Validity of my confessions

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Mar 18 2006, 07:35 PM']I still listened to the music after absolution does this make the confession invalid?
[right][snapback]914788[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
No, it means you have something else to confess.

[uruviel]

well, I would say that, you wouldn't be making a commitment not to sin again if you kept these sinful things. Stolen things. You must not only have true contrition for your sins, but make a firm commitment not to commit them again, and if it is difficult, ask God to help you over come the temptation. Because if you had sincere sorrow for your sins and love for Christ you would firmly delete the items, and Not again steal music. Thats my opninion. But it is not my judgement to make

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='notardillacid' date='Mar 17 2006, 09:52 AM']anyhoo thats my .02
[right][snapback]913864[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Are you sure? Or could it be the stolen 2 cents?

[prose]

I confessed downloading music online on more than one occasion, and two separate and conservative priests told me that it was not a sin.

[Dave]

Sam, I hate to tell you, but even if downloading music wasn't an issue here, your past confessions might still be invalid in that you've displayed an obstinate refusal to submit to the Holy Father regarding the Tridentine Mass and to acknowledge the Novus Ordo Mass as intrinsically good and pleasing to God (despite any abuses that priests might commit), as well as cooperating in the sin of schism by praising or condoning what Archbishop Lefebvre and his cronies did. All of those are objectively mortal sins, but I can't help but suspect that you didn't confess them or, if you did confess them, weren't properly repentant of them, which seems pretty evident considering that you've been spouting the same errors time and time again regardless of how much people have corrected you.

[Amator Veritatis]

If a person either fails to have a firm purpose of amendment or does not intend to make restitution prior to the Confession, he makes a bad Confession, which is invalid. For a valid Confession, five things are necessary. Firstly, the penitent must know his sins (Examination of Conscience). Secondly, he must have true contrition for them. Thirdly, he must have a firm purpose of amendment. Fourthly, he must confess his sins and receive absolution. Fifthly, he must amend his life. To amend one's life includes avoiding, at least, near and voluntary occasions of sin as well as making restitution for wrongdoing. If the penitent never intended to make restitution or never intended to avoid the near and voluntary occasions of sin, it would be a mortal sin of Presumption in addition to the rest. The safest route, and only moral route, is to make a General Confession. It is a matter of moral theology that the safest route be taken regarding salvation and the Sacraments. Because this is a matter of the salvation of your soul, you would be required to take the safest route. If you need more information on a General Confession, buy the pamphlet issued by TAN concerning the Sacrament of Confession. It is entitled [i]Confession: Its Fruitful Practice[/i]. Saint Alphonsus Liguori compiled a book, the translation of which was entitled [i]Mission Book[/i] in English, which was gave instructions for parish missions. I have a copy from the middle of the nineteenth century, but I am all but certain that this book is not being re-printed by anyone. In this book there is an extensive section on Confession and specifically on General Confession. It includes a wonderful Examination of Conscience for a General Confession. Please contact me if you would like further details.

N.B., the pamphlet on Confession I mentioned earlier can be purchased online at the following link: [url="http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/558/keywords/general,confession/"]http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/sho...ral,confession/[/url]

Edited March 28, 2006 by Amator Veritatis

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='Amator Veritatis' date='Mar 28 2006, 01:25 PM']If a person either fails to have a firm purpose of amendment or does not intend to make restitution prior to the Confession, he makes a bad Confession, which is invalid. For a valid Confession, five things are necessary. Firstly, the penitent must know his sins (Examination of Conscience). Secondly, he must have true contrition for them. Thirdly, he must have a firm purpose of amendment. Fourthly, he must confess his sins and receive absolution. Fifthly, he must amend his life. To amend one's life includes avoiding, at least, near and voluntary occasions of sin as well as making restitution for wrongdoing. If  the penitent never intended to make restitution or never intended to avoid the near and voluntary occasions of sin, it would be a mortal sin of Presumption in addition to the rest. The safest route, and only moral route, is to make a General Confession. It is a matter of moral theology that the safest route be taken regarding salvation and the Sacraments. Because this is a matter of the salvation of your soul, you would be required to take the safest route. If you need more information on a General Confession, buy the pamphlet issued by TAN concerning the Sacrament of Confession. It is entitled [i]Confession: Its Fruitful Practice[/i]. Saint Alphonsus Liguori compiled a book, the translation of which was entitled [i]Mission Book[/i] in English, which was gave instructions for parish missions. I have a copy from the middle of the nineteenth century, but I am all but certain that this book is not being re-printed by anyone. In this book there is an extensive section on Confession and specifically on General Confession. It includes a wonderful Examination of Conscience for a General Confession. Please contact me if you would like further details.

