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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
general confession	gerald	Monday, November 29, 2004
Question: I reguarlly go to confession once a week, lately a doubt has befallen me, once about two years ago I went to confession and I confessed as I usually do but because I was ashamed of my sins i added some that I had done earlier already confessed, I did this out of human respect, so that the priest would think I was more "normal". Was my confession invalid? I truly want to love God and the Chuch he founded. Should I make a general confession?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Gerald: I understand what you did. I am not sure of the validity of your confession, though. You did not withhold any sins, but you re-confessed past sins out of pride so as not to look "too bad" for your current sins. At the very least you probably need to confess that pride. Then while you are at it, ask the priest if the previous confessions were valid. If they weren't then you will need to confess again all the sins from the time you did this until now. 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

general confession

gerald

Monday, November 29, 2004

Question:

I reguarlly go to confession once a week, lately a doubt has befallen me, once about two years ago I went to confession and I confessed as I usually do but because I was ashamed of my sins i added some that I had done earlier already confessed, I did this out of human respect, so that the priest would think I was more "normal". Was my confession invalid? I truly want to love God and the Chuch he founded. Should I make a general confession?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Gerald:

I understand what you did. I am not sure of the validity of your confession, though. You did not withhold any sins, but you re-confessed past sins out of pride so as not to look "too bad" for your current sins.

At the very least you probably need to confess that pride. Then while you are at it, ask the priest if the previous confessions were valid. If they weren't then you will need to confess again all the sins from the time you did this until now.

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