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forstrita
Guest
I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
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Vico
Guest
If you know in your heart that you are not truly sorry for your sin, then you did not truly receive absolution, for there must at least be contrition. If you had contrition (even imperfect) then you were absolved. Apart from being forgiven, there are other temporal punishments remaining which means we must patiently bear the fruits of our actions.I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
CCC 1450 "Penance requires . . . the sinner to endure all things willingly, be contrite of heart, confess with the lips, and practice complete humility and fruitful satisfaction."49
49 Roman Catechism II,V,21; cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1673.
CCC 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.” 85
- Eph 4:22, 24.
CCC 1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.48
48 OP 46: formula of absolution.
P
PrayHarder
Guest
You are forgiven if it was a valid confession. But just because you are forgiven doesn’t mean that the effects instantly disappear. Think of it like someone who undergoes surgery. The surgery may be successful, but you still have to recover and get back your strength. The same goes with sin. You are absolved, but the lingering affects still need to be worked out either in this life or in Purgatory.
But the important point, the thing that you should rejoice over, is that you are squared away with God and in His grace.
But the important point, the thing that you should rejoice over, is that you are squared away with God and in His grace.
F
fred_conty
Guest
Sometimes with certain sins, especially those ending human life, the thought comes that they can’t be forgiven since there is no way to make it up to that person, that is, giving back human life. With money the feelings are different, we can return it. And so the feeling is since I can’t give it back, then how can I be forgiven?I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
Because Jesus, who is the creater of that human life you took, said “I forgive you for taking that life.” And that ends that story because He is the very author of Human life. And what He says, He means. " Y o u are forgiven, go in peace." And because He said that, He will in some way, His own hidden way, make it up. Trust Him. Absolutely. He means He loves you and wants you forever to be with Him. It is all behind you because He says so, the very God who made the universe and all it contains. God is truth and love bigger than any universe. He says go in peace it is all over. Take your rest from it, you are free of it forever. You should feel great and loving toward Him and by the way, cry your eyes out that He is so kind and gentle and good. His is the story of love that can’t be matched. “Learn of Me for I am meek and humble of Heart.” He has paid the price of all sins nailed on that Cross, and He has applied the price of forgiveness to you.
He said to the crippled man on the pallet lowered thru the ceiling of the house,“your sins are forgiven.” The people who brought the man complained because they wanted Jesus to make him walk. Then Jesus said,“which is greater, to forgive sins or to make a man walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has the power to forgive sins, I say to you arise and walk.” And the man got up and walked(free of sin).
We are so blessed.
B
baltobetsy
Guest
It’s perfectly normal to not feel forgiven right away, or even after a long time. Abortion is a major trauma. Please contact Project Rachel for help with healing after abortion. Many have received much benefit from it.
God bless you.
God bless you.
O
otjm
Guest
No, it is an emotion. Sins are intentional acts. Emotions are not intentional acts.
You may want to look into the program Rachel’s Vineyard; it is for those who have had an abortion and are tryting to come to terms with the issue.
God bless, and may you find peace with yourself.
You may want to look into the program Rachel’s Vineyard; it is for those who have had an abortion and are tryting to come to terms with the issue.
God bless, and may you find peace with yourself.
M
Maureen1125
Guest
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/april/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20080405_istituto-gpii_en.html
Although what has been done remains a grave injustice and is not in itself remediable, I make my own the exhortation in Evangelium Vitae addressed to women who have had an abortion: “Do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child” (n. 99).
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"77 "by the very commission of the offense,"78 and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.79 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
I am confused by the obvious contradiction here. In one article the Pope says, you will be forgiven, but in the Formal Code, is says abortion = excommunication. If you are conflicted, call or e-mail you parish Priest and ask for an appointment to see him and really talk it out.
Although what has been done remains a grave injustice and is not in itself remediable, I make my own the exhortation in Evangelium Vitae addressed to women who have had an abortion: “Do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child” (n. 99).
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"77 "by the very commission of the offense,"78 and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.79 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
I am confused by the obvious contradiction here. In one article the Pope says, you will be forgiven, but in the Formal Code, is says abortion = excommunication. If you are conflicted, call or e-mail you parish Priest and ask for an appointment to see him and really talk it out.
B
baltobetsy
Guest
Excommunication does not mean being thrown out of the Church forever. It is meant to be a healing remedy for very serious sins by pointing out just how serious they are. All sins can be forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, including those that involve excommunication. It’s just that some of them require additional steps like consultation with the bishop or even the Vatican in some cases (like a personal assault upon the Pope). Abortion is, sadly, such a common occurrence today that most priests have been given the authority to lift this excommunication as part of a normal confession without any special procedures
There is no contradiction here at all.*
C
Corki
Guest
Yes, abortion = excommunication but excommunication does not = unforgivable.I am confused by the obvious contradiction here. In one article the Pope says, you will be forgiven, but in the Formal Code, is says abortion = excommunication. If you are conflicted, call or e-mail you parish Priest and ask for an appointment to see him and really talk it out.
