Forgotten Sins. What to do?

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SoulSolace

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I have been told by 2 different confessors now that any sins I forgot are forgiven, and are not to be confessed in future.
This is very difficult for me as I see on here very often that forgotten sins are to be confessed when remembered. I am not talking about venial sins.
It is all just so very confusing, trying to list and keep everything straight and clear.
I went over my past with a fine tooth comb both times, but, yes, I did forget some.
I have done 2 general confessions as a convert (well, 3, but the first one was horribly inadequate as I missed the class on that or something…)
I have OCD, but that really isn’t the problem. I know what a mortal sin is now, and there’s always one or two straggling after each confession.
I keep thinking that it is my fault I forgot them, as I didn’t do the examination correctly or thoroughly enough.
I don’t know what to do, and fear I will stop taking Communion again, as I know a person shouldn’t partake if they have un-confessed mortal sins.

I understand too though, that if I go in and confess a forgotten one, then another will pop up, then I will wonder if I’ve confessed something or not, and start going over those that I actually have.

What can I do?

Thank you and God bless.
 
SoulSolace said:
I have been told by 2 different confessors now that any sins I forgot are forgiven, and are not to be confessed in future.
This is very difficult for me as I see on here very often that forgotten sins are to be confessed when remembered. I am not talking about venial sins.
It is all just so very confusing, trying to list and keep everything straight and clear.
I went over my past with a fine tooth comb both times, but, yes, I did forget some.
I have done 2 general confessions as a convert (well, 3, but the first one was horribly inadequate as I missed the class on that or something…)
I have OCD, but that really isn’t the problem. I know what a mortal sin is now, and there’s always one or two straggling after each confession.
I keep thinking that it is my fault I forgot them, as I didn’t do the examination correctly or thoroughly enough.
I don’t know what to do, and fear I will stop taking Communion again, as I know a person shouldn’t partake if they have un-confessed mortal sins.

I understand too though, that if I go in and confess a forgotten one, then another will pop up, then I will wonder if I’ve confessed something or not, and start going over those that I actually have.

What can I do?

Thank you and God bless.
Click to expand...
I feel so badly for you.😦 I am a convert too–16 years now-- but I failed to learn my faith properly (it’s a long story). Basically what happened is, going on three years ago, I went to confession for the first time in 7 years, having gone only half a dozen times in the 7 years before that. I have been going to confession regularly for the past 2.75 years, confessing past sins as they have come to mind. I have OCD also, but in my case I can’t always determine whether a sin is mortal or venial; thus, I agonize before every confession–about current sins and any past ones that have come to mind. Finally, this week, my confessor told me, “I’m going to forgive you of all your past sins–don’t go back anymore–go forward.” I’m going to obey this, because I have agonized over the same issue as you for 2.75 years. I will tell you that you may go to communion, even if you remember a sin from your past. It was covered in your last confession b/c all honestly forgotten sins are forgiven in confession. The next time you go to confession, you may mention the sin if you’re sure you’ve never confessed it and you’re sure it’s mortal. However, if you’re getting all confused as to whether you’ve confessed something before, that’s probably why your confessor told you not to confess any more past sins. I will say a prayer for you, for I feel what you are going through. God bless you too.
 
SoulSolace said:
I have been told by 2 different confessors now that any sins I forgot are forgiven, and are not to be confessed in future.
This is very difficult for me as I see on here very often that forgotten sins are to be confessed when remembered. I am not talking about venial sins.
It is all just so very confusing, trying to list and keep everything straight and clear.
I went over my past with a fine tooth comb both times, but, yes, I did forget some.
I have done 2 general confessions as a convert (well, 3, but the first one was horribly inadequate as I missed the class on that or something…)
I have OCD, but that really isn’t the problem. I know what a mortal sin is now, and there’s always one or two straggling after each confession.
I keep thinking that it is my fault I forgot them, as I didn’t do the examination correctly or thoroughly enough.
I don’t know what to do, and fear I will stop taking Communion again, as I know a person shouldn’t partake if they have un-confessed mortal sins.

I understand too though, that if I go in and confess a forgotten one, then another will pop up, then I will wonder if I’ve confessed something or not, and start going over those that I actually have.

What can I do?

Thank you and God bless.
Click to expand...
How I feel for you dear SoulSolace it sounds so exhausting to Allways feel bad about yourself and to have bad conscience.
I’ll just advice you to listen to both your confessors when they absolve all sins from your past.
Remember that they are “in persona Christi” during confession and that when they say that and absolve you it’s actually Christ himself through the priest that tells you to move forward and forget about the past so please listen to Christ.
I think we have to remember St Faustinas experiences with the merciful Christ.
Our stoneware hearts may not forgive us, but God does when we repent.

I think in your position (you have confessed) I would follow the fathers advice and recieve communion.
It really sounds like you need to recieve Christ through the most holy sacrament.

You’re in my prayers.

Pax Christi
 
Hi SoulSolace, be at peace. Remember that:
  1. A good confession and a good memory are quite different things.
  2. Forgotten sins are forgiven (assuming contrition).
  3. If you recall one or more unconfessed mortal sins, confess them, but if you forget these, you are still forgiven (again, assuming contrition).
(The following words are taken from pp. 51-52 of ‘Confession: A Little Book for the Reluctant’ by TAN publishers)
  1. I COULD NEVER REMEMBER ALL MY SINS
What matter? Repent sincerely of your sins, known and unknown; accuse yourself of all you can remember; when you cannot remember the exact number, tell is as nearly as you can; hide nothing deliberately; be firmly resolved, in the future, to observe the commandments of God and the Church, and God requires no more.

Who could remember exactly all his sins? No one in the world. But God, who knows all, pardons all when He sees in the heart a true, sincere repentance. Peace to men of good will!

… Moreover, remember that the sins forgotten in Confession, even if mortal sins, are pardoned like the others. Never disquiet yourself, either before Confession or after it; guard well the peace of your soul. If, after absolution, you remember any [mortal] sin, it will not be necessary for that reason to return to Confession; above all, it is not necessary to deprive yourself of Holy Communion.

(The following words are taken from ‘The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great’)

[Context: St. Gertrude, who was accustomed to having visions and locutions, was one day complaining to St. John the Apostle that she forgot to confess some little faults in Confession, and that she could not always remember her sins for Confession]

“Do not be troubled at this, my child,” replied the Saint lovingly; “for when you have prepared for a good and entire confession of your sins, and find that you cannot then have recourse to a confessor, if you forget anything in consequence of the delay, and omit to accuse yourself of it merely from a defect of memory, what you have forgotten will not fail to be effaced; and the grief you have for the omission will adorn your soul as a precious jewel, which will render it pleasing to the heavenly court.”

Take care and God bless.
 
We must remember that we humans are not perfect and that God is perfect. God knows us and he knows that we may forget certain things from time to time. When you go to confession and confess your sins everything that you have done is forgiven. You do not have to worry that forgotten sins are going to come back and bite you in the butt. God will not do that. If in the future you happen to remember them all you have to do is confess them not because they are not forgiven already but because you love and respect God and do not want to hide nothing from him.
 
If you suffer from scrupulosity, you must find a good confessor and obey his advice. Don’t dwell on the past, don’t shop around for other confessors.
 
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