Yet Another Confession Question

[SisterSariah]

Hey folks -

I hope you’ll forgive yet another confession question. I’ve recently returned to the faith, after abandoning it soon after being fully received, and there is a lot that I’m still learning / brushing up on.

So, my question. It’s kind of a two-parter.

I went to confession earlier this week, for the first time in nearly 4 years. Despite having a 2 page “cheat sheet of sins”, I didn’t realize until AFTER absolution (and thereby after receiving the Eucharist) that I forgot a biggie, thereby taking the Eucharist unworthily.

Essentially, when I made my first confession and for subsequent confessions (of which there were maybe one or two), I purposely made a bad confession and withheld some sins from my priest. I finally confessed this on Monday of this week (along with what I had concealed), but because I was so flustered afterward, it wasn’t until I got home and was about to fall asleep that I realized that those earlier bad confessions led to me taking the Eucharist unworthily, and that perhaps I compounded my sin by receiving the Eucharist after absolution while those sins went un-confessed.

My understanding is that forgotten sins are forgiven, but must be confessed asap. My question is, should I not receive the Eucharist until I’m absolved once more?

I feel like I’m being overly scrupulous, but I want to make sure I do things the “right way” I had such a good experience with my last confession and it would sadden me to know I made a bad confession.

Ack! Thank God for this forum!

Sariah

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well, I found this in another thread on the same subject.

From the The Baltimore Catechism … “If you should forget a mortal sin in confession and remember it the same day or evening, or while you are still in the church, it will not be necessary to wait and go to confession again. It is forgiven already, because it was included in your forgotten sins; but you must tell it the next time you go to confession, saying before your regular confession: In my last confession I forgot this sin.”

Remember, only God forgives sin and the sacrament is a sacrament of reconciliation to the Church. It is a sacrament of healing an eraser for a log of sins you’ve committed.

Jim

 

[runningdude]

Hey folks -

I hope you’ll forgive yet another confession question. I’ve recently returned to the faith, after abandoning it soon after being fully received, and there is a lot that I’m still learning / brushing up on.

So, my question. It’s kind of a two-parter.

I went to confession earlier this week, for the first time in nearly 4 years. Despite having a 2 page “cheat sheet of sins”, I didn’t realize until AFTER absolution (and thereby after receiving the Eucharist) that I forgot a biggie, thereby taking the Eucharist unworthily.

Essentially, when I made my first confession and for subsequent confessions (of which there were maybe one or two), I purposely made a bad confession and withheld some sins from my priest. I finally confessed this on Monday of this week (along with what I had concealed), but because I was so flustered afterward, it wasn’t until I got home and was about to fall asleep that I realized that those earlier bad confessions led to me taking the Eucharist unworthily, and that perhaps I compounded my sin by receiving the Eucharist after absolution while those sins went un-confessed.

My understanding is that forgotten sins are forgiven, but must be confessed asap. My question is, should I not receive the Eucharist until I’m absolved once more?

I feel like I’m being overly scrupulous, but I want to make sure I do things the “right way” I had such a good experience with my last confession and it would sadden me to know I made a bad confession.

Ack! Thank God for this forum!

Sariah

Absolution is just that… Absolute! Its sounds as though you made an honest confession (ie, you were contrite, only omitting a sin accidentally due to being flustered). As such your sins are forgiven, and you may receive the Eucharist once more.

You need only “mention” the sin next time, so that you can receive specific advice and penance directed towards undoing the damage of the omitted sin. But the sin is already absolved - ie, your not technically sacramentally confessing the sin, simply receiving penance for it, which is not necessary for absolution.

 

[runningdude]

Merry Christmas!

 

[Sariah]

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut. So, it’s fine if I receive the Eucharist tonight @ Midnight Mass, then…cool

Merry Christmas, Everyone

(name change required because I got “pinged” by a mod for having “Sister” in my name. Drat!)

 

[Logic101]

I feel like I’m being overly scrupulous,!!!
No. Don’t say this. Sensitive or scrupulous conscience leads to purity of conscience and this in turn leads to a very healthy and upright soul. You have to earn it now after leading a sinful lifestyle (guessing only), for 4 years.

If you withhold on purpose grave (mortal) sins then the state of grace is not granted and another mortal sin (sacrileges’ c.) is committed. If you forgot any sins you have to mention it next confession. If you really forgot and went to receive the holy Eucharist, no sin is committed.

If you remember it tomorrow before going to receive another Eucharist…I have a problem with this too; I never go if I remember mortal sins or if I didn’t confess properly. If I am in doubt as to what kind of sin I committed, I don’t go to Eucharist. As soon as possible I go to confession and than H. Eucharist.

I think scrupulous conscience is not fear of God in some cases but rather not knowing what sin is and to what category they (sins) belong.

 

[baltobetsy]

I think scrupulous conscience is not fear of God in some cases but rather not knowing what sin is and to what category they (sins) belong.

Yes, but sometimes it’s a crippling mental illness. That does not seem to be the case with Sariah, but others reading this thread may become confused by what you have said.

 

[ConstantineTG]

My understanding is that forgotten sins are forgiven, but must be confessed asap. My question is, should I not receive the Eucharist until I’m absolved once more?

If you forgot in all honesty, then they are absolved and forgiven. It is only sacrilege of the Sacrament if you intentionally held back a mortal sin. But if it was an honest mistake, then they are forgiven nonetheless.

 

[Bookcat]

Hey folks -

I hope you’ll forgive yet another confession question. I’ve recently returned to the faith, after abandoning it soon after being fully received, and there is a lot that I’m still learning / brushing up on.

So, my question. It’s kind of a two-parter.

I went to confession earlier this week, for the first time in nearly 4 years. Despite having a 2 page “cheat sheet of sins”, I didn’t realize until AFTER absolution (and thereby after receiving the Eucharist) that I forgot a biggie, thereby taking the Eucharist unworthily.

Essentially, when I made my first confession and for subsequent confessions (of which there were maybe one or two), I purposely made a bad confession and withheld some sins from my priest. I finally confessed this on Monday of this week (along with what I had concealed), but because I was so flustered afterward, it wasn’t until I got home and was about to fall asleep that I realized that those earlier bad confessions led to me taking the Eucharist unworthily, and that perhaps I compounded my sin by receiving the Eucharist after absolution while those sins went un-confessed.

My understanding is that forgotten sins are forgiven, but must be confessed asap. My question is, should I not receive the Eucharist until I’m absolved once more?

I feel like I’m being overly scrupulous, but I want to make sure I do things the “right way” I had such a good experience with my last confession and it would sadden me to know I made a bad confession.

Ack! Thank God for this forum!

Sariah

If you intended to make a complete confession of all your mortal sin (intended to do what was needed etc…) in this last confession…but just forgot or missed something by mistake…no worrys (so long as you were of course sorry and amended for all etc in general)…all the forgotten can be absolved “indirectly here” …and one need not wait for Communion.

But you will need to rectify things…

confessing all the mortal sins (in number and kind) from the bad confessions (from intentionally hid mortal sins) and any that were confessed while knowing that the previous were bad…and the fact in number and kind of the bad confessions and communions…(…talk with the Priest for direction…and what you need to do…do not panic …it can depend on how things transpired as to what needs to be done…)

but one can wait…and do this the next confession…no need to run and do it right away.

I would sit down with the Priest in an appointment …he can help you do this…

But for now: Have a Merry Christmas

*and those with scruples…do not scruple …but follow ones confessor