The validity of confession

[Wryetui]

God bless you, brothers and sisters! May the Lord have mercy on the victims of hurricane Irma, I know the US is going through a very rough time right now and my heart is with all the americans in this forum. I wanted to say this beforehand, because I feel like I don't have much to do from Europe to help the victims and it owuld have been insensitive to just pop in a question.

I wanted to ask you all a question. I have a question regarding the sacrament of confession. I confessed my sins the past wednesday, and, when saying the prayer of forgiveness, the priest said the normal prayer used in the romanian Church but added my name one more time even if the prayer provides that only one time the name must be said. I feel irregular about this, is there a possibility of my sins not being forgiven because of this? What do you think, as fellow orthodox christians member of the Church?

Thank you and God bless.

 

[~Anastasia~]

God bless you, brothers and sisters! May the Lord have mercy on the victims of hurricane Irma, I know the US is going through a very rough time right now and my heart is with all the americans in this forum. I wanted to say this beforehand, because I feel like I don't have much to do from Europe to help the victims and it owuld have been insensitive to just pop in a question.

I wanted to ask you all a question. I have a question regarding the sacrament of confession. I confessed my sins the past wednesday, and, when saying the prayer of forgiveness, the priest said the normal prayer used in the romanian Church but added my name one more time even if the prayer provides that only one time the name must be said. I feel irregular about this, is there a possibility of my sins not being forgiven because of this? What do you think, as fellow orthodox christians member of the Church?

Thank you and God bless.

God isn't looking for the priest to slip up by mispronouncing your name, forgetting a phrase from the prayers, or any other minor irregularity. (ETA "forgetting a phrase" was probably not the best example, as Matt said, if he DIDN'T absolve you, but I had in mind some minor phrase, not the actual absolution. I confess, I am LISTENING for and to those words when he prays them - if he skipped that whole part I would be concerned but I don't see how it could be an oversight. Just wanted to be a bit more clear.)

I know this is something that should be asked of a priest, probably, but if you were repentant, confessed as you remembered your sin, you are fine and forgiven.

Remember we also pray each day on our own to be forgiven, and God's forgiveness doesn't hinge on the exact words of our own prayers as if they are some magical incantation.

The words of liturgical prayers ARE important, because they instruct us. Knowing the prayers are correct means we are receiving correct instruction. But don't limit the grace of God in this small matter.

Now, I'm a nobody. Ask a priest. But I'm very sure that mentioning your name an extra time doesn't invalidate your Confession.

 

[Lucian Hodoboc]

God isn't looking for the priest to slip up by mispronouncing your name, forgetting a phrase from the prayers, or any other minor irregularity.

I know this is something that should be asked of a priest, probably, but if you were repentant, confessed as you remembered your sin, you are fine and forgiven.

Remember we also pray each day on our own to be forgiven, and God's forgiveness doesn't hinge on the exact words of our own prayers as if they are some magical incantation.

The words of liturgical prayers ARE important, because they instruct us. Knowing the prayers are correct means we are receiving correct instruction. But don't limit the grace of God in this small matter.

Now, I'm a nobody. Ask a priest. But I'm very sure that mentioning your name an extra time doesn't invalidate your Confession.

I dunno, man. I mean, we are talking about the God of strict rules who stroke Uzzah down because the guy was trying to stop the Ark of the Covenant from falling to the ground...

 

[SkyWriting]

the romanian Church but added my name one more time even if the prayer provides that only one time the name must be said.

He's a professional. I imagine he is well versed on procedure.

 

[ArmyMatt]

God bless you, brothers and sisters! May the Lord have mercy on the victims of hurricane Irma, I know the US is going through a very rough time right now and my heart is with all the americans in this forum. I wanted to say this beforehand, because I feel like I don't have much to do from Europe to help the victims and it owuld have been insensitive to just pop in a question.

I wanted to ask you all a question. I have a question regarding the sacrament of confession. I confessed my sins the past wednesday, and, when saying the prayer of forgiveness, the priest said the normal prayer used in the romanian Church but added my name one more time even if the prayer provides that only one time the name must be said. I feel irregular about this, is there a possibility of my sins not being forgiven because of this? What do you think, as fellow orthodox christians member of the Church?

Thank you and God bless.

the only way would be if he didn't absolve you. whether or not he said your name more than once makes no difference.

I would not fret at all

 

[All4Christ]

God's Grace isn't dependent on the ability, knowledge or even spiritual state of the priest. If someone truly follows God and follows what He teaches us to do, we are not prevented from Grace, should the priest not be right with God. A mistake in the wording doesn't change your intent of going to confession. As we confess to God, with the priest being a witness, God still can and will forgive even if the priest messes up the wording of the prayers.

Behold, my child, Christ stands here invisibly receiving your confession. Do not be ashamed and do not fear, and do not withhold anything from me; but without doubt tell all you have done and receive forgiveness from the Lord Jesus Christ. Lo, His holy image is before us, and I am only a witness, bearing testimony before Him of all things which you say to me. But if you conceal anything from me, you shall have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest having come to the physician, you depart unhealed.”

 

[Wryetui]

Thank you all for answering me. Now I feel really dumb because of this question I posited haha Your answers were really good. God bless!

 

[All4Christ]

Thank you all for answering me. Now I feel really dumb because of this question I posited haha Your answers were really good. God bless!

It's a good question I didn't have the exact question, but I did have related questions when I was in my catechism. It's good to think about that and understand it more.

 

[Wryetui]

I have another question regarding this subject. Do you believe that because one has doubted or had questions about his confession or other sacraments, those sacraments are no longer effective?
I mean, I had doubts about confession and about whether or not the eucharist I received was effective or not, but does these doubts or questions that I had after receiving these sacraments, I mean after I confessed my sins and received forgiveness and after I received Holy Communion will make God retire the effects of the sacraments that He gave me, because I questioned them or doubted in a way? Am I no longer forgiven, is the Communion I received yesterday no longer effective because I questioned them in a way?

 

[ArmyMatt]

no, the sacraments are still effective, since it is God at work. it's okay to doubt, provided we are asking God to help us through it and still being faithful to what He has commanded us to do.

 

[gzt]

This is an extremely common and effective attack - to make us question the sacraments like this. This is precisely why God gives us the sacraments - in baptism we know that we have died and risen with Christ, in the eucharist we know that we are given the very body and blood of Jesus Christ who is God the Son, in confession we know that our sins are forgiven. Despite our little failings and doubts and sins, God has promised us that He is working this way.

 

[Wryetui]

So, once we have received a sacrament, nothing that we do can annul it? I mean, just because I have wondered or doubted that God forgave me at Confession and gave Himself to me at Communion doesn’t mean that He retracted what He gave me because of my doubts or questions?

 

[ArmyMatt]

So, once we have received a sacrament, nothing that we do can annul it? I mean, just because I have wondered or doubted that God forgave me at Confession and gave Himself to me at Communion doesn’t mean that He retracted what He gave me because of my doubts or questions?

nope, because you are communing with love. God is the one Who walks with you through your doubts and fears if you let Him.

 

[Wryetui]

Thank you all for all your answers! God bless.