Is Sin Retroactive?

[Starwynd]

Here’s what I mean.

I’ve done many things in the past before i became a Catholic. Do I have to confess all of them to be forgiven? Or do I only have to confess the sins I commit after my conversion?

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

If you are not baptized, no. Baptism washes away original, past and present sin.

Are you a baptized believer of another Christian faith? Then you must make a good initial confession. Hit the highlights. Go down the list of 10 commandments. Do it with perfect contrition, that is be sorry for your sin because you offended God, not because you afraid of death and hell.

newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm
The Sacrament of Penance

 

[baltobetsy]

If you have been baptized already and will be making a confession, you need to confess all the sins (which you can recall with a reasonably good effort) which you knew were sinful at the time you committed them. If you did something and only later discovered that it was wrong, then, AT THE TIME, it was not a sin for you, and it need not be confessed. Now that you have a better idea of right and wrong, you will need to confess all the things that you have done wrong since learning of their sinfulness. Of course, I am speaking only of mortal sins. You may leave your venial sins out if you wish, although it can be very helpful to confess them. But for your first confession, unless there’s a clear pattern of venial sin that you want help with, I’d say leave them out.

Betsy

 

[thistle]

Here’s what I mean.

I’ve done many things in the past before i became a Catholic. Do I have to confess all of them to be forgiven? Or do I only have to confess the sins I commit after my conversion?

If you are already baptised you have to confess past sins. I was born and brought up Methodist and so validly baptised. I converted when I was 44 years old. My confession took more than one hour.

If you are not baptised then no need for confession before conversion as your baptism will take away both original and personal sins.

 

[StCsDavid]

Here’s what I mean.

I’ve done many things in the past before i became a Catholic. Do I have to confess all of them to be forgiven? Or do I only have to confess the sins I commit after my conversion?

I would begin with the sins that you know are mortal. When I was away from the faith for some 15 years, there were things I did that I knew at the time were morally wrong, of a serious nature, and yet I did them anyway. I would also suggest you make a private appointment with the priest so you can have more time without the pressure of a line of folks waiting for their turn.

 

[steve975]

If you are not baptised then no need for confession before conversion as your baptism will take away both original and personal sins.

Wow, I was not aware of this. If this is the case, why did Constantine confess on his deathbed when he finally converted? Couldn’t he have simply been baptized and been done with it?

Boy do I ever wish I could be baptized again! I’ve got one tough confession coming up!

 

[bpbasilphx]

**Wow, I was not aware of this. If this is the case, why did Constantine confess on his deathbed when he finally converted? **

Because that was the custom at the time.

 

[Nickkname]

Here’s what I mean.

I’ve done many things in the past before i became a Catholic. Do I have to confess all of them to be forgiven? Or do I only have to confess the sins I commit after my conversion?

The water of Baptism washes away the stains of sin from the soul. So you don’t need to confess any sins you’ve committed before becoming Catholic. Baptism makes you squeaky clean!

 

[Sir_Knight]

The water of Baptism washes away the stains of sin from the soul. So you don’t need to confess any sins you’ve committed before becoming Catholic. Baptism makes you squeaky clean!

Correction … you don’t need to confess any sins you’ve committed before becoming Christian.