First of all, the excommunication only applies in certain circumstances (ie, the person formally involved, had to know it was an excommunicable offense, not being coerced, etc.).
Excommunications are meant to be a serious call to repentance and have a medicinal effect, not to cut someone off from forgiveness.
**All **sins can be forgiven. If a sin carries the penalty of excommunication, the first step is ALWAYS to go to Confession. Most excommunications can be lifted by the Bishop, in which case the priest hearing the confession completes the process after hearing the confession. In the case of abortion, in most diocese in the US, the Bishop has delgated the permission to lift the excommunication for abortion to pastor in the diocese.
For the OP, the Sacrament was the first step but some more healing needs to be done. As has been mentioned, programs such as Rachel’s Vinyard may help with completing the healing process.
J
jegow
Guest
I tell people that Satan enjoys bringing up old guilt to make us feel as though we have not received God’s forgiveness. I would say this might be your case; that even though God has forgiven you, the guilt still remains. Maybe because you need to make satisfaction for those sins - that last part of Confession where we make reparation to the sin committed.I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
Satisfaction (from CCC)
1459 Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.62 Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must “make satisfaction for” or “expiate” his sins. This satisfaction is also called “penance.”
1460 The *penance *the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent’s personal situation and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond as far as possible with the gravity and nature of the sins committed. It can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we must bear. Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all. They allow us to become co-heirs with the risen Christ, "provided we suffer with him."63
O
otjm
Guest
While it results in formal excommunication, the process of resolving that issue is done by the priest hearing the confession; this was done because abortion has become so widespread. One does not have to go through any process to have the excommunication lifted (and this applies in most circumstances).vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/april/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20080405_istituto-gpii_en.html
Although what has been done remains a grave injustice and is not in itself remediable, I make my own the exhortation in Evangelium Vitae addressed to women who have had an abortion: “Do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child” (n. 99).
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"77 "by the very commission of the offense,"78 and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.79 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
I am confused by the obvious contradiction here. In one article the Pope says, you will be forgiven, but in the Formal Code, is says abortion = excommunication. If you are conflicted, call or e-mail you parish Priest and ask for an appointment to see him and really talk it out.
S
smichhertz
Guest
Feeling forgiven and being forgiven are two different things. There are times when people forgive us for things we have done, but we still feel about what we did. That doesn’t mean that the person didn’t forgive us.I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
Are you seeking help? Are you going to any sort of therapy for this? Many times women need to seek therapy after abortions. Project Rachel is a great resource for this:
hopeafterabortion.com/
You are in my prayers.
R
RosaryFan
Guest
It is very tempting to feel like our sins are too horrible even for God to forgive. But don’t doubt God’s mercy! His mercy is MUCH greater than any sin you can imagine! Someone recommended Rache’s Vineyard. I think that’s a good idea. I know some women who participated, evey many years after their abortion, and they found much peace from the experience.I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
Sometimes, confession is just the first step to healing after an abortion. You’re on your way. Don’t be tempted to take two steps back, now. Your sin is forgiven. We all make mistakes in life and have to deal with the consequences. God knows and understands this. That’s why He forgives any and all sins for which we are sorry.
F
fred_conty
Guest
Just a thought, but anyone who feels bad over what they did can lay on a psyciatrist’s couch day after day, and at the end of that time, the psyciatrist can’t do for us what we need the most:lift the guilt we have carried for so long. One “I absolve you” does it and it is lifted. IN that short time, Jesus does for us what we cannot do, “peace be with you.”I have had two abortions. I went to confession and received absolution. I still don’t feel forgiven is this a sin?
When one offends against another, tho we may say to that person “I’m sorry”, and they say “it’s ok”, the sin still remains. Because the sin is against God and God is the one who must forgive us. The neighbor could say all day long, your sin is forgiven, and it doesn’t accomplish that. Only God can do that because He, and He alone is Creator of everything good which we damaged. And only when He says it is forgiven, thru his consecrated priest, is it forgiven for good.
The other part of this is sorrow.
Ask our Lady of Sorrows, the seven sorrows, to bring you to peace with your sorrow. Ask her to show you how to use your sorrow in gratitude for her son’s forgiveness. Ask her to be your guide and refuge offering up your pain so that others will avoid this.
Unite your sorrow to her’s in a loving way turning it into something that will please Jesus very much. Accept this cross and unit it to the crucified sorrowful Jesus so more sinners will turn to Him and away from their sin.
For many are we, and broken we’ve come, but we shall become one.
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