Yet another Confession question

[DeniseNY]

I’ve always been Catholic, but not always a “good” or practicing Catholic. That’s changing. In fact, I went to Confession this past week, and it was the first time in a very long time. The night before, I did and Examination of Conscience and even found a couple of websites that helped me do this. At Confession, I told Father that it had been a very long time since my last confession and I could not put a number on my mortal sins; but that they were numerous. I did confess my mortal sins; but after I left I remembered other things that I wanted to confess but forgot. Quite frankly, I was incredibly nervous and couldn’t gather my thoughts.

At Mass later that day, I didn’t feel it was right to receive Communion. I made an effort to make a good confession, but I don’t know that I did.

Any thoughts?

 

[YoungTradCath]

If you confessed all the mortal sins that you could remember at the moment then you are absolved validly and are in a state of grace (provided you haven’t committed any mortal sins since). You may receive Holy Communion. There is a difference between not remembering a sin and intentionally not confessing a sin that you do remember. The latter case renders absolution invalid. However, you didn’t do that.

 

[DeniseNY]

Thank you. I didn’t hold anything back knowingly or on purpose.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Not to sound uncharitable, but the moderators should really make this topic a sticky.

If you unintentionally forget to confess a mortal sin through no fault of your own, it is absolved indirectly and you are not in the state of mortal sin anymore and can receive communion. If you remember it later on, and if you’re not scrupulous and your priest hasn’t told you not to confess forgotten sins, you’re supposed to confess it at your next confession.

 

[mark_a]

Welcome Home!!!

 

[DeniseNY]

I don’t think that’s uncharitable! I was kind of hesitant to post because I know I’ve seen similar topics, and I was afraid people would think “oh man, another one”??

 

[YoungTradCath]

Not to sound uncharitable, but the moderators should really make this topic a sticky.

If you unintentionally forget to confess a mortal sin through no fault of your own, it is absolved indirectly and you are not in the state of mortal sin anymore and can receive communion. ** If you remember it later on, and if you’re not scrupulous and your priest hasn’t told you not to confess forgotten sins, you’re supposed to confess it at your next confession.**

I don’t think the bolded is quite right. Once absolution is imparted and forgiveness is thus got, no sin prior to that absolution is required to be confessed. That is, if you forget a sin and receive absolution, you don’t have to confess it later if you remember it. It would certainly be good in a spiritual sense just to perhaps get a little comment of direction on it, but it is not required.

 

[Leegal]

I don’t think the bolded is quite right. Once absolution is imparted and forgiveness is thus got, no sin prior to that absolution is required to be confessed. That is, if you forget a sin and receive absolution, you don’t have to confess it later if you remember it. It would certainly be good in a spiritual sense just to perhaps get a little comment of direction on it, but it is not required.

I think this is correct. I made a confession and did the best I could under the circumstances. I was told I could not reconfess these sins. Then I remembered something more specific. I happened to be in another area, told my story, and the priest said that all the sins of that confession were absolved, as the priest had said. I told him it was mortal – he said it was already absolved. They always pick right up on my end run around scrupulosity.

Denise: you are absolved. If you still doubt, do as I did. Explain what happened without confessing the sin unless the priest guides you to tell him this sin you forgot. As for the number of sins, I rarely get into that. Some sins can be assumed to be numerous by definition without an exact number. I rarely can give a number – too numerous to count some of my bad habits.

 

[Maria1993]

Hi, my name is maria, im 18 and catholic, and i need help.
Today i went to confessions for the first time in almost 6-8 years, i couldn’t control myself, and i was crying, i did feel sorry for my sins and the priest was very understanding because i have problems with intrusive thoughts and blasphemous thoughts, and i might be scrupulous…i tried to remember all my sins but i was just all over the place, and the priest was very loving and kind and telling me “it’s okay” “jesus loves you”…and as il would talk and he would talk sins or past thoughts would come up but either one was talking so i would listen and then almost tell my sins to like “wait”, but then i would forget them, and the same thing would happen,i would think of a sin then more would like pile on and couldn’t pay attention to all of them…i was just all over the place…in the end he told me everything was okay, he gave me penance and absolved me, is this valid? I’m honestly panicking a bit,i feel like i suppressed them, but they would all just come up like a wave and i “couldn’t pick”, when he absolved me i felt like i was forgetting something, but nothing specific would come up, was it valid?

he also recommended for him to guide me in spiritual help on saturdays and recommended me to a psyciatrist…

please help

 

[domandcarols]

Hi, my name is maria, im 18 and catholic, and i need help.
Today i went to confessions for the first time in almost 6-8 years, i couldn’t control myself, and i was crying, i did feel sorry for my sins and the priest was very understanding because i have problems with intrusive thoughts and blasphemous thoughts, and i might be scrupulous…i tried to remember all my sins but i was just all over the place, and the priest was very loving and kind and telling me “it’s okay” “jesus loves you”…and as il would talk and he would talk sins or past thoughts would come up but either one was talking so i would listen and then almost tell my sins to like “wait”, but then i would forget them, and the same thing would happen,i would think of a sin then more would like pile on and couldn’t pay attention to all of them…i was just all over the place…in the end he told me everything was okay, he gave me penance and absolved me, is this valid? I’m honestly panicking a bit,i feel like i suppressed them, but they would all just come up like a wave and i “couldn’t pick”, when he absolved me i felt like i was forgetting something, but nothing specific would come up, was it valid?

he also recommended for him to guide me in spiritual help on saturdays and recommended me to a psyciatrist…

please help

Yes, it was a valid confession. Don’t worry, if you ever are in doubt please go and speak to a priest. Don’t ever hesitate. Whenever you feel in doubt you can also make an Act of Contrition. God bless you. I’m sorry you’re going through this, I will pray for you.

