I am a Catholic. Do I have to go to confession at a church to be forgiven for my sins or can I pray to God?

Question

Also, what sins are considered the "mortal" sins that I must be fogiven of and what are the "venial" sins?

Answer 1

+ Reconciliation +

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

Oral confessing of sins is recommended over and over in both the Old and New Testaments:
+ James 5:16
+ Acts 19:18
+ Matthew 3:5-6
+ Mark 1:5
+ 1 Timothy 6:12
+ 1 John 1:9
+ Numbers 5:6-7
+ Nehemiah 9:2
+ Sirach 4:26

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name of Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1422 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

+ Mortal and Venial Sin +

Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God.

A mortal sin is a grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will.

Most of the sins we commit are venial sins. Venial sin is a sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it. Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent.

However consistent unrepentant venial sins can slowly destroy your relationship with God and become mortal sin.

People die all the time with venial sins on their conscience and they will go to heaven.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1854 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt1art8.htm#1854

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Mortal and venial sins are an invention of the church in Rome. You won't find any such classifications in the Bible. You will find these verses that pertain to your question about confession though.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Answer 3

I'm raised in a Catholic household and I find it sad how people actually believe that unless a priest says you're forgiven you're always going to have that sin. Honestly, I strongly believe that the only way to have your sins forgiven is by God and so I pray to God instead to forgive my sins. After all, isn't God the ultimate one who decides whether or not you are truly forgiven? Also, things like missing mass on Sunday are considered mortal sins, while lesser sins are considered venial sins. Classificans of sins were created by Roman Catholics and no where else will you find a list that classifies sins. A sin is a sin. The whole confession thing is one reason why I no longer consider myself a true Catholic.

Answer 4

Sin is sin. No offense to Catholics. But I feel they are mislead.
There is no "Mortal sin and venial sin" it's all the same in Gods eyes. Also you cant just go around sinning, then ask God for forgiveness, then go back out and do it again. If thats the case you werent REALLY sorry. You were just getting rid of your guilt until next confession. You dont need to go to confession. Just admit publicly, to a christian friend that you are a sinner and pray to God for the forgiveness.

Answer 5

Confession is good for the soul. Some churches offer open, one to one sessions with a priest to discuss your spiritual wellness. It kind of like "Confession Therapy." I believe in order to receive the Holy Sacrament you must confess all mortal sins. Venial sins can be forgiven with prayer.

Answer 6

For venial sins, one can asked God for forgiveness and when the opportunity available, that person still have to go to a priest for confession! If it is a mortal sin, that person if possible have to go for a confession immediately!

Answer 7

You CAN pray to God and just ask for sincere forgiveness, although the church recommends actually attending confession. I tend to just pray to God.
Mortal sins are more serious ones such as murder, rape, ect. and venial sins are lesser offensive ones such as lying.
Breaking any of the ten commandments is considered a mortal sin.

Answer 8

Jesus is the bridge between us & God. the only way to the Father is thru the Son. You don't have to go to a priest to have your sins forgiven...you ask Jesus, who died for those sins, to forgive you from them. I have never heard of "mortal" or "venial" sins. All sins are equal and all require forgiveness in order to gain entrance into heaven. pretty cool huh?

Answer 9

I use to be Catholic. You can pray to God yourself and ask for forgiveness. Here is a tip, NO ONE on earth today is abel to forgive your sins for God. We can forgive one another, but only God forgives us for eternity. Jesus died for us so that we COULD come for forgiveness. Why go through someone else when you can go directly to God himself? Forgiveness is granted to those who are really sorry from there hearts. Saying 5 hail Marys will not gain you forgiveness at all.

A sin is a sin, they are all equally sin. The only sin that is not forgiven is that of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Read the Bible for YOURSELF!!!! Do not listen to what any one tells you, look for yourself! Are mortal or venial sins mentioned in the Bible, no, they are not.

One of many reasons I left the Catholic faith. I am simply a non denominational Christian who loves God.

Answer 10

you can pray to god and ask for forgiveness but you should probably also go to confession too b/c that is what the catholic faith believes...mortal sins are when u commit a sin when you know you are doing it...all sins r bad though so go to confession at your church