MORTAL SIN DO NOT EXPIRE
A man confessed to Padre Pio, and the saint told him he had a sin that he had forgotten. Using his gift, Padre Pio helped the man recall the sin. Embarrassed, the man confessed it. Padre Pio revealed that the man had been carrying this sin since 1941, and the place where the sin was committed is now black burned.
This shocking story is a powerful warning to every Catholic: mortal sins do not disappear with time. They do not fade with old age, nor are they erased by vague feelings of sorrow or decades of good deeds. Unless a mortal sin is properly confessed, by kind and number, with true contrition and firm purpose of amendment—it remains on the soul. And if a person dies in such a state, he is damned for all eternity.
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked"
St. Paul reminds us, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap" (Galatians 6:7, Douay-Rheims).
Many Catholics, even pious ones, fall into the dangerous trap of thinking they are "good enough" or that past sins are "probably forgiven" because time has passed. But divine justice is not based on feelings, forgetfulness, or wishful thinking.
Unconfessed and Hidden Sins Lead to Hell
Scripture warns repeatedly of the eternal consequences of hidden sin:
"He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
"Nothing defiled shall enter into it [Heaven]: nor whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie." (Apocalypse 21:27)
Even the smallest unconfessed mortal sin bars a soul from entering Heaven.
St. John Chrysostom said:
"Enter into yourself, and examine your conscience. Bring all your sins before your eyes; look at them well. If you do not confess them to God, God will uncover them in the presence of the whole universe."
And St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church, warned:
"If you hide a mortal sin in confession, you commit a sacrilege, and your soul remains in mortal sin. You will receive no grace, only a heavier punishment."
Confession Requires Preparation and Sincerity
To make a good confession, Catholics must prepare thoroughly, especially if they have not made a complete life confession. One must examine the conscience not only for recent sins but also for forgotten sins from the past—even from their very first confession.
Take time—a day or even two—to prayerfully reflect on your life, using examinations of conscience based on the Ten Commandments, the seven deadly sins, and your particular state in life.
Why confess by number?
Because the Church teaches clearly: "All mortal sins must be confessed in kind and number after a diligent examination of conscience." (Council of Trent, Session 14, Canon 7)
This is not scrupulosity. This is Catholic doctrine. God wants honesty and humility, not generalizations or excuses.
A Practical Guide for a Complete Confession
1. Pray for light – Ask the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary to reveal all your sins, especially forgotten ones.
2. Use a traditional examination of conscience – Based on the Ten Commandments and state of life.
3. Make a list – Yes, write down your sins. This is not forbidden; it helps clarity and honesty.
4. Confess mortal sins by kind and number – For example, say, "I missed Sunday Mass deliberately 5 times" or "I committed impure acts 3 times."
5. Be honest, specific, and humble – Do not hide anything out of shame. That shame is a grace to purify your soul.
6. Make amends – If you forgot sins from the past in good faith, mention them in your next confession as soon as you remember.
7. Confess regularly – Even monthly. Do not wait for mortal sin to strike. Frequent confession is a spiritual weapon.
The Eternal Consequence of One Unconfessed Sin
The story of Padre Pio and the man with the hidden sin since 1941 should terrify and awaken all of us. If he had died without being reminded by Padre Pio, his soul would have been lost for eternity—over one mortal sin.
Hell is real. And many go there for one forgotten, neglected, or deliberately hidden mortal sin.
Our Lord said:
"But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)
If every word must be accounted for, how much more every mortal sin?
The Mercy of God in the Confessional
Do not delay. God's mercy is waiting for you in the confessional. But it must be received on His terms, not ours.
St. Augustine wrote:
"He who confesses his sins freely receives pardon, but he who hides them shall not prosper."
God will forgive everything—but only if you are honest, prepared, and truly sorry.
Final Plea to the Soul Reading This
Spend time. Examine deeply. Be specific. Confess completely.
Whether you are 18 or 80, go back to your first confession in memory. What sins did you forget? What sins did you not know were mortal at the time but now understand? Write them down. Go to a holy priest. Cleanse your soul. Don't wait.
As Our Lord said:
"Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:13)
A Prayer Before Confession
Sign of the Cross
O Most Sorrowful Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,
I beg thee to obtain for me the grace to make a sincere and complete confession.
Help me remember all my sins, especially those I have forgotten or neglected for years.
Pierce my heart with holy sorrow, and let not one mortal sin remain hidden in darkness.
Lead me to the confessional with humility, courage, and love for Jesus,
so that my soul may be cleansed and I may be spared from eternal damnation.
Amen.
Another version:
Prayer Before Confession
O Most Sorrowful Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,
I beg thee to obtain for me the grace to make a sincere and complete confession.
Help me remember all my sins, especially those I have forgotten or neglected for years.
Pierce my heart with holy sorrow, and let not one mortal sin remain hidden in darkness.
Lead me to the confessional with humility, courage, and love for Jesus,
so that my soul may be cleansed and I may be spared from eternal damnation.
Amen.
