Author Topic: general confession question (Read 1286 times)

songbird · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:36:03 PM »

What is the definition of a General Confession? Some new order have a group all stand and go through whatever. This is not confession at all! I am 59 and we only had confession, I don't recall others names given to it. So, I wonder by your jargon if you are indult/new order. songbird

wisconsheepgirl · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:57:12 PM »

I had a general confession one time by a priest and it is to be reserved for times of emergency. It is pretty much going through the Ten Commandments for lack of better description and the way asked is a bit better than "Have you had any other idols before God?" but you get the drift.

A general confession is absolutely legitimate--again from what I understood/understand in times of emergency. And we had one with this incident in question if you fear your life is in danger or if you have not had a confession in so long that you can not remember your sins its a way to gather up all that can be forgiven in one fell swoop.

I'm not sure why songbird seems to be so against it. Just because songbird has never 'heard' of general confession 'in his/her day' doesn't mean it didn't exist; that's ludicrous. I never heard of a certain philosophical thought until today--but because I never did before now means it didn't exist, right? Of course not.

It is better to err on side of caution for your soul than have eternal regret. If someone is so scrupulous that they forego a possible option to have a general confession because they do not believe that priest is valid in a dire time of need--what do you say to God when He asks you "I gave you a priest when you needed it but you rejected him, and thus Me?" Frankly sometimes common sense is not so common, heh? Indeed we may have had confessions from invalid priests. However I can not at anytime believe that God would hold that against me--I do see how Satan can use that against a person if they suffer from a severe case of scrupulosity by creating doubt that previous confessions weren't 'good'. And create a sense of anxiety instead of the peace, relief and thankfulness after receiving the sacrament of Confession.

LordPhan · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2011, 09:03:47 PM »

Quote from: songbird

What is the definition of a General Confession? Some new order have a group all stand and go through whatever. This is not confession at all! I am 59 and we only had confession, I don't recall others names given to it. So, I wonder by your jargon if you are indult/new order. songbird

A General Confession is a confession for your whole life.

You're thinking of a General Absolution, which is only valid in the most extreme circuмstances, IE: You're on a plane the plane is crashing the Priest stands up and tells everyone to do an act of contrition and he starts saying absolution for everyone, if this plane lands you all still have to go to confession though!

MaterDominici · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2011, 10:05:35 PM »

For more info about general confession in a non-emergent situation, download this file and jump to 25 minutes. General confession is encouraged during Ignation retreats.