General Confession's Forgotten Sins

[guest20112011]

I have read some of the other threads started on this topic, but saw that we shouldnt revive old threads. I have been confessing past sins, about every 2 weeks since December. A couple times I went into the confessional with a list of 50 plus sins from the past. I always confessed my past sins after my current confession. Every time I went I was so confident that I recalled them all, but they kept coming and coming. I spent PLEANTY of time doing examination of concious, but they just kept coming every time I went to confession. So I ended up feeling pretty confident that some of those confessions were invalid because of 1 reason or another. So last week I did a general confession. Now please take this next thing I am about to tell you with a grain of salt. I have SYMPTOMS of ocd and scrupulosity. I really even hate to say that, because its like a red alarm goes off and I just get exempt. I will even tell you that I didnt even know that I invalidated a confession 2 confessions ago, and after I told the priest what I did, he told me that I did commit a sacrilege and I did invalidate that confession. So I should not say that I am scrupulous.

So I said a quick prayer to help me recall all my past sins and then I just said everything that came to mind. I spent probably over 2 hours with the priest. Maybe about an hour, hour and a half just saying everything that came to mind. Now, I worried about what I forgot. Its similar to everything I was going through since December, but I dont want to look back on that because I found big faults in some of my confessions. I know that we are forgiven for everything, but that we must confess any mortal sins that we fogot in the next confession. My problem is a couple things. One, the priest commanded me to not confess any more past sins after he absolved me. He didn’t give it to me as a pennance, but said that I would be commiting a mortal sin by disobeying him. I also thought he said that if hes wrong, then its on his soul not mine (That doesnt bring me much comfort either). And two, im not sure what I forgot. I have so many things that go in my head that make me so confident I forgot these particular sins, but I dont know. I find it a little strange that I probably confessed close to a hundred sins (Spitting out everything that came to mind for an hour, hour and a half), and its hard for me to even remember 10 sins that I confessed. I dont know if God deleted the ones that I confessed from my memory, or if ocd is doing it. I dont sit here and think for hours “what did I forget”. They just come and pop in my head. I have had many priest tell me to stop confessing past sins, but I just cant.

Any help would be really appreciated.

 

[guest20112011]

A couple more things. Is the purpose of saying forgotten sins to make sure everything gets “said” in confession. I did read something about directly and indirectly absolution. I guess that means that everything can get absolved indirectly (forgotten sins), but once you remember them you must get them absolved directly? I think everything has been said, but I doubt the validty of the entire confession of when I did confess those sins. I feel like im playing with fire though if I want those confessions to count for anything when I committed a sacrilege during the time I confessed them.

Also does the catholic church teach anything about limitations of the devil? I ask because I have recieved numberous amounts of signs that I am good to move foward and put the past behind me. The most recent was a few days ago. I asked God “Lord, if you can please give me a sign I would greatly appreciate it. And if you can’t its ok”. (Something like that). But right when I was saying the last word in my request, I heard the top of the garbage can slam pretty loud. I took it as God may have been saying to close the lid on the trash. Its done. But I wanted to know if the devil is allowed to interfere and make us think that signs are comming from GOD, and its really him decieving us. I had more signs. Some that were even more obvious then this one.

Thanks again everybody. And God Bless.

 

[Monica4316]

The only way a confession is invalid is if you LIE to the priest and intentionally omit sins. If you forget them, they are forgiven. If you remember them later, you can say them, but - you are only obligated to say MORTAL sins… you don’t have to say every single sin you ever did, only mortal sins. I would talk to a priest about this. This could be a huge distraction for you because you’re constantly thinking about sins and analyzing yourself. Just trust in God’s mercy… if you remember something from the distant past, write it down and you can mention it to the priest, but don’t agonize over it like this Confession is meant to be an occasion of great mercy, not something to confuse you - God wants to forgive, not to make it so hard for you. God bless

 

[guest20112011]

The only way a confession is invalid is if you LIE to the priest and intentionally omit sins. If you forget them, they are forgiven. If you remember them later, you can say them, but - you are only obligated to say MORTAL sins… you don’t have to say every single sin you ever did, only mortal sins. I would talk to a priest about this. This could be a huge distraction for you because you’re constantly thinking about sins and analyzing yourself. Just trust in God’s mercy… if you remember something from the distant past, write it down and you can mention it to the priest, but don’t agonize over it like this Confession is meant to be an occasion of great mercy, not something to confuse you - God wants to forgive, not to make it so hard for you. God bless

Thanks for responding. I know that im only obligated to confess the forgotten mortal sins and that I dont have to do it all over everytime. I do have a great trouble with remembering what I confessed. Like I said, I think its a little strange that I confessed so many sins in my last confession (Everything that came to mind for maybe an hour, hour and a half) and it was hard for me to even recall 10 sins that I confessed. And this was the same or next day I think. An as I stated, I told the priest everything I was going through and he told me that he commanded me to stop confessing any past sins. He said and if I do, then the 1st sin I should confess to a priest (And he said it would be a mortal sin) is that I was disobediant to him.

