Effectiveness of past confessions

[upbeatjonm]

About 10 years ago, after a long lapse of not going to confession, I had a strong urge to confess my sins. I saw a priest, and made what I thought was a good confession. I spilled my guts over past sins. However, I did not go into details, or give number of times. For example, I confessed that I had sexual relations before marriage. In my mind, this was to cover all such sins, but I did not go into detail.

I felt great relief afterwards, and have been confessing my sins regularly ever since. However, I still sometimes feel that I didn’t go into enough detail when confessing my past sins. Is this just being scrupulous, and I should just continue to confess the sins since my last confession?

 

[Joannm]

If the priest needed more details he would have asked for them. Don’t worry about it. You were forgiven.

 

[puzzleannie]

I felt great relief afterwards, and have been confessing my sins regularly ever since. However, I still sometimes feel that I didn’t go into enough detail when confessing my past sins. Is this just being scrupulous, and I should just continue to confess the sins since my last confession?

if you sincerely confessed all grave sins you remembered at that time, and the priest absolved you, all your sins up to that point were forgiven, even those you forgot. If the priest had needed more detail he would have asked at the time. The common form for confession is to end the narration of one’s sins with the phrase “for these and for all the sins of my past life I am heartily sorry.”

If this is causing you grief it is from the action of the evil one who is trying to keep you away from confession. If you feel you have a problem with accepting the healing of this sacrament, or with scrupulosity, find one good confessor, stick with him and follow his advice, and under no circumstances discuss your confession with anyone else, especially here, it will do you no good and only cause harm.

 

[upbeatjonm]

if you sincerely confessed all grave sins you remembered at that time, and the priest absolved you, all your sins up to that point were forgiven, even those you forgot. If the priest had needed more detail he would have asked at the time. The common form for confession is to end the narration of one’s sins with the phrase “for these and for all the sins of my past life I am heartily sorry.”

If this is causing you grief it is from the action of the evil one who is trying to keep you away from confession. If you feel you have a problem with accepting the healing of this sacrament, or with scrupulosity, find one good confessor, stick with him and follow his advice, and under no circumstances discuss your confession with anyone else, especially here, it will do you no good and only cause harm.

Thanks for the advice. I did feel that it was a sincere confession.

 

[GailMac]

As far as I know the only thing could be if you INTENTIONALLY withheld a mortal sin; i.e. say someone confesses to stealing but leaves the adultery out or another mortal sin.

If you still feel the scruples, why not go to an arranged Confession at the Rectory making an appointment ahead of time and sit down with the priest you feel most comfortable with and explain your scruples. He’s surely the one to clear up any doubts. Or you could try going on a retreat. They’re marvelous!

I guess you’re a lesson to us who do go on a regular basis - don’t stop or we might get forgetful! Keep up the good work!

Peace,

Gail