What sins must be confessed?

[Soler]

In Confession, we are bound to confess mortal sins in kind and number.

Does this refer just to actual mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, complete consent) or does it include merely objective mortal sins (grave matter, but without full knowledge and/or complete consent)?

Best example I can think of: A Catholic man who is very poorly catechized fornicates with his girlfriend, while completely or largely unaware of the immorality of the act. Is he obliged to confess it (presuming that he later finds out that it was wrong)?

 

[JRKH]

Confess all sins that you can recall. Large or small, many or few…If you can recall it - confess it.

The Sacrament of reconcilliation is not about what we must do, it is about what we are privilaged to do.
We have this great privilege to come before our confessor, in persona Christi, and make a clean breast of all of our faults. To clear the air and replace stain with grace.

To everyone - not just the OP - do not limit this grace or how clean you can become by limiting your confession only to things clearly mortal sin.

If you can recall a sin, it is obviously on your mind. Whether large or small, it was an offense against the Love of our Great God and Father.

Peace
James

 

[WingsOfEagles]

It’s my understanding that if we are ignorant to the fact that it’s a sin, it’s not a sin. However, once we find out that it is a sin, if we continue to commit the sin, it is a sin for us because we have that knowledge. So, “no” you wouldn’t be obligated to tell the priest if you didn’t know you were sinning, but if it something that is bothering you, you could certainly confess/discuss it with the priest in order to clear you conscience.

 

[PLAT]

Objective mortal sins? A sin is either mortal or not mortal. And without full knowledge it is not a mortal sin. In fact, as WoE mentioned, sin without knowledge is not considered a sin at all.

In a confession, unintended unconfessed sins are forgiven if the priest speaks the absolution. So in a strict sense he does not need to confess it. Although, he has to be a really misinformed catholic to not know pre-marital sex and the use of contraception (I presume…) are of grave matter.

He should still make the reconciliation, however, in order to guarantee the state of grace, recieve advice from the priest, and the penance the father would give also provides him with the reminder of the insult to God and hopefully prevents him from doing it again.

As a note, venial sins (as opposed to mortal) are forgiven not only through confession, but also by recieving body and blood of christ, blessed by holy water, and doing good works, good prayers, etc. and again, only in a strict sense, not needed to be confessed to get salvation.

 

[lauraabarlow]

I am going to piggy-back on this thread-okay-I am not able to get to confession until May 21st due to obligations for today, daughter’s first communion next week, and reserves (air force) the following week. I have tried three times-twice by leaving message, once by e-mail to try to set up an appt for confession with this priest with no luck. My sins-which I believe is mortal and troubling is my anger issues-or stress issues-acting out to where I without meaning to use God’s name in vain. Running late for work, I catch all the red lights to where it boils over and I end up saying (I am ashame to mention this) G–D–n red lights making me more late or whatever. I feel real bad and play the baptist role asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness with the intention of going to confession at my earliest opportunity. I was wondering, if, Lord forbids—I go to sleep and die before May 21st, would I definitely end up in hell? I fear that for I want more than anything to be in God’s good graces. I work on base near the chapel and the chaplain goes to both the air base and the navy along with the hospital and is stretched thin-wish he would have at least returned my call or e-mail to let me know he is unable to make that appt-I am to a point where I am thinking of switching churches-I am not blaming the chaplain-he is very busy and has been there for me and my kids during past crisis and circumstances-I am just seeking advice on what else to do to hopefully be in God’s good graces-thanks!

