Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/25/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

Recently I made a general confession, and my question concerns this.  I spent about a week and a half preparing for this, and made my confession to one of the two priests I trusted to be the most learned and orthodox.  At the first confession, we ran out of time and had to stop the confession before I completed it, because he had to prepare for Mass.  So I quickly confessed my most recent mortal sins aside from my general confession, and he granted me absolution for everything I confessed, and what was yet to be confessed, and then I ate the Eucharist after this.  I then finished my confession today after returning from a trip, and he again gave me absolution for these sins and my most recent sins since the last confession.  He tried to stop me when I tried to confess sins I had forgotten in my last confession, because he wanted to me to begin a new book with God, and to stop looking into the filth of my past, but I still confessed one or two sins I saw I had written, but was not able to confess them all (there was about 2 more, I think).

Now I have a number of questions: 1) Was it valid for him to do this, to split the confession into two confessions?  (I suffer somewhat from scruples, and want to be absolutely certain I have been validly absolved so as to let these scruples die off).  He specialized in Canon Law, and I do trust him as well as God's Mercy -- as in, I doubt He would allow me to go through all of this and then allow it to end up an invalid confession.  But I just seek absolute certainty!  

2) At both confessions, the priest did not have me say an act of contrition.  Is this okay?  (I had said one before both confessions before meeting him where I confessed).  I know the catechism of Trent has said that the matter is the penitents contrition, confession and satisfaction; and that the form is the words 'I absolve you'.

3)  In the formula of absolution, the priest always inserts the Holy Name Jesus here: '... through the death and the resurrection of Jesus His Son', which is not in the catechism nor do other priests do this.  Know that the form of the sacrament is the words 'I absolve you', I doubt this hinders the absolution (some priests have simply said 'I absolve you' rather than say the longer form) but, again, I seek total certainty!

4)  For satisfaction, I was given the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  When I came home, I first read for a bit, then did some research in an attempt to be absolutely sure about my confession, and then I prayed the Rosary.  During my penance although, I as interrupted 4 times and had to stop praying.  Does this affect my penance?  Also, I must return stolen goods, and some of these I will not be able to return for some time (when I have the money to do so basically).  Does this hinder my being forgiven? -- as in, am I still forgiven although I cannot as of yet make complete reparation?

5) Although I tried to finish confessing all of my mortal sins I had forgotten since my last confession but was hindered from confessing about 2, can I confess these next time I go to confession, and finally rest knowing I have been forgiven?  Or did his stopping me (which I think was done out of charity or worry about my state of soul) hinder absolution?

I truly hope I am not doubting God's mercy with all of these questions!  I do trust Him, and believe I have been cleansed through the Sacrament, but I just wanted to be absolutely sure these things on my mind are not a big deal.  

Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi, Michael:

I will try to answer your questions as best I can.  My only comment on some of the general atmosphere you describe regarding the confessions sounds unfortunate to me... While I can understand the time factor in the first confession, I don't understand why the Priest would discourage you from stating all the sins you desired to list in the second confession when there seemed to be plenty more time.  But certainly don't doubt God's mercy, and know that on your part you have done the best you possibly could with some of your freedom hindered in particular circumstances.  Now to the 5 points:

1. I really cannot definitively comment on the validity or invalidity of any particular confession since there are numerous factors that interplay in ways that make it difficult to pin down.  Certainly one needs to be given the freedom and opportunity to confess any all all sins he planned to confess in any particular celebration of the Sacrament.  This is something distinct from a situation where somebody is taking a lot of time to talk at great length about other people, relationships, and situations of other people with the expectation that the Priest would or even could know all about another person's interior thoughts and motives and give any kind of direct answer to the one confessing.  The Priest does not ordinarily have special insight into the interior dispositions of people in the sense of mind or soul reading.  In such cases, a Priest would certainly have every reason to ask the penitent to limit his time talking about his own particular, personal sins.
2. Not having the penitent say the Act of Contrition in the confessional does not invalidate the confession; however, the penitent still needs to express his contrition in some manner, whether in the confessional itself, or at some other time and place.
3. You are correct: The essential words are "I absolve you from your sins."  Really Priests should just say the entire formula as given by the Church; but at the very least, Priests do need to say the essentail words quoted above.  For example, I myself as Priest have used the form of absolution from the older "extraordinary form," as this is permitted; but when using that alternate formula, I use it in its entirety in an integral manner.
4. Interruption of prayer happens: Don't let that fact disturb you.  You ultimately ended up finishing all your prayers, right?  So you DID it, ok?
Forgiveness is not contingent upon the completion of the satisfaction, it is dependant upon the interior disposition to do penance and the resolve to make satisfaction as part of the process of full conversion.  You are on the right track... Just make your satisfaction when you are able.
5. If you were hindered, then your freedom was removed in this case.  You did the best you could in the circumstances of that time and place.  Next time you go to confession, just confess those 2 sins that concern you without explaining the past circumstances to the Confessor of the previous confession.  I am so sorry: I just don't understand why some Priests are so quick not to allow the penitent the freedom and time to confess in an intergral manner, even if out of some (misguided) sense of "compassion" or something.

God bless you: And do not be afraid.  God wishes, wills, and desires to forgive you of every single sin on your soul - He does not hold back His love and healing power.  Don't grovel in this situation or let it get you down.  It may perhaps be best for your next confession just to go to another Priest... You have every freedom and right to do so.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for such a quick reply.  

I plan to ask another priest about this as well, but have you ever heard of one's confession being split into two confessions?  Does this in any way whatsoever hinder validity?  I just want to be absolutely certain, and to, as I said, let my scruples die off and the constant worry over my confessions validity as well.  But if I must (for the third time) make this general confession to be truly forgiven, I will.--Actually I think I will, because I just hate this uncertainty, and find it hard to do my work with this general confession constantly on my mind, as well as it being psychologically tiring.

God bless.

Answer
Hi, again, Michael:

I can tell by your concerns that the only way you will be able to resolve this scruple within yourself is to just go ahead and make a general confession in a time, place, and circumstance that you will be able to carry it out fully.  It never hurts to be just 100% certain, does it?  It is obvious that you want to avail yourself of the fullest possible healing graces of this wonderful Sacrament; and there's nothing wrong with that.  I wish you every best success, and the fullest outpouring possible of God's magnificent Graces!
May God bless you richly...

Fr. Timothy Johnson