N.B., the pamphlet on Confession I mentioned earlier can be purchased online at the following link: [url="http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/558/keywords/general,confession/"]http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/sho...ral,confession/[/url]
[right][snapback]925293[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i think all of my confessions were invalid, becuause of restution.

[Theologian in Training]

The easiest way to settle this is to ask yourself one question: why did you go to confession in the first place? It does not sound like you were forced and it does not sound like you had any ill intentions. However, I would say if your conscience bothered you while you were in confession and deliberately withheld that confession, then there is something, otherwise, I cannot see how your confessions would be invalid, in this case.

God Bless

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Mar 28 2006, 07:15 PM']The easiest way to settle this is to ask yourself one question: why did you go to confession in the first place? It does not sound like you were forced and it does not sound like you had any ill intentions. However, I would say if your conscience bothered you while you were in confession and deliberately withheld that confession, then there is something, otherwise, I cannot see how your confessions would be invalid, in this case.

God Bless
[right][snapback]925890[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]


what does it mean to make restitution?

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Mar 28 2006, 08:17 PM']what does it mean to make restitution?
[right][snapback]925893[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Good ole dictionary.com: The act of restoring to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, lost, or surrendered. See Synonyms at reparation.
The act of making good or compensating for loss, damage, or injury; indemnification.
A return to or restoration of a previous state or position.

An example of this is the fact that I fix/work on computers for people for free, knowing full well I could make money on the deal. Granted, I do it because I don't need the money, but also I do it because I used to be very big into piracy and hacking. So, because I cannot pay back the "debts" that I owe physically, to all the artists, companies, etc., though I deleted it all, I pay it back or make resititution for those wrongs I have done in the past...

Hope that helps

Edited March 29, 2006 by Theologian in Training

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

ok. i never really stole anything that was "of worth" to anyone making it a mortal sin, so i think im ok.

[Amator Veritatis]

If they were invalid, the only recourse is a General Confession. In that Confession you would confess all the sins of your life (or at least back to the point where you made your last good Confession; practically speaking, if you have never made a good General Confession, you should confess the sins of your whole life). In the list of sins, you would mention that you have had possibly invalid Confessions, listing the reasons, the number of Confessions and circumstances. In addition, all mortal sins of one's entire life would need to be confessed including their number. This would assure the penitent of forgiveness, and the matters of doubt would be erased. The TAN pamphlet explains these things and others.

[Amator Veritatis]

I simply have two points. Firstly, how can you be certain that such songs were not of worth. They were at least worth the value at which they were being sold in stores as CDs, &c. Secondly, the situation you have described is, at very best, doubtful concerning whether you have committed a mortal sin and whether your Confessions were valid. Because of this, you have a moral obligation to take the safest route, for it is a matter pertaining to salvation. These points are made clearly by moral theologians. If necessary, I can post the writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori. He, of course, is not merely a moral theologian but a Doctor of the Church. By the way, I see no good in attempting to persuade a person that he has not committed a mortal sin or that he need not worry regarding the validity of his Confessions, especially when such Confessions are by no means certainly valid. The safest route must be taken when dealing with the salvation of one's soul.

[prose]

What an eloquent answer!

