Topic: Confession, Orthodox vs Catholic

[Føroyingar]

I wonder how some Orthodox today would react if we returned to things like giving penances of only having bread and water for a week. 

We'd feel like monastics!

[NicholasMyra]

Yes, and you might also believe that banana attracts phlegm.

Ooh, Akimori fighting back against the Oriental Medicine!

[JamesRottnek]

Yes, and you might also believe that banana attracts phlegm.

Ooh, Akimori fighting back against the Oriental Medicine!

At least he hasn't attacked the need for grain alcohol...

(this is not a jab at a board member being alcoholic or something, it's an inside joke that a few on here will get)

[katherine 2001]

It is necessary to confess minor sins in Orthodox Confession?

There really is no such thing as a minor sin.  All sin can kill you.  The time to kill the passion is when it is small so that it doesn't become large.  We should confess everything we remember and that God brings to our attention.  The Slavic instructions for Confession warn us to say everything and not to hide anything unless we depart unhealed. 

[Wyatt]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

[J Michael]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

I have found that to be extremely beneficial.  I also add, at the end, something to the effect of "for these and *all* my sins, especially any I may have forgotten, I am truly sorry."  There is also solace for me knowing that the Holy Eucharist is "...for the remission of sins.", and that none of us are ever truly "worthy" to partake of it.

[choy]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

[J Michael]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

[Papist]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

[choy]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

Big question here is, how can one know what is mortal and what is venial?  I don't think most people can actually make a good distinction.

[Papist]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

Big question here is, how can one know what is mortal and what is venial?  I don't think most people can actually make a good distinction.

Well, a good spiritual director helps.

[J Michael]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

Big question here is, how can one know what is mortal and what is venial?  I don't think most people can actually make a good distinction.

Well, a good spiritual director helps.

When in doubt, ask your confessor.

The Decalogue and the Beatitudes help a lot, too.

Various people have also compiled various lists.  Don't know how trustworthy they may or may not be, though.

[choy]

Well, a good spiritual director helps.

Most RCs do not have that.  Which is the core of my rants early in this thread.

[Schultz]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

I would say that most people in 21st century America do not struggle with this particular vice.  If something bothers you, it can't hurt to say it at least once.  The priest will let you know if you're being scrupulous, especially if you go to him often.

To echo what J Michael said, for most people, if your conscience says, "Wow, I shouldn't have done/said/thought that," you should mention it in confession. 

[Papist]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

I would say that most people in 21st century America do not struggle with this particular vice.  If something bothers you, it can't hurt to say it at least once.  The priest will let you know if you're being scrupulous, especially if you go to him often.

To echo what J Michael said, for most people, if your conscience says, "Wow, I shouldn't have done/said/thought that," you should mention it in confession. 

I had several devout Catholic friends (and me) who struggled with severe scrupulosity when we were in our early mid/twenties.

[J Michael]

I don't know about my fellow Catholics on this forum, but to be fair, regardless of how "minor" I may feel that any given sin is, if it pops into my head during confession I mention it. I mention everything I can think of. For me, especially since I tend to be scrupulous, it is easier for me to just mention everything rather than attempting to categorize things as mortal/venial.

Good for you.  And I believe that this is the official teaching of the Catholic Church, to confess everything.  Although the popular word on the street is, "you don't have to confess your sins if they are venial."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#1493

Best policy, imho: if it's a sin and you remember it having examined your conscience, confess it.  Simple.

Though if a person is plagued by the vice of scrupulosity, and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder, a priest will often only allow a person to confession mortal sins, for the good of the penitent's spiritual life.

I would say that most people in 21st century America do not struggle with this particular vice.  If something bothers you, it can't hurt to say it at least once.  The priest will let you know if you're being scrupulous, especially if you go to him often.

To echo what J Michael said, for most people, if your conscience says, "Wow, I shouldn't have done/said/thought that," you should mention it in confession. 

I had several devout Catholic friends (and me) who struggled with severe scrupulosity when we were in our early mid/twenties.

When one is zealous in their faith it can be extremely easy to slip into scrupulosity, and then difficult to get out of it without a good confessor.