Lingering Guilt After Confession

[Drew518]

See I can actually p(name removed by moderator)oint the sins that are still lingering. But they were things I confessed in July. I confessed a lot then, but there were just two in particular that are the ones that still linger. Maybe its cause I said them wrong?

 

[R_C]

See I can actually p(name removed by moderator)oint the sins that are still lingering. But they were things I confessed in July. I confessed a lot then, but there were just two in particular that are the ones that still linger. Maybe its cause I said them wrong?

Why not agree with your confessor to meet for a time of spiritual direction? This way you can express these things to him openly, and maybe afterwards confess with a more perfect disposition

Thank you. The fear of purgatory or hell is really scary to me. I know ive done really bad stuff in the past. But ive been working to change all that.

Well, let me add a note…Purgatory is not to be feared!

See, this is a widely accepted understanding of the states of the soul after death: the soul experiences without any limitations or constrictions the love of God, which is described so often as “a fire”.

This “fire of love” we have all experienced in a figurative, reflected way. For instance, when we are in love, or when we run for a finish line and we are getting closer, etc. Often times, we could cry out of sheer joy in a way that looks just like when we are sad. It is said of the Lord: “the zeal for your house burns me”. It is also said that the Seraphim closest to God’s beatific vision burn of love (thus the term “seraphic fire”).

What I am trying to say is this: God’s love is like fire. To the saints, the holy souls, this is a fire of joy, of love, of ecstasy.

Now we know (we always have, since apostolic days!) that the souls in purgatory are holy. We refer to them as the saints of the Church Penitent, to distinguish them from the saints of the Church Triumphant before the Beatific Vision, the contemplation of God face to face.

A soul in the state of purgatory is a soul that has run the race and kept the faith; a soul that has won the crown of glory reserved for her; a soul that will see God face to face!

However, due to inherent imperfections of our earthly lives, we will perceive our being sullied, or somewhat not ready to enter the Holy of Holies. Consider Zechariah 3:

He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord …]Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments from off him.”

And unto him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel. And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head”.

So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of the Lord was standing by. And the angel of the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these that stand by.”

Now this is an example, as God was speaking to the man in the vision through an angel. But the sense is clear. Many of us will be rejoicing but realizing we are still dressed in filthy clothes, still incapable to love perfectly. This will lead to an interior state of purification, of purgation, as if by fire, but with great inner peace and rejoicing, and with the persistent aid of the prayers, works, and sacrifices of the Church Militant on earth.

That is not to be feared! But it is better to long for heaven. Then we will desire to live our purgatory out here on earth.

 

[ccmcmg]

See I can actually p(name removed by moderator)oint the sins that are still lingering. But they were things I confessed in July. I confessed a lot then, but there were just two in particular that are the ones that still linger. Maybe its cause I said them wrong?

I doubt you said them wrong. I think the feelings you are experiencing are from the ‘dark side’, wanting you to feel unforgiven. He wants to draw you away from God in any way he can. Are you having attachment to those sins? Have you committed them again?

Go to confession again, and mention this to the priest: I’m feeling lingering guilt over the sins I confessed and was forgiven for previously. You said it was in July; after returning to the Church one year ago, I can’t imagine going 6 months without a good confession! To each his own, but I enjoy regular confessions; it keeps me on the straight(er) and narrow path.

Are you feeling guilt and not forgiving yourself? You MUST forgive yourself, for God has forgiven us. Are they sins that others have committed against you, and you can’t forgive them? Just some thoughts.

God bless.

 

[Drew518]

I doubt you said them wrong. I think the feelings you are experiencing are from the ‘dark side’, wanting you to feel unforgiven. He wants to draw you away from God in any way he can. Are you having attachment to those sins? Have you committed them again?

Go to confession again, and mention this to the priest: I’m feeling lingering guilt over the sins I confessed and was forgiven for previously. You said it was in July; after returning to the Church one year ago, I can’t imagine going 6 months without a good confession! To each his own, but I enjoy regular confessions; it keeps me on the straight(er) and narrow path.

Are you feeling guilt and not forgiving yourself? You MUST forgive yourself, for God has forgiven us. Are they sins that others have committed against you, and you can’t forgive them? Just some thoughts.

God bless.

I haven’t committed these sins again. I think its really just the thought of missing on Heaven cause of my past. Ive vowed not to do these things again. I think its really just the fear of one thing keeping me from Heaven and sending me to hell. I want Heaven now and want to do everything to please the Lord.

 

[Christina7783]

So im having a little bit of trouble recently. Im feeling guilty about stuff ive already confessed to. Its strange cause this past Saturday I was feeling fantastic after confession and mass. I literally thought I was going to jump out of my own skin cause I was so happy. Today, totally different story. Guess it started when I started to read about purgatory and hell. It sort of feels like I didn’t confess them correctly or something. Ive been trying to get away from all my mortal sins, but I lived such a bad life style for the first 22 years of my life, I don’t know if I can remember all of them.

Ive been making positive changes in my life since I came back to God this past July. Reading the daily bible passage(if not more), praying, attending mass regularly, regular confession. It just stinks to have this lingering guilt. This feeling that I didn’t confess properly or I forgot something. I don’t want to be separated from God forever because of this. Any advice?

I understand how you feel. I was born and raised Catholic, but fell off track once I moved out of my parents house. I did so many horrible things that I would rather not mention including having a child out of wedlock…I decided to get my life back on track when I met my husband and went to confession for the first time in about 15 years! I felt good afterwards but not great because I intentionally left out some of the horrible things I did because I was embarrassed. I prayed after that for strength to confess the sins I didn’t last time. I went back a couple weeks later and confessed every single embarrassing thing that I didn’t the time before. I had a page full! Words can’t describe how great I felt afterwards. I was literally jumping for joy because I felt so amazing to get all those horrible things off my chest! One thing the priest told me was that once you go to confession all your sins are automatically forgiven. Even the ones that you can’t remember. You are not expected to remember every little sin you committed during your life, especially if you haven’t been to confession in years! You may not forget all the bad things you have done, but God has. Once you go to confession He forgives and forgets. I know it may be hard for you to forget and you may still feel guilty, but as long as you have confessed the sins that you could remember and didn’t lie or hold back anything in confession, you are forgiven and have nothing to worry about. I don’t know if you say this in confession after you confess your sins but this is what I say: " I am sorry for these sins and all the sins of my past life, and those I can’t remember, I am very sorry." God Bless!