How can I forget past sins and move on?

[DB_AND_ALI]

I understand what you are saying. It sounds so much like my life. I just can’t forgive myself and actually fantisize about living in a dark cave. I don’t feel that I’m worthy of forgiveness and even now I am thinking of quiting my career & travel like a hobo. I know how crazy that sounds and I have a job with a lot of authority and great pay. I think that if it wasn’t for my family, Mother & siblings 10,000 miles away that I don’t want to disappoint, I would just drop out and quit. If you met me, you would never know how depressed I am. I will pray for you. Godspeed.

I have also struggled to forgive myself for some sins…but this thread and the sound advise has helped…we are all the same and should pray for each other. Depression is also treatable…peace and blessings to you !!!

 

[mzungu1]

Online Knight and all the good people on this post, you have my support, thanks and best wishes. God Bless & Godspeed!

 

[4loveofJesus]

May God’s peace, love and mercy be with you!

It’s interesting that you ask that question. I have just gone to confession today (I go every week, at the most is 2 weeks) and along with that I made a general confession of the sins in my past life. St. Augustine’s confession would pale in comparison to what I have done (thought, word and deed) and what I have failed to do. It is only through God’s grace, His mercy, love, goodness and forgiveness that I was able to recognize my wicked ways and for that I am eternally grateful.

The priest told me not to dwell on it, to never underestimate the healing power of the Sacrament of Confession.

So, now we are a new creation called to live that life of holiness, of which all of us are called to by Our good Lord Jesus Christ. Every time we go to Confession, we are bathed in Jesus’ most precious Blood and infused with His divine graces so we are able to overcome our sinfulness, our weaknesses, our frailties which I think is just so awesome! God is so infinitely merciful and loving that He forgives and heals us no matter how great and how many our sins are. That’s why when I went to holy mass immediately after that confession, I couldn’t help but be moved to tears by God’s great goodness, mercy, forgiveness and love. Like that story of the Prodigal Son, Our Good God always awaits us open arms to come back home to Him. We can always come home and journey back to the Catholic faith founded by Our Good Lord Jesus Christ.

So now we live a life of gratitude, a life of holiness, a life of Divine Love that transcends race, gender, nation. As Saint Paul says " It is no longer I but Christ who lives with in me", so we share the light, the good news of salvation, the love, the presence of Christ to ALL and open the door that leads to Christ Our Saviour so that we may all journey back home safely to God.

As the music goes “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see…” God bless!

Blesses be Jesus and Mary!

 

[guanophore]

Not entirely true. Christ does not “forget” our sins. We are forgiven after confessing our sins, but we must still atone for them. This is what purgatory is for.

If Jesus did not atone for our sins, what was the point of His crucifixiton? If we can atone for our own, why do we need Christ? Please show me in the Church’s teachings where it is possible for us to atone for our own sins.

 

[guanophore]

I understand what you are saying. It sounds so much like my life. I just can’t forgive myself and actually fantisize about living in a dark cave. I don’t feel that I’m worthy of forgiveness and even now I am thinking of quiting my career & travel like a hobo. I know how crazy that sounds and I have a job with a lot of authority and great pay. I think that if it wasn’t for my family, Mother & siblings 10,000 miles away that I don’t want to disappoint, I would just drop out and quit. If you met me, you would never know how depressed I am. I will pray for you. Godspeed.

This is a much too common experience of christians who don’t understand and apprehend the “new creation”. I think Satan tries to steal our birhtright by keeping us thinking we are still dead in our trespasses and sins, and have not been raised to newness of life. However, you make a good point. None of us are worthy of forgivness. If we all got what we deserved, we would all burn in the pit. We are not forgiven because of anything that we have done, or can do, but because of the merits of Jesus Death on the cross:

" 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - 9 not because of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph 2:7-10

Grace means unmerited (undeserved) favor. We accept it by faith. Next, we have to move on to the good works that God has prepared for us. Do not let the evil one steal that grace from you that was poured out with Jesus’ blood on the cross!

 

[guanophore]

I’m pretty certain about this one. The sacrament of Reconciliation does not remove all temporal punishment for our sins. It releases us from eternal punishment, but not from the temporal punishment that is suffered both on earth and if necessary in purgatory if there is any temporal punishment still to be paid. From the Catechism…

**The punishments of sin **
**1472 **To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.83
**1473 **The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the "new man."84

**1496 **The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:

• reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
• reconciliation with the Church;
• remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
• remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
• peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
• an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.