 

[Humilitas82]

As stated, it’s okay to genuinely forget something in the Confessional.

I’m 99% sure I committed mortal sins and then forgot I even did them, let alone confessed them. I used to go to Confession once a year when my faith was lukewarm - there’s no way I could’ve remembered what I did 12 months ago. But I Confessed what I could and offered the rest up to God. Later (months later) some of the mortal sins popped into my head and I confessed them. I knew I was already forgiven, but I did it for my own peace of mind. I’m sure there are others I’ll never remember.

And I always say a little prayer during my penance afterward, telling God that I repent of all I’ve forgotten!

If you’re having memory problems in the Confessional itself, try writing down the results of your Examination of Conscience. I always take a piece of paper in with me as my mind goes blank the instant I enter the Confessional.

Remember that God *wants *to forgive you! He is the Father from the story of the Prodigal Son. He longs to pour His forgiveness and mercy onto you. He comes to you, as much as you go Him. God isn’t looking for excuses or technicalities to catch you out with. He loves you too much for that. And He won’t be there on the Last Day damning the people with bad memories!

As for signs, I only trust the only signs that leave no shadow of doubt in my mind. If God wants to give you a sign, He will, and you’ll know about it. And His signs usually come when you don’t ask for them. If you’re anxious and uncertain about a sign, it probably isn’t worth thinking about.

But don’t keep analysing your past deeds and actions. That’s just self-love. Focus on God instead.

 

[Bookcat]

Ok…you will prob. note that I am one of the ones who comments on these questions on the forum here…from your reading (the direct and indirect absolution and all of that)…

So having said that…this is what *you *need to do.

You need to find a regular confessor.…and meet with him and tell him what you noted here. (I do not mean make the confession again!!)

You need regular confessor. One into whose hands you can put yourself …following the directions and principles he may give…obey them with simplicty (unless of course he tells you to do something like murder your aunt sally…)

Then when he tells you to leave something…it is on him ( I read this is unsettling to you…but it is the classic way to deal with scruples…remember his compass is not damaged…he can see well )…for you are not in the same boat as others…you have a difficulty with scruples…which causes your “compass” to be off for the time being…you need someone to guide your boat …a kind regular confessor.

Now…I want to add one thing…

discuss too what that confessor told you…without names usually…the part about never confessing a past sin again being a mortal sin cause he told you not to…I understand what he was trying to do…but that is not a normal thing to say…even for the scrupulous…ask your regular confessor …it seems to me that he was overstepping things there in an great desire to help you (though perhaps you misheard him)…so talk with your regular confessor and get that part out of your mind etc…

The usual classic direction for one with scruples…that confessors would tell such penitents is that they are not obliged to confess any past sin unless 1. They are certain it was mortal and 2. they are certain it was not confessed already…

or some would tell them directly as a direction to not confess any past sin unless they…

1. They are certain it was mortal and 2. they are certain it was not confessed already…(not that it was a sin if they did…but that they should not…that they should want to obey and work to overcome their scruples…)

 

[josephback]

Also does the catholic church teach anything about limitations of the devil? I ask because I have recieved numberous amounts of signs that I am good to move foward and put the past behind me. The most recent was a few days ago. I asked God “Lord, if you can please give me a sign I would greatly appreciate it. And if you can’t its ok”. (Something like that). But right when I was saying the last word in my request, I heard the top of the garbage can slam pretty loud. I took it as God may have been saying to close the lid on the trash. Its done. But I wanted to know if the devil is allowed to interfere and make us think that signs are comming from GOD, and its really him decieving us. I had more signs. Some that were even more obvious then this one.

Thanks again everybody. And God Bless.

Balaam looked to omens, but then he was corrected (Numbers 24). Look not to omens or signs, but BLESS THE LORD! Whoever blesses Him is blessed and whoever curses Him is cursed. Just remember, BLESS THE LORD!! He has set you free

 

[guest20112011]

Balaam looked to omens, but then he was corrected (Numbers 24). Look not to omens or signs, but BLESS THE LORD! Whoever blesses Him is blessed and whoever curses Him is cursed. Just remember, BLESS THE LORD!! He has set you free

Thank you

 

[guest20112011]

Ok…you will prob. note that I am one of the ones who comments on these questions on the forum here…from your reading (the direct and indirect absolution and all of that)…

So having said that…this is what *you *need to do.

