time our priest forgot to give me one so I lined up again and went back in and told him. Lol
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I can’t find a source to verify it, but because performing a penance is about atonement rather than forgiveness, I’d be surprised if confession was invalid if the priest forgot it.
 
Cristiano said:
or you refuse to do it .
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Refusing to do it before absolution…that I think would be a different story…

(I do not mean refusing to actually “do it” before absolution…but the Priest says…for your penance for that mortal sin …pray 2 rosaries…and the penitent…says to himself…ya right! no way…not a chance padre… I do not do rosaries…before the priest gives absolution…)
 
Bookcat said:
Refusing to do it before absolution…that I think would be a different story…

(I do not mean refusing to actually “do it” before absolution…but the Priest says…for your penance for that mortal sin …pray 2 rosaries…and the penitent…says to himself…ya right! no way…not a chance padre… I do not do rosaries…before the priest gives absolution…)
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I agree with you, that would be quite a different story. I think that in those occasions the Code of Canon Law allows the priest to kick the penitent in the rear.😃
 
Cristiano said:
I agree with you, that would be quite a different story. I think that in those occasions the Code of Canon Law allows the priest to kick the penitent in the rear.😃
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actually that was from the Decretum Gratiani from the 12th century.

In the 1917 code it was changed to a glass of cool but not too cold water over the head.

:whistle:
 
Every sacrament has “matter” and “form”. The “matter” in this sacrament is the act of the penitent - contrition and confession of sins. The “form” consists of the words of absolution by the priest. At a minimum, the priest should say, “I absolve you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. So, if either matter or form, or both, is lacking, the sacrament is not valid.
 
All the Sacraments must meet three criteria to be valid: they must have correct form & matter and there must be correct disposition.

Form: The priest must say some form of absolution. It is generally accepted that the words “I absolve you from your sins” are the essential words.

Matter: I would actually put the first of these under disposition, but those that know more than me (like the Council of Trent) lists matter as contrition, confession, and satisfaction. You were (I presume) contrite (sorry for your sins). You confessed all mortal sins, kind and numer, as far as you remember. And you attempted to satisfy for your sins (which means you must do, as a minimum, the penance given by the priest). If they priest does not give you a penance, or if the priest gives you a small penance, your Confession is still valid. The priest sets the minimum for you for satisfaction.

Disposition: I’m assuming you are a baptized Catholic. I am assuming that the priest-confessor was, in fact, a priest.

Even if there is some question about the validity, remember that Ecclesia supplet (the Church provides): if a priest accidentally forgets some of the words of the ritual or changes them, the Church recognizes the good faith of those gathered and their right to valid sacraments. She provides sacramental validity in the case of a human error or priestly malpractice.
There’s also the fact we are bound by the Sacraments, but not G-d. G-d can overcome the hurdles that man may put up. So if the priest purposefully made the sacrament invalid, it is upon him and not you.

Hope that helps!
 
Cristiano said:
No that is outside the sacrament of confession. If the priest does not give you a penance, or you forget to do it, or you refuse to do it your absolution is still valid. However, if you refuse to do your penance you are sinning again because you are being disobedient to the Church,and so you have to go back to confession.
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Incomplete said:
I can’t find a source to verify it, but because performing a penance is about atonement rather than forgiveness, I’d be surprised if confession was invalid if the priest forgot it.
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oh o.k. Thank guys. I stand corrected 🙂
 
msugeotech said:
Every sacrament has “matter” and “form”. The “matter” in this sacrament is the act of the penitent - contrition and confession of sins. The “form” consists of the words of absolution by the priest. At a minimum, the priest should say, “I absolve you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. So, if either matter or form, or both, is lacking, the sacrament is not valid.
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Don’t forget the disposition of the priest and the penitent. For example, it must be a validly ordained priest.
 
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