Sunday, May 25
Liturgical Color: White
Pope St. Gregory VII died on this day in
1085. As a cardinal, he helped institute
papal elections by cardinals alone. As
pope, he took additional steps to reform
the Church and end government
intrusion into Church affairs.
Day 161 - What sins must be confessed?
What sins must be confessed?
Under normal circumstances, all serious sins that one remembers after making a thorough examination of conscience and that have not yet been confessed can be forgiven only in individual sacramental confession.
Of course there will be reluctance before making a confession. Overcoming it is the first step toward interior healing. Often it helps to think that even the Pope has to have the courage to confess his failings and weaknesses to another priest - and thereby to God. Only in life-or-death emergencies (for instance, during an airstrike in wartime or on other occasions when a group of people are in danger of death) can a priest administer "general absolution" to a group of people without the personal confession of sins beforehand. However, afterwards, one must confess serious sins in a personal confession at the first opportunity. (YOUCAT question 233)
Dig Deeper: CCC section (1457) and other references here.