 

[Maria1993]

Thank you for the information,
my heart is not at ease,i wanted to make a good confession but i was all over the place, sins would come up, most of the involving intrusive thoughts about blasphemy of the HS, and i asked him if i should explain them and he said “no, i see whats going on”, but the thoughts would come up, and i felt ashamed of them and would look for something else to say…like real sins about lying,lust, but the thing is those thoughts i had led to actions, and it might sound crazy but it ties in with ocd i am not diagnosed but i sure do know these thoughts i do not take pleasure in, i am scrupling over this, like i felt it was not valid like i did it on purpose, i went in peace and was happy, it’s been years since i confessed and was serious about this, now im just questioning and i’m all anxious like i lied…

 

[Bookcat]

I don’t think the bolded is quite right. Once absolution is imparted and forgiveness is thus got, no sin prior to that absolution is required to be confessed. That is, if you forget a sin and receive absolution, you don’t have to confess it later if you remember it. It would certainly be good in a spiritual sense just to perhaps get a little comment of direction on it, but it is not required.

Actually the person there was correct. Ordinarily one is *obliged *to —if it was a mortal sin (if one remembers it that is…).

(some who are scrupulous…may be in a different boat…with all sorts of undue concerns…they need to work with a regular confessor --as do all who struggle with scruples)

 

[YoungTradCath]

Actually the person there was correct. Ordinarily one is obliged to —if it was a mortal sin (if one remembers it that is…).

(some who are scrupulous…may be in a different boat…with all sorts of undue concerns…they need to work with a regular confessor --as do all who struggle with scruples)

How is that? It was already absolved.

 

[Bookcat]

How is that? It was already absolved.

If one was sorry etc and meant to confess all ones mortal sins --yes of course.

Absolved Indirectly.

We have though the obligation to confess our mortal sins – and forgotten mortal sins have yet to be confessed.

They still need to be “submitted to the keys” directly.

Of course if one can not remember them…well then it is impossible to do so…so that is an exception…but if one does remember one --they are to be confessed in the next confession thereafter.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I don’t think the bolded is quite right. Once absolution is imparted and forgiveness is thus got, no sin prior to that absolution is required to be confessed. That is, if you forget a sin and receive absolution, you don’t have to confess it later if you remember it. It would certainly be good in a spiritual sense just to perhaps get a little comment of direction on it, but it is not required.

From the Baltimore Catechism:

Q. 793. Is our Confession worthy if, without our fault, we forget to confess a mortal sin?

A. If without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin, our Confession is worthy, and the sin is forgiven; but** it must be told in Confession if it again comes to our mind.**

Q. 794. May a person who has forgotten to tell a mortal sin in confession go to Holy Communion before going again to confession?

A. A person who has forgotten to tell a mortal sin in confession may go to communion before again going to confession, because the forgotten sin was forgiven with those confessed, and the confession was good and worthy.

The Baltimore Catechism is probably one of the greatest resources for Catholics I can think of. It saddens me that I was not taught from it, but rather from the mind of a “Spirit of Vatican II” dissenter. BTW: I can say that because he openly admits to not not agreeing with the Catholic Church on dogmatic matters. Why he is still permitted to teach in the Catholic School System and be a high school chaplain is beyond me.

 

[rhiannonh]

Thank you for the information,
my heart is not at ease,i wanted to make a good confession but i was all over the place, sins would come up, most of the involving intrusive thoughts about blasphemy of the HS, and i asked him if i should explain them and he said “no, i see whats going on”, but the thoughts would come up, and i felt ashamed of them and would look for something else to say…like real sins about lying,lust, but the thing is those thoughts i had led to actions, and it might sound crazy but it ties in with ocd i am not diagnosed but i sure do know these thoughts i do not take pleasure in, i am scrupling over this, like i felt it was not valid like i did it on purpose, i went in peace and was happy, it’s been years since i confessed and was serious about this, now im just questioning and i’m all anxious like i lied…

I know,
Try to relax as the priest will have heard a lot in his time and knew where you are at by what you managed and how you were. Pyschiatry might be scarey… you may want to find a support group in your area first to help you build up that trust in talking. I go to one in my area because it helps with my mental health. There is no shame in that. Its a shame when people think its shameful.
Its okay to be upset and all over the place and you will have made a very good confession. The priest and God knows your sorry. I wont say what i said at my last confession because as we know it confidential. Priests do on the whole know what they are saying to us. Please don’t be affraid by seeking out a phychiatrist. It seems awful now when you are 18. But really they are there to help us manage our thoughts and get them into some kind of order. You’re not mad or bad. Just need a little help in thinking and getting things together. If you can put that into place now, the rest of your life, you will be in full control. Leave it and it will catch up with you and trust me, its painful. So please don’t be affraid. In England we can refer ourselves without a general doctor.Though not everyone knows that. I don’t know about the USA. Just an hour or two a week sharing what you talked about at confession and you be on track to managing everything. Its just talking about things so you learn how to manage them to someone safe who can properly help you. Sometimes people are given tablets to help themselves manage. Sometimes its teaching people how to manage their thoughts. Its not bad but good. Most people could do with a psychiatrist at some point in their lives though most are far too proud to admitt it. See it as a luxury that you can treat yourself to an in time you will learn what to do when. Please don’t be affraid.
Ps message me if you want to talk more. I wont share my confession but I can help on a mental health side of things and hopefully help you make those steps a bit easier.
God loves you
Amen