Confession of the past logistics

[sunandstars]

I am a convert who lapsed and then came back. I am retired and moved to a new community last year.
I am a quiet person who spends most of her time alone, or with my husband.

Having come back, I am eager to get straight and keep straight. I have already confessed and been absolved of most of the sins that I did during the time of my “sinful idiocy”.

However, being alone most of the time now, I find it difficult to come up with new sins to confess. (I’m seeking a spiritual director but not found one yet).

So, I wonder if my job isn’t to go back with a fine tooth comb my past and confess anything I remember that I didn’t specifically address in previous confessions. Cleaning house as it were. I admit to spending a lot of time thinking about my past, probably in an unhealthy way…

I never intentionally held back any sin, but felt everything was included under my confessions previously. My intention in those confession was to wipe the slate completely clean and start again.

So my question is this: having few present sins to confess due to my quiet lifestyle, should I continue to revisit my past and get very specific about sins I think are already absolved under a more general mention during previous confessions, or let go of the past and get on with my new life in Christ.

I feel a little weird not going to confession very often…but I honestly can’t think of much to confess there days. Most days I spend painting and rarely leave the house…perhaps my preoccupation with my past is a sin?

What say ya’ll?

God Bless.

 

[sunandstars]

I’m think of this sort of thing:

I’ve confessed not being chaste when not married. And been absolved.
But now I’m thinking I should go back and confess specific times I was unchaste, who, what, where, this sort of thing…

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

A priest may disagree, but I don’t think this is healthy thinking or on the right track. Those sins are forgiven; you need to move on. Your job now is to rejoice and praise God, not to

find … new sins to confess

In fact, Jesus wants the opposite! “Be Holy as your Father is Holy” Many of us can’t quite fathom living this way.

 

[BartholomewB]

And been absolved.

That’s it. Says it all.

 

[edward_george1]

let go of the past and get on with my new life in Christ.

You should do this. It isn’t a good idea to go dredging up past sins just for the sake of it. You say you confessed as best as you could and were absolved. Leave those sins in the confessional.

The devil’s aim in tempting us to sin is really to make us identify with our sins so that we forget in whose image we’ve been made, that we forget our own God-given goodness. Don’t give in to the temptation to forget, rejoice instead in what graces you have received.

If you’re having trouble coming up with sins you should bring to confession now, the answer isn’t to examine your past better just to have something to confess, it’s to learn to examine your conscience better in the here and now. Ask your priest for help. At the very least he can give you a guide for doing this.

You are in my prayers
-Fr ACEGC

 

[halogirl]

My own priest also told me that the evil one likes to make you think your sins weren’t really forgiven, you weren’t really absolved etc so as to steal your peace.

 

[Opal0427]

Have you used an examination of conscience?

I too live a quiet life, but personally often sin in thought. I find myself having prideful thoughts quite often, esp when watching tv or reading online. Or grumbling thoughts. Unthankful thoughts. & Selfish conversations with the one I live with where I don’t want to listen or self-centered actions even as silly as absolutely refusing to give him the bigger plate sometimes just because. I also find its easy for me to sin in gossip or detraction since I don’t have a lot happening in my life to talk about.

I’m not saying these are things you struggle with, just that they’re things examining my conscience has shown me. I find there’s always something I can work on to grow in holiness. Which is reassuring when things feel stagnant. I like a project!

 

[sunandstars]

Thank you everyone. Your advice is well taken and was wha it was hoping for.
Absolved means absolved. I’ll leave it there.

Thinking sins…hummmm you might have something there.
I guess yelling at the tv news and the politicians there might be sinful…
I do think things through for a long time. I wonder if that is holding on to anger, or more likely, confusion about the incident. I’ve always thought it was the way I process things, but maybe not.
I really wish I could find a good confessor. I can’t possibly have so little to confess…

I do use an examination of conscience. I use one on Fr. Riperger’s site.
I still don’t come up with much.

I think I just need to make some friends and get out more

Thanks everyone,
God Bless.

 

[TheLittleLady]

However, being alone most of the time now, I find it difficult to come up with new sins to confess.

Some folks get to a spiritual place where they simply do not commit grave sins. That is okay, it is a point of great spiritual growth!