Must we confess past sins?

[imo]

So, my question is this: until more or less 1 year ago, I was just a “nominal” Catholic, not really trying to understand the faith, the doctrine, the commandments, what is a sin, etc. So I commit a huge amount of things that I know that are sins now, but I didn’t in the past. Well, I have a vaguely idea it was wrong, sinful, but never really care or grasp the necessity to be in a state of grace. So, must I confess all this sins that I remember in the past?

 

[Timeflies2me]

Say all the sins you remember, then after all those mention " and Father forgive me for any other sins that I do not remember or forgotten". The simplest way really, I say that at the end just in case I did forget anything.

 

[imo]

Thanks. Good idea!

 

[Bluebright]

I was away from the church for a while (so a little in common with your situation) and when I returned I asked the priest the same question as you’ve asked here and he said to let God guide me and confess what I remember as it comes back to me. So do what the poster above has recommended to you and then also if anything pops into your mind and bugs you then confess that. It worked for me over the years. God bless

 

[CTBcin]

Confess everything you can remember since the last time you went to confession. And ask for forgiveness for everything you cannot remember. God doesn’t ask the impossible.

When I first became Catholic, I had make a confession. Recalling every single sin I committed since baptism was impossible, so I simply tried to remember everything I could, and if I couldn’t remember everything in detail, at least give generalities. The most important thing is to be honest and contrite.

 

[OddBird]

It may be best to ask Father how to deal with it.

My own regular confessor told me I was welcome to mention forgotten sins from the past if they are bothering me, but not to expect absolution for them since they have been absolved in previous confessions (as long as I didn’t withhold them on purpose, which is a whole other matter).