Nightmares

[bottomboy]

Hello all,

Lately I have been having terrible nightmares about sins that I committed years ago. They are coming back to haunt me, despite my having confessed to them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

My Question is, is this normal? Can forgiven sins come back to bite you in the backside?

Also would like to know if the bad spirit could be responsible for this, or is it just my own guilt? What is the official Church teaching on this?

Thanks for your answers

 

[DavidFilmer]

My Question is, is this normal? Can forgiven sins come back to bite you in the backside?

Yes, of course. Having obtained forgiveness does not absolve us from remorse (nor should it). We are (hopefully) sorry for our sins, whether or not we have obtained forgiveness for them. Our sorrow does not somehow go away after Confession.

Also would like to know if the bad spirit could be responsible for this, or is it just my own guilt?

What you describe is perfectly natural and normal. so I wouldn’t blame it on some demon.

What is the official Church teaching on this?

The Church teaches that your post-Baptismal sins are forgiven through Sacramental Confession. You are OK with God.

But, if the sin involves another person, you may not be OK with that person (and you may never be OK). Even if the person is unaware (a man, for example, cheats on his wife), you will (and should) continue to experience remorse.

There are things we do, but regret all of our lives, even if the thing is not sinful. We might say, “I should never have moved to Cleveland.” If we can have lifelong regret about doing something which is not even sinful, why should Confession indemnify us from regret over something that WAS sinful?

 

[mommy_k]

I would suggest getting some Holy Water and blessing yourself with it at bedtime.

 

[Robert_Sock]

I still have dreams involving how I sinned in the past too. I have been fasting on Fridays as an additional penance for my sins and to better enable me to amend my life.

LOVE!

 

[AndrewRuki]

Yes, of course. Having obtained forgiveness does not absolve us from remorse (nor should it). We are (hopefully) sorry for our sins, whether or not we have obtained forgiveness for them. Our sorrow does not somehow go away after Confession.

What you describe is perfectly natural and normal. so I wouldn’t blame it on some demon.

The Church teaches that your post-Baptismal sins are forgiven through Sacramental Confession. You are OK with God.

But, if the sin involves another person, you may not be OK with that person (and you may never be OK). Even if the person is unaware (a man, for example, cheats on his wife), you will (and should) continue to experience remorse.

There are things we do, but regret all of our lives, even if the thing is not sinful. We might say, “I should never have moved to Cleveland.” If we can have lifelong regret about doing something which is not even sinful, why should Confession indemnify us from regret over something that WAS sinful?

Peace be with you Brother/sister.

I totally agree with this.

The Lord has forgiven and forgotten my sin, but I, still remember. I do have a hard time forgiving myself. Still, if the Lord has already forgiven me, why do I still hold on?

If you have wronged another person, I suggest that you reconcile with him/her.

Be at peace, for the peace that the Lord gives you is unlike any peace that the world can give.

Dominus vobiscum.

Andrew