Confessing ALL of one's sins

[KateKimmer]

I try to go to confession often…every 6 - 8 weeks or so…(not sure if that is considered “often” i guess)

anyway…does this thought ever enter anyone else’s mind…“did I confess all my sins properly”?

I do my best, I try to think of the number of times etc…
sometimes, I just wonder if I have confessed them properly.

 

[Bookcat]

One is to examine ones conscience well …but remember we are not “Spock”.

What is one obliged to confess? All ones mortal sins in number and kind (and a circumstance that changes it such as it was your* brother *you murdered or the Chalice from Church that you stole) if one should have any. And if one forgets one --well if it is remembered one is obliged to confess it in the next confession. But if one never remembers it --the fact that one intended to confess all mortal sins and were sorry and amended…such is indirectly absolved…so no worries. (Hiding a mortal sin one committed is a different story…like that you murdered your cousin)

But what your likely referring to is venial sins --which do no need per se to be confessed.

Venial sins are highly recommended to be confessed (at least some). But they can be forgiven in many ways. They do not have to be confessed. And they do not need to be confessed in numbers when they are confessed.

It can even be good even to zero in on particular venial sins…

Also be sorry for all your sins and add at the end “and all the sins of my life (or since your baptism) expecially for Y” (one can add a general kind your sorry for here…like “anger” or “impatience” etc)

It could be good to even go more often…say once a month or every other week or even every week.

Get yourself a good examine if you do not have one --they can help spur thought-- Catholic Answers has one in the shop section.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

 

[Bookcat]

Catechism:

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.61

IX. THE EFFECTS OF THIS SACRAMENT

1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship."73 Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation."74 Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.75

1469 This sacrament reconciles us with the Church. Sin damages or even breaks fraternal communion. The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores it. In this sense it does not simply heal the one restored to ecclesial communion, but has also a revitalizing effect on the life of the Church which suffered from the sin of one of her members.76 Re-established or strengthened in the communion of saints, the sinner is made stronger by the exchange of spiritual goods among all the living members of the Body of Christ, whether still on pilgrimage or already in the heavenly homeland:77

It must be recalled that . . . this reconciliation with God leads, as it were, to other reconciliations, which repair the other breaches caused by sin. The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his innermost truth. He is reconciled with his brethren whom he has in some way offended and wounded. He is reconciled with the Church. He is reconciled with all creation.78

1470 In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which he will be subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by grave sin.79 In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and "does not come into judgment."80

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

I try to go to confession often…every 6 - 8 weeks or so…(not sure if that is considered “often” i guess)

anyway…does this thought ever enter anyone else’s mind…“did I confess all my sins properly”?

I do my best, I try to think of the number of times etc…
sometimes, I just wonder if I have confessed them properly.

I then end, for caution, I say: “And I confess ALL and my past Forgotten sins”. Security of belt and suspenders.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

I try to go to confession often…every 6 - 8 weeks or so…(not sure if that is considered “often” i guess)

Compared to a lot of people, that’s extremely often. I usually get confused stares if I tell people I go more than once a year, while others give me those same looks if I tell them I go at all.

anyway…does this thought ever enter anyone else’s mind…“did I confess all my sins properly”?

I do my best, I try to think of the number of times etc…
sometimes, I just wonder if I have confessed them properly.

I used to get worked up over the idea that I left something out or wasn’t doing a very good examination of conscience. I also have a habit of forgetting something until after the priest has absolved me. The last time I did this, though, I told the priest that I’d forgotten to confess something. He laughed and told me not to worry because God loves and forgives you even when you’re forgetful. It hasn’t bothered me since. Instead of going on any sort of a timetable, I just go whenever I have mortal sins to confess. It’s easier to remember that way.

 

[janpeterotto]

There is definitely a risk for selfindulgement in our institution of confession - best thing is to think of Jesus, at all times, and talk to him, whether inside our outside the booth. And be attentive to HIM, not to myself.