Perhaps this is just a semantic problem. You used the word atonement, which is only used to describe the price that Jesus paid for our redemption on the Cross. That is a separate matter from making reparation (amends) for our sins, and embracing what temporal punishment may remain. There is a distinction between sin itself, and it’s penalties, and the consequences in the temporal realm.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin.

Hmmm, I’ve been called a mushy liberal for believing what I’ve high-lited here.

Jim

 

[guanophore]

Thank you! I have gone to this site and I hope to stick to it. I know I would never harm myself or others, but I need to live, at least hope to live! Right now I think that I do not deserve to be happy and that I am not good enough for anyone and will be alone forever. Surprisingly, almost all my co-workers think that I am happy and they like me. I do not like myself.

We all have a long way to go to see ourselves as God sees us. You are being called to spiritual warfare, which cannot be fought passivly. The evil one wants to rob you of your birthright, which is joy and peace in Christ:

John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

He has given us eternal life, but it is up to us to enter in and to live that abundance. If you read the temptations of Christ, you can see that the devil likes to start witth a grain of truth, then build lies upon it. “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones to bread”. Of course Jesus is the Son of God. In a like manner your statement “I do not deserve to be happy and that I am not good enough for anyone” is true. None of us are deserving of the great gift of Christ. Also, none of us are good enough to ever earn it. However, don’ t let that grain of truth throw you off. You have inherited eternal life, and have become a child of God. It is incumbent upon you to live according to the life that Jesus has called you to live. To do that, you have to start by agreeing that what He says about you is true, and reject the lies of the evil one.

I am now looking for another job. The crazy thing is that my current job is one that most would love to have. I am paid very well, I work with many diferent agancies from around the pacific and I travel often on planes and boats to exotic places. It does call for me to judge others, as it is law enforcement, and I am having a hard time judging anyone.

I am sorry for my whining. I need to try to be a man, a Christian man again.

Thank you all and God Bless you.

I do not think you are whining. You are giving voice to the experience of many people. I also don’t think a geographical (or job change) solution will help you. the change needs to happen on the inside.

 

[catholicmessage]

If Jesus did not atone for our sins, what was the point of His crucifixiton? If we can atone for our own, why do we need Christ? Please show me in the Church’s teachings where it is possible for us to atone for our own sins.

Christ’s crucifixion freed us from the eternal punishment of our sins, but it does not free us from suffering the temporal consequences of those sins. If it did, why do we suffer on earth? There is pain and sorrow in this life, even for those who are in the state of grace.

Here are some places where where you can find the Catholic Church’s understanding of temporal punishment:

From 2 Macc 12:43-46:
He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

This passage shows us that we should pray for the dead to help them escape the temporal punishment they experience after death. Prayers for those in hell would obviously be fruitless, so there must be a purgatory.

For further explanation of purgatory and temporal punishment, refer to the CCC, especially 1472, 1473, which are quoted above, or the articles on purgatory listed on this website:

The last things

 

[guanophore]

Christ’s crucifixion freed us from the eternal punishment of our sins, but it does not free us from suffering the temporal consequences of those sins. If it did, why do we suffer on earth? There is pain and sorrow in this life, even for those who are in the state of grace.

Here are some places where where you can find the Catholic Church’s understanding of temporal punishment:

From 2 Macc 12:43-46:
He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

This passage shows us that we should pray for the dead to help them escape the temporal punishment they experience after death. Prayers for those in hell would obviously be fruitless, so there must be a purgatory.

For further explanation of purgatory and temporal punishment, refer to the CCC, especially 1472, 1473, which are quoted above, or the articles on purgatory listed on this website:

The last things

I think the term atonement is only properly used for the remission of sins (eternal punishment).

 

[catholicmessage]

II think the term atonement is only properly used for the remission of sins (eternal punishment).

I don’t understand what you mean by this. Do you intend to say that human reparations render Christ’s sacrifice irrelevant? Please explain.

 

[guanophore]

I don’t understand what you mean by this. Do you intend to say that human reparations render Christ’s sacrifice irrelevant? Please explain.

