Haunted by past sins

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PiousTemplar

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I am recently being haunted until the point of anxiety of past sins. Sins that are serious and could of gotten me into trouble with the law. I confessed these, (I have scrupulosity that keeps yelling at me that I didn’t go in-depth enough) and got absolved, but I still worry over these. I often get worries that I will burn in hell for them unless I do whatever the law requires me to do. I’m only a teenager and I sincerely regret these past sins, I hate myself for ever having committed them. I believe that what I did was a huge mistake, and I NEVER will involve myself with such things again. Please pray for me and offer some advice if you can.

Lord have mercy.
 
If you think you might have scrupulosity, the first thing you need to do is get a regular confessor. Then if he agrees that you are scrupulous, only speak to him about sins in confession. Don’t ask others for their opinion. If he absolves you, believe you’re absolved.

Satan is the one causing doubt that you are forgiven. Don’t give him the satisfaction of doubting God’s forgiveness.
 
PiousTemplar said:
I am recently being haunted until the point of anxiety of past sins. Sins that are serious and could of gotten me into trouble with the law. I confessed these, (I have scrupulosity that keeps yelling at me that I didn’t go in-depth enough) and got absolved, but I still worry over these. I often get worries that I will burn in hell for them unless I do whatever the law requires me to do. I’m only a teenager and I sincerely regret these past sins, I hate myself for ever having committed them. I believe that what I did was a huge mistake, and I NEVER will involve myself with such things again. Please pray for me and offer some advice if you can.

Lord have mercy.
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If you confessed them by stating the act that was done…you were forgiven at that moment of absolution. I, too, suffer sometimes from scrupulosity. The first thing I do to as a remedy for this is soon as I am done with Confession I rejoice in God’s mercy and forgiveness and thank Him for forgiving me and allowing me to be restored back into in His Church. Also, what helps me is remembering the words of the priest when he prays the prayer of absolution. I focus on his words very intently. One more thing…frequent confession…this will help too!
 
Hello! Sometimes I experience this too. Just remember that God already forgave you. When you feel that, just remember the words “Jesus I trust in You.”

And just like what the other person said, frequent confession will help. 🙂
 
I’m sorry to disagree, but frequent confession is not good advice for someone who is scrupulous. Go as often as your confessor suggests. If that’s frequent, okay. If it’s once a month, okay.

Only do what your confessor tells you to do. 👍
 
nicolep said:
I’m sorry to disagree, but frequent confession is not good advice for someone who is scrupulous. Go as often as your confessor suggests. If that’s frequent, okay. If it’s once a month, okay.

Only do what your confessor tells you to do. 👍
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Now that I think of it, yes it kinda doesn’t. I go to confessions at least once a month. Having a confessor is great too! I wish I had a confessor and a spiritual director. 🙂
 
Please consider psycological help and even medication. Sometimes, illnesses of anxiety, depression or even more serious contitions “use” faith to keep the person locked in a hole.

You have spirtually done what you needed to do. It’s time to seek professional, comepetent medical help.
 
PiousTemplar said:
I am recently being haunted until the point of anxiety of past sins. Sins that are serious and could of gotten me into trouble with the law. I confessed these, (I have scrupulosity that keeps yelling at me that I didn’t go in-depth enough) and got absolved, but I still worry over these. I often get worries that I will burn in hell for them unless I do whatever the law requires me to do. I’m only a teenager and I sincerely regret these past sins, I hate myself for ever having committed them. I believe that what I did was a huge mistake, and I NEVER will involve myself with such things again. Please pray for me and offer some advice if you can.

Lord have mercy.
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I suggest asking the priest if you should do something more, as in penance… but if he says no, then believe him!! God DID forgive you… the ONLY way to invalidate a confession is to knowingly lie. As long as you said what you did, that is fine. You don’t need all the details, only - what you did, how many times.

God bless
 
When the Devil reminds you of your past, reming HIM of HIS future - St Teresa of Avila
 
Its not good to dwell on past sins.Almost all of us have felt that we didn’t confess our sins properly at one time or another.we are all ashamed of the sins we have to confess but you must realize that God understands(most of the priests do to)this and we don’t have to go into complete details unless the priest asks for more information.You made a good confession.Now move on with your life and try to serve God everyday.
 
purplesunshine said:
Please consider psycological help and even medication. Sometimes, illnesses of anxiety, depression or even more serious contitions “use” faith to keep the person locked in a hole.

You have spirtually done what you needed to do. It’s time to seek professional, comepetent medical help.
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What? you cant be serious with this post? I think that is going a little too far… especially with the OP having only posted once on this thread, and even with that, there is nothing that indicates such things for this.
 
PiousTemplar said:
I am recently being haunted until the point of anxiety of past sins. Sins that are serious and could of gotten me into trouble with the law. I confessed these, (I have scrupulosity that keeps yelling at me that I didn’t go in-depth enough) and got absolved, but I still worry over these. I often get worries that I will burn in hell for them unless I do whatever the law requires me to do. I’m only a teenager and I sincerely regret these past sins, I hate myself for ever having committed them. I believe that what I did was a huge mistake, and I NEVER will involve myself with such things again. Please pray for me and offer some advice if you can.

Lord have mercy.
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Greetings Pious Templar,

I for one can tell you that I have been in this exact same situation. I had experienced horrible bouts with scrupulosity about past sins, and the validity of past confessions thinking perhaps I did not express my sins clearly in a wholeheartedly honest manner. Eventually all of this distress reached critical mass, and I felt convicted to do a general confession where I simply bore it all to the priest, every thing that had been on my mind, with certainty that I was sincere and thorough in examination of my conscience, it was truly one of the most healing experiences in my life both spiritually and emotionally knowing that I could put all doubt to rest. Perhaps you could arrange for an appointment with a priest to discuss what is distressing you and he will determine the best course of action for you to take.

You’re in my prayers.
 
Your faith is being challenged and tested by satan - as we all are - some more ferciously than others, some more frequently and always in different ways.
Pope Leo XIII wrote the prayer to St.Michael, which we say at the end of the Rosary, after he had a vision of the church being attacked by satan in the final days. It has been recommended that we - Catholics and Christians - adapt that prayer to our every day activities and pray it when we are attacked e.g. with concern over the true power of the Sacrament of Confession, with porn, with anger, with desire to drink/drugs, with anything and everything we encounter which challeges our belief and faith.
Call on St. Michael to assist you. I have begun this practice and find it brings a physical release from my heart and lungs as if I am expelling something from within me.
Embrace this prayer and make it your own, daily, numerous times, almost continously if necessary, but eventually St. Michael will win the day for you, through JESUS. And go back to St. Michael always, once will never be enough for satan.
 
PiousTemplar said:
I am recently being haunted until the point of anxiety of past sins. Sins that are serious and could of gotten me into trouble with the law. I confessed these, (I have scrupulosity that keeps yelling at me that I didn’t go in-depth enough) and got absolved, but I still worry over these. I often get worries that I will burn in hell for them unless I do whatever the law requires me to do. I’m only a teenager and I sincerely regret these past sins, I hate myself for ever having committed them. I believe that what I did was a huge mistake, and I NEVER will involve myself with such things again. Please pray for me and offer some advice if you can.

Lord have mercy.
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If you’re referring to human law I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You made yourself right with God which should be your one true goal. This life is limited, but the next is everlasting and eternal. Forget about your past sins and focus on living your life for God!
 
Thank-you very much all for your supportive posts. Sorry I haven’t replied in a while, I have been quite sick with a virus. God Bless.
 
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