 

[englishredrose]

its kind of why i write mine down

but I know we have a line that goes along the lines of and any sins that I have fogotten. I somehow always say that self consicously because there is many a sin that I can’t even begin to word without it being some lenghty essay etc so lots go into that.

 

[Bookcat]

Regarding Forgotten* Mortal sins* – we are obliged to confess them in the next confession.

Catholic Answers Senior Apologist explains in the first part here: jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

(now I would add since there are those who struggle with scrupulosity here on the forum …that a particular person with scruples may be in a different boat at times… depending on what they mean by forgotten mortal sins --they can address this with their “regular confessor” (they can have all sorts of undue fears etc).)

 

[prayerandstudy]

A couple of people have mentioned using the phrase “and all the sins of my past life” which I was taught as a child to add at the end of my confession saying “I am heartily sorry for these sins and all the sins of my past life.” Just last Sunday we were told that using that phrase is bad theology because once we receive God’s forgiveness for our sins in confession He forgets them. After we have been sorry for our sins and confessed them the third step is to celebrate our forgiveness. We need to forgive ourselves. I tried finding something on this in the Catechism but haven’t been able to see a clarification on this there. In my mind what I am saying by the phrase isn’t that I don’t think I have been forgiven but that I am still sorry for committing those sins. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Bookcat]

A couple of people have mentioned using the phrase “and all the sins of my past life” which I was taught as a child to add at the end of my confession saying “I am heartily sorry for these sins and all the sins of my past life.” Just last Sunday we were told that using that phrase is bad theology because once we receive God’s forgiveness for our sins in confession He forgets them. … In my mind what I am saying by the phrase isn’t that I don’t think I have been forgiven but that I am still sorry for committing those sins. Any thoughts on this?

I was not there and do not of course know what was said but…

Such would be a (well meaning but) mistaken understanding of confession and that very laudable phrase.

Indeed one may have even greater contrition at that confession and there can be greater healing and removal of temporal punishment due for sin which is not always fully removed when one confesses a sin. And I would think particular grace there.

It is good even to add "and all the sins since my baptism …especially “murder” etc (one can pick particular kinds …or “especially of lust and anger” or “theft and impatience” etc)

Saying God “forgets them” is not to be taken literally. It is not possible for God to “forget them” in the literal sense.

Here is one source I found online : ecatholichub.net/pray/guide-for-a-good-confession/during-confession

 

[KateKimmer]

Saying God “forgets them” is not to be taken literally. It is not possible for God to “forget them” in the literal sense.

ecatholichub.net/pray/guide-for-a-good-confession/during-confession

why not?

 

[Gordon_Sims]

Regarding Forgotten* Mortal sins* – we are obliged to confess them in the next confession.

Catholic Answers Senior Apologist explains in the first part here: jimmyakin.com/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

I probably should have been more clear with my post (haven’t slept much this week). When I remembered the sin I’d intended to confess, I mentioned it after telling the priest I’d forgotten it. He after telling me God still loves and forgives the forgetful, he told me that I still had a valid Confession and didn’t have to start over again. Since then, I’ve been more at ease with the whole process and tend to forget less, especially since I make a point of going whenever I realize I have a mortal sin on my conscience, as opposed to just going at a set interval.

 

[Bookcat]

why not?

Because God “sees” all that is…past …present and future. He is outside of time.

 

[englishredrose]

I probably should have been more clear with my post (haven’t slept much this week). When I remembered the sin I’d intended to confess, I mentioned it after telling the priest I’d forgotten it. He after telling me God still loves and forgives the forgetful, he told me that I still had a valid Confession and didn’t have to start over again. Since then, I’ve been more at ease with the whole process and tend to forget less, especially since I make a point of going whenever I realize I have a mortal sin on my conscience, as opposed to just going at a set interval.

Hence why I tend to feel that many of the posts on confession here should really be directed to our priests who have a fuller understanding of it all than most of us here put to together. We mean well but we are not the priest. Am glad you are finding the process easier.