 

[JRKH]

I am going to piggy-back on this thread-okay-I am not able to get to confession until May 21st due to obligations for today, daughter’s first communion next week, and reserves (air force) the following week. I have tried three times-twice by leaving message, once by e-mail to try to set up an appt for confession with this priest with no luck. My sins-which I believe is mortal and troubling is my anger issues-or stress issues-acting out to where I without meaning to use God’s name in vain. Running late for work, I catch all the red lights to where it boils over and I end up saying (I am ashame to mention this) G–D–n red lights making me more late or whatever. I feel real bad and play the baptist role asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness with the intention of going to confession at my earliest opportunity. I was wondering, if, Lord forbids—I go to sleep and die before May 21st, would I definitely end up in hell? I fear that for I want more than anything to be in God’s good graces. I work on base near the chapel and the chaplain goes to both the air base and the navy along with the hospital and is stretched thin-wish he would have at least returned my call or e-mail to let me know he is unable to make that appt-I am to a point where I am thinking of switching churches-I am not blaming the chaplain-he is very busy and has been there for me and my kids during past crisis and circumstances-I am just seeking advice on what else to do to hopefully be in God’s good graces-thanks!

Your sincere intent, and the efforts you have already made, are sufficient to prevent your going to hell…If you were to die unexpectantly you would be reaching out to God’s Mercy in Love. He would not deny you.

Are there other parishes nearby that you could perhaps get to?

Peace
James

 

[lauraabarlow]

Dear JRKH-I work Monday thru Friday from 7:30-4:30. I pick my 8-yr-old up at around 5:10-get home around 6:00-with after-work traffic and everything-and then having to feed my kids (I am a single mother with two living with me)-if there was a way for me to go to another parish after setting up a time, I would. Very busy myself-maybe if I am lucky, the chaplain might make time next Saturday to hear my confession (I highly doubt that, though)-being that my little one is making her first communion and everything-very busy. If I didn’t have reserves (and kids to pick up afterward from the daycare provider), I would stop on the way home in uniform at the chapel to confess. Oh what can I say? With the priest shortage and everything, I’d be lucky if I am administer my last rites on my death bed. Used to be a practicing baptist and the pastor seemed to always be available-and I remember as a child growing up in Ohio attending catholic schools how the priest several times came by our house, including giving my mom her last rites while she was dying from cancer (when I was a young airmen in the air force getting ready to get out for humanitarian reasons). I just wish that I can unload my sins to press on without the worry of something bad happening to me-thanks for the suggestion-I did thought about other parishes yet due to my work schedule and single mom commitment-I really don’t know how I can work that in. On base-I can take lunch anytime to meet with the chaplain-if he was available for appts, that is-you know what I mean? Hope May 21st will get here quickly-hoping to also meet with any priest before July 14 so I can go to Japan for my annual tour with a clean slate-hate for anything to happen in-flight, if you know what I mean-that is another topic altogether-yet similar issue is the availability of a priest when one needs one-thanks for reaching out with your wonderful advice and suggestion-thank you-:grouphug::takeoff:

 

[Bookcat]

In Confession, we are bound to confess mortal sins in kind and number.

Does this refer just to actual mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, complete consent) or does it include merely objective mortal sins (grave matter, but without full knowledge and/or complete consent)?

Best example I can think of: A Catholic man who is very poorly catechized fornicates with his girlfriend, while completely or largely unaware of the immorality of the act. Is he obliged to confess it (presuming that he later finds out that it was wrong)?

One is obliged to confess all mortal sins in number and kind (and circumstance that changes the sin…such as the person one murdered was your brother).

If one does not have full knowledge or deliberate consent…then one does not commit a mortal sin…and one is not obliged to confess it.

However the example given can be more difficult to determine for many can know such via natural moral law…so we will leave that aside here…( I would tell them to still confess it…and say what was up in regards to the knowledge…(of course one can explain to them too what a mortal sin is etc…)))

It is though recommended to confess at least some venial sins …and in the case where one has a grave matter …but only partial consent say…one judges that one did not have the knowledge needed for mortal sin…but it was still a sin…that would be a good one to confess (noting that one does not think it was with full consent…etc that one judges it was not mortal…for one does not want to confess it as if it was…)

For “doubtful mortal sins”…those who are not scrupulous can be advised to confess them (noting the doubt).