You need to find a regular confessor.…and meet with him and tell him what you noted here. (I do not mean make the confession again!!)

You need regular confessor. One into whose hands you can put yourself …following the directions and principles he may give…obey them with simplicty (unless of course he tells you to do something like murder your aunt sally…)

Then when he tells you to leave something…it is on him ( I read this is unsettling to you…but it is the classic way to deal with scruples…remember his compass is not damaged…he can see well )…for you are not in the same boat as others…you have a difficulty with scruples…which causes your “compass” to be off for the time being…you need someone to guide your boat …a kind regular confessor.

Now…I want to add one thing…

discuss too what that confessor told you…without names usually…the part about never confessing a past sin again being a mortal sin cause he told you not to…I understand what he was trying to do…but that is not a normal thing to say…even for the scrupulous…ask your regular confessor …it seems to me that he was overstepping things there in an great desire to help you (though perhaps you misheard him)…so talk with your regular confessor and get that part out of your mind etc…

The usual classic direction for one with scruples…that confessors would tell such penitents is that they are not obliged to confess any past sin unless 1. They are certain it was mortal and 2. they are certain it was not confessed already…

or some would tell them directly as a direction to not confess any past sin unless they…

1. They are certain it was mortal and 2. they are certain it was not confessed already…(not that it was a sin if they did…but that they should not…that they should want to obey and work to overcome their scruples…)

Just to let everybody know, he sent this to me through PM also and I responded. I dont want you guys to think im not appreciating your responses. Believe me, I am. Thank you and God Bless.

 

[guest20112011]

The only way a confession is invalid is if you LIE to the priest and intentionally omit sins. If you forget them, they are forgiven. If you remember them later, you can say them, but - you are only obligated to say MORTAL sins… you don’t have to say every single sin you ever did, only mortal sins. I would talk to a priest about this. This could be a huge distraction for you because you’re constantly thinking about sins and analyzing yourself. Just trust in God’s mercy… if you remember something from the distant past, write it down and you can mention it to the priest, but don’t agonize over it like this Confession is meant to be an occasion of great mercy, not something to confuse you - God wants to forgive, not to make it so hard for you. God bless

Yea, I dont repeat them all over again if I just think I forgot something. I have talked to quite a few priests. Honestly, I dont feel comfortable in trusting any of the ones that I have talked to.

As stated, it’s okay to genuinely forget something in the Confessional.

I’m 99% sure I committed mortal sins and then forgot I even did them, let alone confessed them. I used to go to Confession once a year when my faith was lukewarm - there’s no way I could’ve remembered what I did 12 months ago. But I Confessed what I could and offered the rest up to God. Later (months later) some of the mortal sins popped into my head and I confessed them. I knew I was already forgiven, but I did it for my own peace of mind. I’m sure there are others I’ll never remember.

And I always say a little prayer during my penance afterward, telling God that I repent of all I’ve forgotten!

If you’re having memory problems in the Confessional itself, try writing down the results of your Examination of Conscience. I always take a piece of paper in with me as my mind goes blank the instant I enter the Confessional.

Remember that God *wants *to forgive you! He is the Father from the story of the Prodigal Son. He longs to pour His forgiveness and mercy onto you. He comes to you, as much as you go Him. God isn’t looking for excuses or technicalities to catch you out with. He loves you too much for that. And He won’t be there on the Last Day damning the people with bad memories!

As for signs, I only trust the only signs that leave no shadow of doubt in my mind. If God wants to give you a sign, He will, and you’ll know about it. And His signs usually come when you don’t ask for them. If you’re anxious and uncertain about a sign, it probably isn’t worth thinking about.

But don’t keep analysing your past deeds and actions. That’s just self-love. Focus on God instead.

Yea, I really wish that I would have written everything down and keep the paper as a reminder for when I get these doubts later.

People have recently been telling me about how looking for signs is a bad thing. I need to monitor this better.

I try not to analyze, but these thoughts just jump into my head, “you forgot this”, and then it kind of snowballs. It brings me great anxiety, as it usually causes me to pace for long periods of time. Not because I dont think its forgiven, but I just want this to end. I have been confessing past sins in large number since December. Everytime thinking that it was the last one going over the past. One priest told me that God doesnt want us living in the darkness.

Sorry for taking so long to respond guys. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.