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

[quote name='Amator Veritatis' date='Mar 28 2006, 07:43 PM']I simply have two points. Firstly, how can you be certain that such songs were not of worth. They were at least worth the value at which they were being sold in stores as CDs, &c. Secondly, the situation you have described is, at very best, doubtful concerning whether you have committed a mortal sin and whether your Confessions were valid. Because of this, you have a moral obligation to take the safest route, for it is a matter pertaining to salvation. These points are made clearly by moral theologians. If necessary, I can post the writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori. He, of course, is not merely a moral theologian but a Doctor of the Church. By the way, I see no good in attempting to persuade a person that he has not committed a mortal sin or that he need not worry regarding the validity of his Confessions, especially when such Confessions are by no means certainly valid. The safest route must be taken when dealing with the salvation of one's soul.
[right][snapback]925933[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]


are you saying i should make a general confession?

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

bump for Adam.

[Amator Veritatis]

Yes, that is precisely what I am saying. In such a situation, a person has a moral obligation to make a General Confession of the sins of his entire life or to make a General Confession at least far enough back to the point at which his bad Confessions began (generally far enough back to the last General Confession made before the bad Confessions).

[jasJis]

[quote name='Amator Veritatis' date='Mar 28 2006, 12:25 PM']If a person either fails to have a firm purpose of amendment or does not intend to make restitution prior to the Confession, he makes a bad Confession, which is invalid. For a valid Confession, five things are necessary. Firstly, the penitent must know his sins (Examination of Conscience). Secondly, he must have true contrition for them. Thirdly, he must have a firm purpose of amendment. Fourthly, he must confess his sins and receive absolution. Fifthly, he must amend his life. To amend one's life includes avoiding, at least, near and voluntary occasions of sin as well as making restitution for wrongdoing. If  the penitent never intended to make restitution or never intended to avoid the near and voluntary occasions of sin, it would be a mortal sin of Presumption in addition to the rest. The safest route, and only moral route, is to make a General Confession. It is a matter of moral theology that the safest route be taken regarding salvation and the Sacraments. Because this is a matter of the salvation of your soul, you would be required to take the safest route. If you need more information on a General Confession, buy the pamphlet issued by TAN concerning the Sacrament of Confession. It is entitled [i]Confession: Its Fruitful Practice[/i]. Saint Alphonsus Liguori compiled a book, the translation of which was entitled [i]Mission Book[/i] in English, which was gave instructions for parish missions. I have a copy from the middle of the nineteenth century, but I am all but certain that this book is not being re-printed by anyone. In this book there is an extensive section on Confession and specifically on General Confession. It includes a wonderful Examination of Conscience for a General Confession. Please contact me if you would like further details.

N.B., the pamphlet on Confession I mentioned earlier can be purchased online at the following link: [url="http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/558/keywords/general,confession/"]http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/sho...ral,confession/[/url]
[right][snapback]925293[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]Sounds like the legal rules to a magic trick.
Did you kneel or sit in a chair? At what points and how often did you make the sign of the cross? What were the exact words of your act of contrition? Not sure? Got doubts? Buy a TAN booklet, read up and study, and go back to confession and try to get it right this time because the next thing you gotta buy won't be a booklet, it'll be a series of tapes for a small monthly fee of $9.99, with a new tape shipped every 7 weeks.

[Aloysius]

What the heck types of magic tricks do you know?

[Paladin]

[quote name='jasJis' date='Mar 31 2006, 01:30 PM']Sounds like the legal rules to a magic trick.
Did you kneel or sit in a chair?  At what points and how often did you make the sign of the cross?  What were the exact words of your act of contrition?  Not sure?  Got doubts?  Buy a TAN booklet, read up and study, and go back to confession and try to get it right this time because the next thing you gotta buy won't be a booklet, it'll be a series of tapes for a small monthly fee of $9.99, with a new tape shipped every 7 weeks.
[right][snapback]929830[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Ain't that complicated. When you confess, you gotta mean it, you gotta do the penance, and a priest hasta do it. Amator Veritatas just likes to use fancy canon law words. Nothing wrong with that.