Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Valid Confession	Mike	Saturday, February 19, 2005
Question: I went to confession today for the first time after 15 or 20 years away from the church. My priest did not ask me to state my sins, as I was prepared to do, but instead asked what had been weighing on me and why I had come back. Then we talked about my marriage and certain related issues which had been troubling me. However, despite my telling him that I had prepared a list of sins to confess to him, he said it wasn't necessary that I do so, and at the end of our talk gave me absolution for my sins with no penance. I never did state any sins. He wants me to come back for pastoral counseling about my marriage issues, however. Was this a valid confession? If not, should I go again, and what is the state of my soul? I am confused given that I thought confessing was the central act in the forgiveness of sins - if I did not confess, but was absolved by the priest, what if anything is the effect? Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Mike: Welcome back to the Church. I thank and praise God for your return. I am sorry to hear that upon your return you end up with a wacked confessor. Canon Law 998 states in part: "A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after batpism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church, nor acknowledged in individual confession...." I am not sure if the confessions you had were valid if the priest refused to hear your sins. If it was me I would go to another priest, tell him what happened, and confess the sins you originally intended to confess. As for the state of your soul, you regain a state of grace as soon as you make an act of perfect contrition after committing the sin. Thus, you are restored to God's friendship immediately upon making the act of contrition even though you haven't been to the Sacrament of Confession as yet. Thus if you die before having a chance to get to the Sacrament, you are covered. This automatic absolution upon saying an Act of Perfect Contrition carries with it, however, a solemn promise to go to the Sacrament of Confession as soon as possible to confess those sins. One must refrain from receiving the Eucharist until the actual Sacrament of Confession is completed. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary P.S. I personally would confront this priest about this and, if necessary, report him to the bishop. Whether or not his administration of the Sacrament is valid or not, he is damaging people by not letting them confess what they need to confess. 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

Valid Confession

Mike

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Question:

I went to confession today for the first time after 15 or 20 years away from the church. My priest did not ask me to state my sins, as I was prepared to do, but instead asked what had been weighing on me and why I had come back.

Then we talked about my marriage and certain related issues which had been troubling me. However, despite my telling him that I had prepared a list of sins to confess to him, he said it wasn't necessary that I do so, and at the end of our talk gave me absolution for my sins with no penance. I never did state any sins.

He wants me to come back for pastoral counseling about my marriage issues, however.

Was this a valid confession? If not, should I go again, and what is the state of my soul? I am confused given that I thought confessing was the central act in the forgiveness of sins - if I did not confess, but was absolved by the priest, what if anything is the effect? Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Mike:

Welcome back to the Church. I thank and praise God for your return. I am sorry to hear that upon your return you end up with a wacked confessor.

Canon Law 998 states in part: "A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after batpism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church, nor acknowledged in individual confession...."

I am not sure if the confessions you had were valid if the priest refused to hear your sins. If it was me I would go to another priest, tell him what happened, and confess the sins you originally intended to confess.

As for the state of your soul, you regain a state of grace as soon as you make an act of perfect contrition after committing the sin. Thus, you are restored to God's friendship immediately upon making the act of contrition even though you haven't been to the Sacrament of Confession as yet. Thus if you die before having a chance to get to the Sacrament, you are covered.

This automatic absolution upon saying an Act of Perfect Contrition carries with it, however, a solemn promise to go to the Sacrament of Confession as soon as possible to confess those sins. One must refrain from receiving the Eucharist until the actual Sacrament of Confession is completed.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. I personally would confront this priest about this and, if necessary, report him to the bishop. Whether or not his administration of the Sacrament is valid or not, he is damaging people by not letting them confess what they need to confess.

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