Making Confession
229. What is confession?
Confession is the telling of our sins to an priest for
the purpose of obtaining forgiveness.
He
that hideth his sins shall not prosper; but he that shall confess
and forsake them shall obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
230.
Why
must we confess our sins?
We
must confess our sins because Jesus Christ obliges us to do so in
these words, spoken to the apostles and to their successors in the
priesthood: "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them;
and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."
Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive, they are
forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
(John 20:22-23)
231.
How
do these words of Christ oblige us to confess our sins?
These words of Christ oblige us to confess our sins because the
priest cannot know whether he should forgive or retain our sins
unless we tell them to him.
232.
Is
it necessary to confess every sin?
It
is necessary to confess every mortal sin which has not yet been
confessed and forgiven; it is not necessary to confess our venial
sins, but it is better to do so.
He
that hideth his sins shall not prosper; but he that shall confess
and forsake them shall obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
233.
What
are the chief qualities of a good confession?
The
chief qualities of a good confession are three: it must be humble,
sincere, and entire.
234.
When
is our confession humble?
Our
confession is humble when we accuse ourselves of our sins with a
conviction of guilt for having offended God.
O
God, be merciful to me the sinner! (Luke 18:13)
235.
When
is our confession sincere?
Our
confession is sincere when we tell our sins honestly and frankly.
236.
When
is our confession entire?
Our
confession is entire when we confess at least all our mortal sins,
telling their kind, the number of times we have committed each sin,
and any circumstances changing their nature.
When
a man or woman shall have committed any of all the sins that men are
wont to commit, and by negligence shall have transgressed the
commandment of the Lord, and offended: they shall confess their sin.
(Numbers 5:6-7)
237.
What
are we to do if without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin?
If
without our fault we forget to confess a mortal sin, we may receive
Holy Communion, because we have made a good confession and the sin
is forgiven; but we must tell the sin in confession if it again
comes to our mind.
238.
What
happens if we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in confession?
If
we knowingly conceal a mortal sin in confession, the sins we confess
are not forgiven; moreover, we commit a mortal sin of sacrilege.
239.
What
must a person do who has knowingly concealed a mortal sin in
confession?
A
person who has knowingly concealed a mortal sin in confession must
confess that he has made a bad confession, tell the sin he has
concealed, mention the sacraments he has received since that time,
and confess all the mortal sins he has committed since his last good
confession.
240.
Why
should a sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest
never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession?
A
sense of shame and fear of telling our sins to the priest should
never lead us to conceal a mortal sin in confession because this is
a grave sacrilege, and also because the priest, who represents
Christ Himself, is bound by the seal of the sacrament of Penance
never to reveal anything that has been confessed to him.
Be
not ashamed to confess thy sins. (Ecclesiasticus 4:31)
241.
Why
does the priest give us a penance after confession?
The
priest gives us a penance after confession that we may make some
atonement to God for our sins, receive help to avoid them in the
future, and make some satisfaction for the temporal punishment due
to them.
242.
What
kinds of punishment are due to sin?
Two
kinds of punishment are due to sin: the eternal punishment of
loosing heaven,
due to unforgiven mortal sins, and temporal punishment, lasting only
for a time, due to venial sins and also to mortal sins after they
have been forgiven.
If
anyone does not abide in me, he shall be cast outside as the branch
and wither; and they shall gather them up and cast them into the
fire, and they shall burn. (John 15:6)
243.
Does
the sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always take away all
punishment?
The
sacrament of Penance, worthily received, always takes away all
eternal punishment; but it does not always take away all temporal
punishment.
Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive, they are
forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
(John 20:22-23)
244.
Why
does God require temporal punishment for sin?
God
requires temporal punishment for sin to satisfy His justice, to
teach us the great evil of sin, and to warn us not to sin again.
245.
Where do we pay the debt of our temporal punishment?
We
pay the debt of our temporal punishment either in this life or in
purgatory.
The
fire will assay the quality of everyone's work; if his work abides
which he has built thereon, he will receive reward; if his work
burns he will lose his reward, but himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire. (I Corinthians 3:13-15)
246.
What
are the chief means of satisfying the debt of our temporal
punishment, besides the penance imposed after confession?
Besides the penance imposed after confession, the chief means of
satisfying the debt of our temporal punishment are: prayer,
attending Mass, fasting, almsgiving, the works of mercy, the patient
endurance of sufferings, and indulgences.
Prayer is good with fasting and alms; more than to lay up treasures
of gold. (Tobias 12:8)