Is the regretting a part of confessing?

Question

Because after commiting a fault I feel of regretting over it and I ask whether it is forgiven without conducting a process of confessing; and what balance will be when a sense of regretting is stronger than confessing.

Answer 1

I believe it is, because as soon as you begin to realise the error in your ways will you ever be able to admit and be ashamed of what you have done, and hopefully you will be forgiven because many believe that if you bury this feeling of regret deep within your mind and soul that it will go away, but in the end it will come back to bite you. Therfore realising your error is the first of three steps to recovery:
1.realise
2.admit
3.accept

Answer 2

Confession is a consequence of regret, depending on the need of the situation, and also the judgement of the person feeling the regret.
Confession may not be needed if the person is strong enough, and can undo or repair the act that caused regret.
Also, we can 'confess' a beautiful, lovable act of ours, when we find that the other person is making a vain attempt to find that 'hidden' friend who did that noble act. No regret involved !
One more example of confession... (there was a joke)... somebody was about to drown in turbulent waters, many onlookers were helplessly watching on the shore, knowing the risk involved, though they knew to swim. Suddenly somebody is seen leaping into water , and the drowning person is saved. Amidst cheering the 'courage', the leaping person Yells " That's OK, but first tell me , who pushed me into the waters?" ...
In the above joke, even without a regret, the person who accidentally happened to push the other can confess !
Emotions do not necessarily warrant manifestation. And the manifest form need not conform to a set pattern. That is the message. It would not be out of place, to mention that 'closed-door' confessions are suggested, to strengthen the resolve to evolve into a better person out of inclination for feeling a regret, which substantiates that confession (open one) is not warranted as a default pre-requisite.

Answer 3

Hmmm...confessing usually brings with it, some sort of "condemnation" or "rejection" from either society or the person you've offended.

Regret is internal....confession is external....and with the payment confession brings...it seems to me that confession is a tad bit more expensive when others are angry at you, than just feeling "wrong" by yourself.

Answer 4

Different .1. regret is feeling SORRY.2. Confess is admittng & acceptig punishment

Answer 5

Your wording makes the question unclear, but I'll try my best. I think you are asking the following: When I commit a fault/sin, I regret having committed it. In order to obtain forgiveness, is it necessary to confess my fault/sin or do I merely have to regret it very strongly?

I'm not sure what context your question involves. There are three possibilities: 1) You harm/fail in some way that involves others and you feel you ought to confess your failing to them (e.g. you break a friend's lamp). 2) You commit a fault which does not involve anyone in particular and therefore confessing it to a friend would merely be a means of unburdening your conscience. 3) You are asking about the Roman Catholic sacrament of confession, in which contrition for one's sins is a necessary part.

For situation one, if you "commit a fault" against someone else, and you seek their forgiveness, you must confess to them in order to receive their forgiveness. Merely feeling regret does suffice, since this is your action, whereas if the other person forgives you, this is their action, wholly independent of you. Their forgiveness may depend on whether you regret what you have done, and to this extent, contrition, regret, or whatever you want to call it would be necessary. Merely feeling bad does not provide forgiveness in this case.

In the second case, when you have not harmed anyone else (e.g. you have broken your resolution not to eat ice cream), you do not need, necessarily, to confess to a friend. You made the resolution to yourself and therefore I do not see any need to seek forgiveness from others (unless you consider case three below). You ought to forgive yourself, i.e. you oughtn't to continually dwell on your failing and beat yourself up.

The third case concerns the sacrament of confession. THe following answer is the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, so it may not be what you want. When you commit a sin, either venal or mortal, you cannot obtain forgiveness and absolution unless you make an act of contrition and confessing your sins.

If you commit a venial sin, you may either go to confession, receive a general absolution (say at vespers or at mass before communion), or perform acts of charity since "charity covers a multitude of sins" (praying a devout Our Father removes venial sin according to St. Augustine; the sacramentals of the church, such as crossing yourself with holy water devoutly also does the trick). In these cases you must do more than merely feel sorry, you must profess this sorrow to God and perform some act by which you make reparation for you failing.

If you commit a mortal sin, you must confess the sin in order to obtain absolution. However in order to make a good (and therefore valid) confession, you must have either attrition or contrition (i.e. true sorrow for you sins based either on the fear of hell--attrition, or imperfect contrition--or true sorrow because you have offended God--contrition). There are exceptions. If you make an act of perfect contrition after committing a mortal sin and then die before you are able to confess you sin, you're sin(s) will be forgiven. However, true contrition includes the intention to confess your sins as soon as possible.

So if you are inquiring about the sacrament of confession, then merely regretting your fault/sin isn't enough. You must also intend to confess it and make reparation (i.e. do penance). If you are merely asking about the forgiveness of others, the answer is only the other person can forgive you.

Answer 6

Regret which. You're having a trust versus mistrust episode but you can not admit there is danger. Who can you really trust and why.

God is not deaf stupid.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.

Answer 7

whaa? i'll answer what i think u asked...?

you should regret your wrongs and REPENT that's the thing. Jesus already died for us though and He forgave us so no need to worry about that, but it's good to go to Him and ask for forgiveness because it's the mindset that matters.