Help? To Confess or not to Confess?

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Help?? To Confess or not to Confess

I don’t know if this is my scrupulosity coming out in me again or…
A few months ago I attended confession and was talking with the priest about all of these past sins that I had committed that began ‘popping’ into my head. I would go to confession, confess them and be absolved. Then I would get home and it was like I was searching my brain for more sins that I have committed. So the next week I would go and confess them. I asked my priest when would enough be enough. When could I let the past be the past and embrace my new faith (returned to the Church 4 months ago after 12 year absence) He stated that should I remember a sin later on in life to simply say an act of Contrition and to let it go. No need to, essentially, ‘beat my self up over’.

Well, today as I was reading over another posters thread, there was an examination of conscious form on there. Reading through it, I read of a sin that I committed in the past that is considered Mortal. Know at the time of this happening, I was around 12 years old, was depressed, had contemplated suicide, and was doing something, I feel as I look back now, something not in my ‘right mind’ in other words, I feel I had to not be in my right mind because this is something that I could never imagine myself doing now.

My question is…Know that I am so strong in my faith and my love for God is my everything, and after reflecting on my past and of my past mistakes, do I…1) listen to what my Priest said and let the past be the past, or do I…2) Brood on it until I have the opportunity to go to confession. What I would like to do is to just let it go. Can anybody help me out???
Thanks and God Bless
 
You can confess the sin if it would make you feel better, although since you never intentionally withheld the mortal sin you’re referring to, you have been absolved of it.

Additionally, while it may have dealt with grave matter, if you were depressed and not in your “right mind,” it may be that what you did was not formally sinful, as to commit a mortal sin requires full consent of the will.

I hope that helps. Never be afraid to seek the healing graces the Lord offers in confession.

God bless.
 
You should listen to your priest. This is one of the most important things for a scrupulous person to do. Choose a good confessor and listen to him.

It is right to confess all forgotten mortal sins, but do not brood over them. They have indeed been forgiven and there is no need to go to confession right when you remember one of these sins. I would say that if during an examination of conscience a past sin comes up, then by all means mention it, but do not consume your thoughts with this sin, there is no need.
 
Thanks for all your help!

Would it ok then for me to continue to receive communion at daily mass and any Mass for that matter??? This is the thing that I most look forward to. It helps me in my day knowing that I have received the body and blood of our Lord.
 
Frosty_Gurl said:
Help?? To Confess or not to Confess

I don’t know if this is my scrupulosity coming out in me again or…
A few months ago I attended confession and was talking with the priest about all of these past sins that I had committed that began ‘popping’ into my head. I would go to confession, confess them and be absolved. Then I would get home and it was like I was searching my brain for more sins that I have committed. So the next week I would go and confess them. I asked my priest when would enough be enough. When could I let the past be the past and embrace my new faith (returned to the Church 4 months ago after 12 year absence) He stated that should I remember a sin later on in life to simply say an act of Contrition and to let it go. No need to, essentially, ‘beat my self up over’.

Well, today as I was reading over another posters thread, there was an examination of conscious form on there. Reading through it, I read of a sin that I committed in the past that is considered Mortal. Know at the time of this happening, I was around 12 years old, was depressed, had contemplated suicide, and was doing something, I feel as I look back now, something not in my ‘right mind’ in other words, I feel I had to not be in my right mind because this is something that I could never imagine myself doing now.

My question is…Know that I am so strong in my faith and my love for God is my everything, and after reflecting on my past and of my past mistakes, do I…1) listen to what my Priest said and let the past be the past, or do I…2) Brood on it until I have the opportunity to go to confession. What I would like to do is to just let it go. Can anybody help me out???
Thanks and God Bless
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I would, personally, confess it. I experience the same problem you do. Typically, I will almost always confess it, just to be on the safe side.

And, you can receive at Daily Mass if you do not have any mortal sin on you. That is, any sin after your confession. That is because confession absolves you from all your sins, not just the ones you said (but you are required to confess the sins that you are aware of. If a sin slips your mind in the confessional, and you remember it afterwards, that is ok, but you should confess it next time around).
 
Frosty_Gurl said:
Thanks for all your help!

Would it ok then for me to continue to receive communion at daily mass and any Mass for that matter??? This is the thing that I most look forward to. It helps me in my day knowing that I have received the body and blood of our Lord.
Click to expand...
Usually sins are categorized utilizing the ten commandments. I know that when I first went back to confession after years of being away I too wondered whether or not I remembered everything. I would have to say that it took around a year to recall all of those sins that I committed in previous years. So each time I went I just mentioned whatever it was the I remembered until I filtered through all of those sins that I then considered mortal but now know that they probably were not due to my lack of knowledge and full consent had I known.

The main word here is to RELAX. Let God be God and know that you are completely absolved of all of your sins at each encounter with Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. AND definitely receive our Lord in the Eucharist as this is the source of our strength to overcome temptation. Listen to your priest and know the mercy of God’s forgiveness. If you have a straggler sin and it would make you feel better to confess it then do so. DO NOT occupy your every waking hour trying to recall every sin you committed. God knows your contrition and your sincerity of heart. He is not there to “catch” you in a loophole. God bless you…teachccd 🙂
 
teachccd said:
Usually sins are categorized utilizing the ten commandments. I know that when I first went back to confession after years of being away I too wondered whether or not I remembered everything. I would have to say that it took around a year to recall all of those sins that I committed in previous years. So each time I went I just mentioned whatever it was the I remembered until I filtered through all of those sins that I then considered mortal but now know that they probably were not due to my lack of knowledge and full consent had I known.

