HELP! I received confession many times before I became Catholic

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iceloveslitt

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I heard via Catholic Answers that a Protestant, before becoming baptized cannot receive confession, I’ve done this multiple times before I was baptized. should I confess this?
 
No. Don’t worry about it. First, you didn’t know, so there is no sin on your part. You can’t accidentally sin. Second, you said this happened prior to baptism, so even if there had been personal sin on your part (there wasn’t), you still would have no need to confess this. Be at peace.
 
what if I am actually aware of it. At that tiime, I really wanted to become Catholic and I started receiving confession (though not the Eucharist)
 
Again, prior to baptism, no worries. After baptism, perhaps a different story. There are a lot of variables here. Were you aware that you shouldn’t celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation until just prior to your reception into full communion? Did you tell the priest you weren’t Catholic? There have been many times non-Catholics have ventured into my confessional, and upon explaining that, I still talk to them, explain that I can’t actually give them absolution, and then pray with them. That’s not the sacrament. Regardless, judging from what you say, I really wouldn’t worry about this.
 
I’ve always felt if you tell a priest something in the confessional and it’s a sin, then thats a confession, if it’s not a sin, it’s a counselling session! I don’t think you ‘lose points’ for the asking!
 
My pastor says this happens all the time. People just come to the confession because they NEED to confess.
They only find out later, that they are not Catholic. No one asks to see ID, after all.

Be at peace. You know now…go forward and don’t worry. God has called you home.
 
Is your concern that your sins weren’t forgiven, or that you sinned by receiving absolution while not Catholic?

While God forgives sins through priests, he can also forgive them directly to a person who is repentant. So case one is not an issue.

In the second scenario, one of the conditions or requirements for a sin to have happened is full knowledge that the action was a sin and you took part anyway. You didn’t realize it was a sin so no problem.

As has been stated, had you not yet been baptized at the time of your confessions, baptism washed away all sins up to that point in your life anyway.
 
I too knew a priest who told me even a Muslim came to him for confession. He told him he couldn’t absolve him but that he would listen.

If it does bother you then mention it to a priest. That’s all that needs to be done. I’m not a theologian but I doubt God is angry with you.🙂
 
Crusaderbear said:
I’ve always felt if you tell a priest something in the confessional and it’s a sin, then thats a confession, if it’s not a sin, it’s a counselling session! I don’t think you ‘lose points’ for the asking!
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If it does bother you then mention it to a priest. That’s all that needs to be done. I’m not a theologian but I doubt God is angry with you.
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Some may differ on this, but here are my two cents on these points, which I see repeated often on CAF and elsewhere. As a priest confessor who has heard thousands of confessions, I actually don’t think this is sound advice. It tends to lend itself to scrupulosity. If a person begins thinking that this is a sin, and that’s a sin, pretty soon everything is a sin, and the person just brings all of this to confession. The Church’s moral tradition is quite clear what is a sin, and what is not. And, it’s not an arbitrary rulebook. It’s what is objectively good or bad for the human person.

So, my advice…confess sins, beginning with what you know objectively to be sinful. “I lied. I stole. I kicked my dog. I punched my brother. I had an abortion.” Etc. If you have questions about something, then once in a while, fine…go ahead and ask. That’s why we priests study for years in the seminary to help people form their consciences in accord with truth. But, if this become a recurring theme in your confessions, a habit, it’s crossed the line from being “seeking advice,” to “covering all your bases.” There is a difference. Trust in God’s mercy. He’s not keeping score. He’s not out to get us.

I think in the Church’s rightful rejection of the relativism and confusion that was so prevalent in the 60s and 70s, and to a lesser extent continues today, we have swung the pendulum to the other side of an oppressive legalism. Laxity in the moral life is bad. So is legalism. Virtu sta in medio. The virtue is in the middle.
 
buc_fan33 said:
Some may differ on this, but here are my two cents on these points, which I see repeated often on CAF and elsewhere. As a priest confessor who has heard thousands of confessions, I actually don’t think this is sound advice. It tends to lend itself to scrupulosity. If a person begins thinking that this is a sin, and that’s a sin, pretty soon everything is a sin, and the person just brings all of this to confession. The Church’s moral tradition is quite clear what is a sin, and what is not. And, it’s not an arbitrary rulebook. It’s what is objectively good or bad for the human person.

So, my advice…confess sins, beginning with what you know objectively to be sinful. “I lied. I stole. I kicked my dog. I punched my brother. I had an abortion.” Etc. If you have questions about something, then once in a while, fine…go ahead and ask. That’s why we priests study for years in the seminary to help people form their consciences in accord with truth. But, if this become a recurring theme in your confessions, a habit, it’s crossed the line from being “seeking advice,” to “covering all your bases.” There is a difference. Trust in God’s mercy. He’s not keeping score. He’s not out to get us.

I think in the Church’s rightful rejection of the relativism and confusion that was so prevalent in the 60s and 70s, and to a lesser extent continues today, we have swung the pendulum to the other side of an oppressive legalism. Laxity in the moral life is bad. So is legalism. Virtu sta in medio. The virtue is in the middle.
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That is sound advice, Father. I guess, speaking as someone who suffers from scrupulosity and clinically diagnosed OCD, it is very difficult speaking with a priest when one thinks everything is a sin. Thank God I’ve been blessed with two priests at a parish who entertained me when I thought even bathing was a sin. I can’t imagine as a priest what you go through. It’s so difficult on our end as well.
 
StudentMI said:
That is sound advice, Father. I guess, speaking as someone who suffers from scrupulosity and clinically diagnosed OCD, it is very difficult speaking with a priest when one thinks everything is a sin. Thank God I’ve been blessed with two priests at a parish who entertained me when I thought even bathing was a sin. I can’t imagine as a priest what you go through. It’s so difficult on our end as well.
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Yes, tragically scrupulosity is the prevailing spiritual malady among faithful people. And, I suppose that’s better than not caring at all. But, you’re doing the right thing in seeking the help of a good priest. Praise God that you found one. Trust his advice, and trust in God’s mercy.
 
buc_fan33 said:
Yes, tragically scrupulosity is the prevailing spiritual malady among faithful people. And, I suppose that’s better than not caring at all. But, you’re doing the right thing in seeking the help of a good priest. Praise God that you found one. Trust his advice, and trust in God’s mercy.
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Thanks Father. God bless.
 
i don’t sweat the load when i go to confession

i confess what sins i can remember, say the act of contrition, accept the forgiveness of Jesus granted via the priest and do the pennance

and try not to impinge on the time of the people waiting in line behind me
 
There was the story of an event that happened during World War II. The priest was ginfing general absolution to a large group of Catholics right before a battle. One of those who knelt down was a Jew.
When he was asked why he knelt down for this Catholic event, the Jewish man replied, “I too am sorry for my sins.”
I have no doubt that God forgave him too.
 
poche said:
There was the story of an event that happened during World War II. The priest was ginfing general absolution to a large group of Catholics right before a battle. One of those who knelt down was a Jew.
When he was asked why he knelt down for this Catholic event, the Jewish man replied, “I too am sorry for my sins.”
I have no doubt that God forgave him too.
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That’s a beautiful story. War is hell but even so it causes some beautiful moments in the very middle of evil.
 
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