“Ask a Priest: Must We Tell Everything in Confession?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: Do we have to say everything in a confession? Thank you. – Adelaide

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: It depends on what you mean by “everything.”

At the very least, we need to tell all our mortal sins and the number of times we committed them.

We also need to give enough detail to let the confessor know the nature of the sins, since that can indicate the gravity of the offense.

To steal $5 from your mom’s purse is one thing; to steal $5 from the poor box at church adds the sin of sacrilege. The former could be a venial sin, the latter a mortal sin.

And as for venial sins, the Catechism in No. 1458 says: “Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit.”

We don’t need to spell out every detail of every venial sin (“I was uncharitable to Bertha, my second cousin twice removed, who was visiting from Ashtabula, Ohio, at Thanksgiving”).

But again, we should give details if vagueness would cover up the seriousness of a sin.

For instance, if we commit perjury in court and our testimony sends an innocent man to prison, we shouldn’t just confess, “I lied.”

Or if we steal our neighbor’s $70,000 SUV, we shouldn’t just say, “I took something that didn’t belong to me.”

The point is that we need to be more specific if there is an element that adds to the gravity of a sin.

In any case, remember that it’s Jesus to whom we confess. And there is no hiding anything from him.

 

Have a question?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time.

Ask A Catholic Priest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use.  You can ask about anything: liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events. Our goal is to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

Need an answer?

Be in the know

Sign up to receive the latest questions and answers by email biweekly.

Have a Question about the Faith? Get the answer here!

Scroll to Top

Ask a Priest a Question

Please note:

Questions regarding details of abuse of minors or vulnerable adults (including pornography) could be the subject of a mandated report to civil authorities. Mandated reporters are persons identified by law who have an obligation to report suspected child abuse and neglect. 

Sign Up to Receive Ask A Priest

* indicates required

Looking for another country?

RC Near You

News & Resources

News & Resources

The Regnum Christi Mission

The Regnum Christi Identity

Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!