The main word here is to RELAX. Let God be God and know that you are completely absolved of all of your sins at each encounter with Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. AND definitely receive our Lord in the Eucharist as this is the source of our strength to overcome temptation. Listen to your priest and know the mercy of God’s forgiveness. If you have a straggler sin and it would make you feel better to confess it then do so. DO NOT occupy your every waking hour trying to recall every sin you committed. God knows your contrition and your sincerity of heart. He is not there to “catch” you in a loophole. God bless you…teachccd 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind words :o
With the sin in question, I didn’t even know at the time that it was a mortal sin. In my eyes as a child, I knew that it was wrong, but The Good Lord was really not apart of my life then and I was going through so many obstacles that my fame of mind at the time could be called into question. I have been told that if I didn’t know that what I did was a mortal sin at the time of committing it that that justifies to not even being a mortal sin because I lacked the full knowledge.
I go through bouts of scrupulosity at times and sometimes I let it fester in my mind all of the time. I think that I am getting better at controlling it but I still have a ways to go.
Thanks again for the help and kind words!!
God Bless :o
 
Frosty_Gurl said:
Thank you so much for your kind words :o
With the sin in question, I didn’t even know at the time that it was a mortal sin. In my eyes as a child, I knew that it was wrong, but The Good Lord was really not apart of my life then and I was going through so many obstacles that my fame of mind at the time could be called into question. I have been told that if I didn’t know that what I did was a mortal sin at the time of committing it that that justifies to not even being a mortal sin because I lacked the full knowledge.
I go through bouts of scrupulosity at times and sometimes I let it fester in my mind all of the time. I think that I am getting better at controlling it but I still have a ways to go.
Thanks again for the help and kind words!!
God Bless :o
Click to expand...
Those same kind words were spoken to me when I was where you are now. It does take time and God knows that. I still, at times, let scrupulosity rear its ugly head but I know better now. It takes some time and you will definitely be there. How do I know? Because I was in your shoes…(if you are a lady they may have been a tight fit) 😃 God bless you…teachccd 🙂
 
Frosty_Gurl said:
Help?? To Confess or not to Confess

I don’t know if this is my scrupulosity coming out in me again or…
A few months ago I attended confession and was talking with the priest about all of these past sins that I had committed that began ‘popping’ into my head. I would go to confession, confess them and be absolved. Then I would get home and it was like I was searching my brain for more sins that I have committed. So the next week I would go and confess them. I asked my priest when would enough be enough. When could I let the past be the past and embrace my new faith (returned to the Church 4 months ago after 12 year absence) He stated that should I remember a sin later on in life to simply say an act of Contrition and to let it go. No need to, essentially, ‘beat my self up over’.

Well, today as I was reading over another posters thread, there was an examination of conscious form on there. Reading through it, I read of a sin that I committed in the past that is considered Mortal. Know at the time of this happening, I was around 12 years old, was depressed, had contemplated suicide, and was doing something, I feel as I look back now, something not in my ‘right mind’ in other words, I feel I had to not be in my right mind because this is something that I could never imagine myself doing now.

My question is…Know that I am so strong in my faith and my love for God is my everything, and after reflecting on my past and of my past mistakes, do I…1) listen to what my Priest said and let the past be the past, or do I…2) Brood on it until I have the opportunity to go to confession. What I would like to do is to just let it go. Can anybody help me out???
Thanks and God Bless
Click to expand...
The first thing I would ask you is: How long was it before your last confession? If it has been 6 months or longer, it’s kind of difficult to remember every sin that you have committed. Even if you wait a month, it is difficult. That is precisely why the Church encourages us to go more frequently (i.e. every week, or at least twice a week).
 
Listen to your priest – He, after all, was given the keys to the kingdom! 🙂
 
If you chose to confess something from your distant past, however, you would mention the approximate age at which you chose this act, that you have never intentionally withheld it in confession, and that you just want to get it off your chest. You don’t want to imply that this is something you did recently or that you have abused the sacrament in the past. Your confessor will want the true picture.

You might also want to find someone who does spiritual direction to talk to about this, or have a counselling session by appointment with your confessor. If you had plenty of opportunity for question and answer on this and other aspects of the sacrament, the overall problem might resolve itself more readily.
 
broski234 said:
That’s incorrect! Peter was given the keys and it was handed down to his successors to the Chair of Peter!
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Right.
EasterJoy said:
I think he meant the power given to the apostles in general to forgive sin or hold it bound (John 20:22-23), not the keys to the kingdom entrusted to Peter (Mt. 16:19). Very similar passages, but two rather different things.
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Right, as well.

And yes, an important distinction to make. :rolleyes:
 
i asked my priest a very simular question and he said it is already forgiven as long as you didn’t intentionally withold it but if it bothers you mention it at your next confession
hope that helps you i keep refering back to that piece of advice myself
 
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