No, no, not at all. Just that they are apples and oranges. Humans are unable to attain salvation of themselves at all. Only through Christ’s work on the cross are we able to become free from the penalty of sin (eternal) so that we can enter. This is by grace, through faith. Upon the foundation of that, we are called to obedience,and to make reparation (amends) for our sins,a n d the sins of others. “For by grace you are saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works”. So we are called to fulfill the good works, rather than the bad for which Christ died. Human reparations are the appropriate holy response to saving faith.

 

[Charitycross]

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Best Regards

 

[TOP]

A mansion in France! How can I resist being a jubilee year for Lourdes and all.

 

[distracted]

Not entirely true. Christ does not “forget” our sins. We are forgiven after confessing our sins, but we must still atone for them. This is what purgatory is for.

Thanks. I was going to make this point. There are scriptures about being cleansed. One is Rev 21:27 “No unclean thing will enter Heaven”. I wish i could remember the other ones (don’t have Bible handy).

You are right to use the sufferings of your regrets to atone for the sins. Don’t do as Martin Luther and try to throw out your guilt, etc… I mean, you should know you are forgiven, but realize that the sins need to be purged also. the sad thing is, it may take a long time before you feel perfectly cleansed… Maybe that’s why Purgatory takes so long. I have heard tht the average stay is 40 years… As much damage as sin does to us, it is really no wonder. At the Blessed Sacrament, i have been shown the ugliness of sin’s consequences…

I hope you spend time there because (Does the Church teach this??) i feel the longer you are there, the less your Purgatory will have to do, whether in this life or the next…

God bless.

 

[MarieVeronica]

There is a story about one of the saints… (might have been Padre Pio)… where visions of Jesus were taking place. I think it was a priest, who wanted proof that these visions were occuring… and he asked the saint to pose this question to Our Lord.

“What was the last sin that I (the priest) confessed?”…

The answer brought back to the priest from Our Lord was… “I don’t remember”.

This story made a very large impression on me, personally. It underlined God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Because once we confess our sins, and receive the absolution of God’s priest… we really and truly are forgiven.

But I do understand what you’re saying… about it being hard to forget. Often, my own sins will enter my mind. Maybe they’re there… as a sort of reminder to us. To humble us. Try offering the discomfort that those memories cause… to Our Lord, in reparation or for the conversion of other sinners. Hope this helps.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Not entirely true. Christ does not “forget” our sins. We are forgiven after confessing our sins, but we must still atone for them. This is what purgatory is for.

**Ever hear of Mercy Sunday? This is the Sunday that follows Easter Sunday. A novena is a prerequisite beginning on Good Friday up to Mercy Sunday whereby it culminates with reception of Holy Communion and the novena together earns a Plenary Indulgence.

Now this is a promise from The Sacred Heart as told to Sister Faustina.

You can GOOGLE for Divine Mercy Sunday novena and you will bring up the day-to-day prayers that are designed to lead you to that great gift of Plenary Indulgence. This is the utmost indulgence in that it removes ALL punishment due to our past sins.**

 

[MarieVeronica]

catholicmessage;1974887:

Not entirely true. Christ does not “forget” our sins. We are forgiven after confessing our sins, but we must still atone for them. This is what purgatory is for.

**Ever hear of Mercy Sunday? This is the Sunday that follows Easter Sunday. A novena is a prerequisite beginning on Good Friday up to Mercy Sunday whereby it culminates with reception of Holy Communion and the novena together earns a Plenary Indulgence.

Now this is a promise from The Sacred Heart as told to Sister Faustina.

You can GOOGLE for Divine Mercy Sunday novena and you will bring up the day-to-day prayers that are designed to lead you to that great gift of Plenary Indulgence. This is the utmost indulgence in that it removes ALL punishment due to our past sins.**

My impression was that the account of the “vision” was a pious story… intended to underline God’s forgiveness. That was the intent of my post, as well. I didn’t intend to present this as actual fact. Sorry if I gave that impression.

I happen to agree with what you said… and that it’s probably even “healthy” that we don’t entirely forget our past sins. As I said in my previous post… perhaps remembrance of our past sins helps to keep us humble before God.

I’ve often likened a repentant sinner… to a recovering alcoholic. You must constantly be on guard, lest the enemy find you in a weak moment… and tempt you.