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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Confession Experience	Mark	Saturday, June 18, 2011
Question: I went to Confession today, with a couple of smaller sins and many forgotten sins. After trying to recall everything as best I could, the priest started giving me advice. At this time I remembered something (that may or may not have been a serious sin-I'm not one hundred percent sure). I told the priest that I remembered something else, but I feel like he kind of dissuaded me from mentioning it. He said these forgotten sins would be forgiven. I responded "even if I remember something NOW," and even then he didn't really give me an opportunity to mention it. If he had I would have confessed it readily. I guess I could have pushed further, but I didn't. The priest gave me absolution and the sin went unspoken. Was I obliged to be more assertive in getting this last sin in? Did I commit a sacrilege in letting it go? Also, I'm pretty sure I'm scrupulous (a couple of priests have said so, and I think I'm experiencing the classic symptoms), so Confession is terrifying enough as it is: I just can't stand it when things like this happen. All of this is driving me absolutely crazy, and I fear I'll never experience God's peace. I truly appreciate any help and guidance you can possibly give. God bless you for it.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Mark: I am sorry you were frustrated in Confession. Sometimes priests get impatient with those who have scrupulous tendencies. Your sins are absolved, including all the forgotten ones, including the one that you remembered at the last minute. The Church teaches that absolution removes all sin that is directly confessed and also those sins that have been genuinely forgotten. Withholding a sin on purpose, however, makes the confession invalid. YOU DID NOT DO THAT. You did not withhold any sin on purpose. The sin you remembered at the last minute you tried to tell the priest, but he did not let you. That is his responsibility, not yours. You tried. Besides, God knows your heart and you did confess your sin in your heart even if the priest did not allow you to say it out loud. Your tried to say is out loud. Thus, your sin was absolved. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Confession Experience

Mark

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Question:

I went to Confession today, with a couple of smaller sins and many forgotten sins. After trying to recall everything as best I could, the priest started giving me advice. At this time I remembered something (that may or may not have been a serious sin-I'm not one hundred percent sure).

I told the priest that I remembered something else, but I feel like he kind of dissuaded me from mentioning it. He said these forgotten sins would be forgiven. I responded "even if I remember something NOW," and even then he didn't really give me an opportunity to mention it. If he had I would have confessed it readily. I guess I could have pushed further, but I didn't.

The priest gave me absolution and the sin went unspoken. Was I obliged to be more assertive in getting this last sin in? Did I commit a sacrilege in letting it go?

Also, I'm pretty sure I'm scrupulous (a couple of priests have said so, and I think I'm experiencing the classic symptoms), so Confession is terrifying enough as it is: I just can't stand it when things like this happen. All of this is driving me absolutely crazy, and I fear I'll never experience God's peace.

I truly appreciate any help and guidance you can possibly give. God bless you for it.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Mark:

I am sorry you were frustrated in Confession. Sometimes priests get impatient with those who have scrupulous tendencies.

Your sins are absolved, including all the forgotten ones, including the one that you remembered at the last minute. The Church teaches that absolution removes all sin that is directly confessed and also those sins that have been genuinely forgotten.

Withholding a sin on purpose, however, makes the confession invalid. YOU DID NOT DO THAT. You did not withhold any sin on purpose. The sin you remembered at the last minute you tried to tell the priest, but he did not let you. That is his responsibility, not yours. You tried.

Besides, God knows your heart and you did confess your sin in your heart even if the priest did not allow you to say it out loud. Your tried to say is out loud. Thus, your sin was absolved.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum