W
westcoast
Guest
As sins of our past resurface in our minds, are we supposed to confess them, even if they were years and years ago? What about childhood?
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J
joecap
Guest
I am interested in this as well.
N
NewUlm1976_2000
Guest
I do not believe there is any statue of limitations on how far back you can go in confession, epically if something is really bothering you in the present, it is better to get it out in the present.
M
mercygate
Guest
When we recall a mortal sin, it should be confessed, however long ago it happened.
As for childhood, that is a prudential judgment for a pastoral need. I personally recall being a perfectly wicked child who used to do very bad things, and be willfully disobedient, knowing that it was wrong to act that way. I think children have much better developed consciences than many adults are willing to credit them with.
If you recall a thing that you did, even as a child, with the full knowledge of wrongdoing at the time, and it weighs upon your conscience, by all means bring it up in confession. Stealing that ice cream bar when the Good Humor man wasn’t looking was a sin, albeit a venial one. If it bothers you, give it to the Keys.
A lot of priests will not want to hear this. So preface it with the statement that you have only now recalled this thing, and that at the time you did it you were fully aware that it was sinful (if this is true, of course). But don’t go confessing childish mischief of which could not have foreseen the consequences. I’m thinking of the broken window pane from an errant baseball. Now, if you had been warned not to play baseball next door to Mr. Jones’s plate glass window, and you did it ANYWAY . . . Well . . . .
Keep in mind that these things would be confessed in the context of childhood, and make it clear that you are confessing them out of your own pastoral need and not because you believe that the Lord will send you to hell for a childish prank.
Hey! How would you like to be the 9-year-old boy who accidentally started the big wildfire in California?
When I came into the Church and made my General Confession, I felt very keenly the sting of conscience over things I had done in childhood (those mudballs in Mrs. Zaccharelli’s laundry when I was 8
). I realized that the sins of my childhood, far from having been inconsequential, had actually seeded the sin-history of my adolescence and adulthood. I made a summary of the nature of my childhood sins: temper, disobedience, selfishness. But that’s kind of a different thing from what you are asking.
Use your judgment – presuming that you HAVE judgment. On an internet forum, that cannot be assumed, but I’m giving you credit.
As for childhood, that is a prudential judgment for a pastoral need. I personally recall being a perfectly wicked child who used to do very bad things, and be willfully disobedient, knowing that it was wrong to act that way. I think children have much better developed consciences than many adults are willing to credit them with.
If you recall a thing that you did, even as a child, with the full knowledge of wrongdoing at the time, and it weighs upon your conscience, by all means bring it up in confession. Stealing that ice cream bar when the Good Humor man wasn’t looking was a sin, albeit a venial one. If it bothers you, give it to the Keys.
A lot of priests will not want to hear this. So preface it with the statement that you have only now recalled this thing, and that at the time you did it you were fully aware that it was sinful (if this is true, of course). But don’t go confessing childish mischief of which could not have foreseen the consequences. I’m thinking of the broken window pane from an errant baseball. Now, if you had been warned not to play baseball next door to Mr. Jones’s plate glass window, and you did it ANYWAY . . . Well . . . .
Keep in mind that these things would be confessed in the context of childhood, and make it clear that you are confessing them out of your own pastoral need and not because you believe that the Lord will send you to hell for a childish prank.
Hey! How would you like to be the 9-year-old boy who accidentally started the big wildfire in California?
When I came into the Church and made my General Confession, I felt very keenly the sting of conscience over things I had done in childhood (those mudballs in Mrs. Zaccharelli’s laundry when I was 8
). I realized that the sins of my childhood, far from having been inconsequential, had actually seeded the sin-history of my adolescence and adulthood. I made a summary of the nature of my childhood sins: temper, disobedience, selfishness. But that’s kind of a different thing from what you are asking.Use your judgment – presuming that you HAVE judgment. On an internet forum, that cannot be assumed, but I’m giving you credit.
D
DebChris
Guest
I enjoy communial penance services. Several times the sermons have allowed past events/circumstances from my life to come to the surface. There may be an incident for which I was not fully aware of how my actions affected others. Maybe there was a painful side of my sibling/parental relationship that led me to see myself as less than a reflection of my Creator. Perhaps I did make the right decision afterall. These past events color my life today and it is only in this sense that I will bring them into the confessional.
The sins of our past have been forgiven and we can become caught up in scuplousity when they resurface. It is Satan’s way of tempting us into denying forgiveness already received. Be aware of this when you do bring these sins into the confessional. Are they resurfacing as a temptation toward the same sins or are they resurfacing to discourage you from seeing yourself as the Child of God that you are? In any case, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a healing Sacrament and confessing these concerns will strenghen your walk.
The sins of our past have been forgiven and we can become caught up in scuplousity when they resurface. It is Satan’s way of tempting us into denying forgiveness already received. Be aware of this when you do bring these sins into the confessional. Are they resurfacing as a temptation toward the same sins or are they resurfacing to discourage you from seeing yourself as the Child of God that you are? In any case, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a healing Sacrament and confessing these concerns will strenghen your walk.
C
CarrieH
Guest
I will confess “old” sins and tell the priest that I had forgotten about them until now, or that I didn’t realize at the time that something was a mortal sin (which means that for me, it wasn’t mortal) but now that I remember/understand my wrongdoing, I’m confessing it now. When it doubt, confess it; that’s my philosophy.
B
Beautiful
Guest
I agree.
There is no statute of limitation - at least that is was I was told by my confessor. Recollection and confession of such old sins is a good thing. Even old sins are part of the sludge that weighs our poor souls down.
S
Stylteralmaldo
Guest
This is good advice. Here’s what the Catechism says:
**1450 **"Penance requires . . . the sinner to endure all things willingly, be contrite of heart, confess with the lips, and practice complete humility and fruitful satisfaction."49
Also, if you are wondering whether or not one ***needs ***to confess it or not, perhaps asking whether one needs to or not is the wrong question. Consider this passage from the 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
Source:
vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII
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