Those who are scrupulous or have some degree of scruples are often advised not to …

Hope this helps.

 

[Bookcat]

I am going to piggy-back on this thread-okay-I am not able to get to confession until May 21st due to obligations for today

Keep trying to reach a Priest…(one can try too Parishes off base??)

(and discuss too what is actually mortal sins in these areas…for there are bad “profane” uses of our Lords Name (etc) --which we should not do!–but which are often not grave matter for mortal sin…and anger too can be often venial…so confess them…and tell him you thought they were mortal …but then get counsel as to what is grave matter and what is not…for the future …)

 

[JRKH]

Dear JRKH-I work Monday thru Friday from 7:30-4:30. I pick my 8-yr-old up at around 5:10-get home around 6:00-with after-work traffic and everything-and then having to feed my kids (I am a single mother with two living with me)-if there was a way for me to go to another parish after setting up a time, I would. Very busy myself-maybe if I am lucky, the chaplain might make time next Saturday to hear my confession (I highly doubt that, though)-being that my little one is making her first communion and everything-very busy. If I didn’t have reserves (and kids to pick up afterward from the daycare provider), I would stop on the way home in uniform at the chapel to confess. Oh what can I say? With the priest shortage and everything, I’d be lucky if I am administer my last rites on my death bed. Used to be a practicing baptist and the pastor seemed to always be available-and I remember as a child growing up in Ohio attending catholic schools how the priest several times came by our house, including giving my mom her last rites while she was dying from cancer (when I was a young airmen in the air force getting ready to get out for humanitarian reasons). I just wish that I can unload my sins to press on without the worry of something bad happening to me-thanks for the suggestion-I did thought about other parishes yet due to my work schedule and single mom commitment-I really don’t know how I can work that in. On base-I can take lunch anytime to meet with the chaplain-if he was available for appts, that is-you know what I mean? Hope May 21st will get here quickly-hoping to also meet with any priest before July 14 so I can go to Japan for my annual tour with a clean slate-hate for anything to happen in-flight, if you know what I mean-that is another topic altogether-yet similar issue is the availability of a priest when one needs one-thanks for reaching out with your wonderful advice and suggestion-thank you-:grouphug::takeoff:

Understood -

Trust in God…That is the main thing…

Peace
James

 

[Bookcat]

I feel real bad and play the baptist role asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness with the intention of going to confession at my earliest opportunity. I was wondering, if, Lord forbids—I go to sleep and die before May 21st, would I definitely end up in hell? I fear that for I want more than anything to be in God’s good graces.

In addition to what I said earlier…make and act of perfect contrition intending to go to confession as soon as possible…if one is in mortal sin…it is possible for thus the grace of God to restore you before you make it there…(but you should still confess any mortal sins before communion)

Catechism:

Contrition

1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.52

(PS Venial sins are forgiven in many ways…via contrition, prayer, many ways etc…it is not just a “baptist” thing …it is very catholic to make an act of contrition in prayer…etc…but very recommended to confess at least some venial sins…)

(and as I noted…even mortal sins can be forgiven via the grace of perfect contrition…(one is still restored by the grace of God)…so seek to make this kind of act of contrition…seek this grace…and still seek out a Priest…for one still needs to confess them as soon as reasonably possible…and before Communion)

Jesus the Good Shepherd loves you!

 

[PJM]

=Soler;7817927]In Confession, we are bound to confess mortal sins in kind and number.

Does this refer just to actual mortal sins (grave matter, full knowledge, complete consent) or does it include merely objective mortal sins (grave matter, but without full knowledge and/or complete consent)?

Best example I can think of: A Catholic man who is very poorly catechized fornicates with his girlfriend, while completely or largely unaware of the immorality of the act. Is he obliged to confess it (presuming that he later finds out that it was wrong)?

ONLY THOSE that meet the complete criteria are MANDATED; prudent practice would be to at-least discuss the others with your Confessor to gain Spiritual guidance on them.

God Bless,
Pat