Confess As Soon As Possible

[Julie de Sales]

Perfect contrition erases the mortal sins even before confession, on the condition that you go to confession as soon as possible. But this means that you have to go on the first occasion? What if, for example, you would like to wait some more days in order to confess to the priest you usually go to? Or that the Mass is said at un inconvenient hour and it would be difficult for you to attend? Or that you just want to take some more time to prepare….Thanks for clarifying this for me!

[OnlySunshine]

Perfect contrition is acceptable if someone is in immediate danger of death and cannot get to a priest.  However, a mortal sin must always be brought to Confession at first convenience before reception of the Eucharist.  The Protestant notion is that you only have to confess to God and He will wipe away your sins but we are sinful beings.  By committing a mortal sin, we are not only sinning against God, but also His Church and we fall out of Communion with the Body of Believers.  In order to clear the mortal sin, you must go to Confession and confess to a priest to be brought back to God and the Communion of His Church. 

 

http://www.americaneedsfatima.org/Articles/how-to-make-an-act-of-perfect-contrition.html

 

"Whoever can, should receive the Sacrament of Penance.  Whoever cannot, because of prohibiting circumstances, should cleanse his soul by acts of perfect contrition: i.e., the sorrow of a loving child who does not consider so much the pain or reward as he does the pardon from his father and mother to whom he has brought displeasure."--St. Maximilian Kolbe

 

When we go to confession, imperfect contrition is sufficient to receive the pardon of our sins.

However, in extraordinary circumstances where [when] we cannot get to
confession, we can make an act of perfect contrition, which is
sufficient to have our sins forgiven.

Important: The act of perfect contrition includes the desire for the
sacrament of Penance (or Reconciliation) and the intention to receive
sacramental confession at the very first opportunity.

NOTE: One who is conscious of mortal sin may not receive the Holy Eucharist without prior sacramental confession.

 

[thessalonian]

The apostle Paul says he does not even judge himself though he knows of no sin against himself.  One cannot say "I have exercised perfect contrition therefore my sins are already forgiven". If one has committed a mortal sin and dies God will judge rightly.  We cannot.  Therefore one should not count on his contrition having been perfect and should confess at the earlies possible convenience in case it was not.

[LouisvilleFan]

Perfect contrition erases the mortal sins even before confession, on the condition that you go to confession as soon as possible. But this means that you have to go on the first occasion? What if, for example, you would like to wait some more days in order to confess to the priest you usually go to? Or that the Mass is said at un inconvenient hour and it would be difficult for you to attend? Or that you just want to take some more time to prepare….Thanks for clarifying this for me!

 

Exercise your best judgement, and more importantly, ask the priest you go to regularly for advice next time you have a chance to talk with him. There is something to be said for proper preparation, and you don't want to become scrupulous about seeking the sacraments. I think if you sincerely intend to confess within the next week, and you pray for the resolve to avoid sin and the grace to have perfect contrition, then you're certainly keeping your heart open to Christ and shouldn't be concerned about being in the state of mortal sin.

 

On the other hand, if you were more lax about it and chose to wait several months until the next parish penance service or whatever, then it looks more like you're closing your heart to Christ and allowing your many venial sins to culminate into mortal sin.

 

These are just examples that hopefully relate to practical experience... in the end, only God can judge, and for that reason we should confess sooner than later.