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ItsBeenALongTime Isabelle wrote:

Hi, guys —

I recently went to Confession (it's been a while).

I think I misunderstood the priest; i think he was hinting that he wanted me to tell him all my sins but I didn't. I didn't tell him any of my sins. He only had me say the Act of Contrition.

  • Am I still absolved from my sins or should I go back to Confession and try again?

Thanks in advance,

Isabelle

  { Am I still absolved from my sins if I didn't tell him any of my sins or should I go back and try again? }

Paul replied:

Isabelle,

As a rule, one must tell the priest every mortal sin, in kind and in number, to be forgiven.

If your sins were venial sins, you're probably forgiven, however it is probably best to go to Confession again, perhaps to another priest (if possible), and tell your sins to the priest — as you're supposed to do in Confession.

Peace,

Paul

Mike replied:

Hi, Isabelle —

You said:
I recently went to Confession (it's been a while).

I think I misunderstood the priest; i think he was hinting that he wanted me to tell him all my sins but I didn't. I didn't tell him any of my sins. He only had me say the Act of Contrition.

  • Am I still absolved from my sins or should I go back to Confession and try again?

Any priest who is hearing the sacrament of Confession is expecting to hear sins mentioned by the penitent, you. If he appears not to be interested in performing the sacrament of Confession, you should take my colleague's advice and find another, more faithful priest to hear your Confession.

Beside all the required criteria Paul laid out for a valid Confession, the priest and penitent must also use the correct form and matter for this sacrament:

Confession

 

Form: Acts of the Priest saying:

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Matter: Acts of the Penitent:

  • Contrition
  • Confession of sins, and
  • Satisfaction for sins, also known as Penance.

You said:

  • Am I still absolved from my sins or should I go back to Confession and try again?

In most, if not many, situations, if you had not committed any mortal sins, I would say just bring it to your next Confession, but in your case, you didn't mention any sins, so find another faithful priest to hear your Confession.

Once you:

  • mention all known mortal sins and any venal sins, and
  • the priest absolves you of your sins . . .

your soul is as pure as the driven snow and there is never a need to try again for sins that the Lord has already forgiven using the body of the priest.

Hope this helps,

Mike

Isabelle replied:

Good evening Mike,

Thank you for the e-mail!

I live in a very small town, therefore my options for Confession are extremely limited. I just have to gather up the confidence to go back to the same priest again and do it right!

Thanks for the help,

Isabelle

Bob replied:

Isabelle,

I would go back and say, "I think I may have misunderstood in my last Confession . . ." then he can tell you how to proceed.

Peace,

Bob Kirby

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