Question on forgiveness

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Hello again, today I’m asking about forgiveness. When some Catholics sin, mortal or venial, they seem to think: ‘Darn, I’ve stuffed up, oh well, I’ll do better next time.’ They then continue to act like perfect Catholics etc etc. (Sorry if this barely makes sense)

I think a little differently. I feel that when I sin mortal or venial, I’ve placed a big barrier between me and God. I don’t have the right of calling myself Catholic until I have gotten rid of that barrier. Getting rid of that barrier can take a day or two for me before I feel like I’ve made myself better again spiritually and can continue being an ‘Active’ Catholic.

Does anyone else have some deranged senses of forgiveness? 😉
 
scimitar60 said:
Hello again, today I’m asking about forgiveness. When some Catholics sin, mortal or venial, they seem to think: ‘Darn, I’ve stuffed up, oh well, I’ll do better next time.’ They then continue to act like perfect Catholics etc etc. (Sorry if this barely makes sense)

I think a little differently. I feel that when I sin mortal or venial, I’ve placed a big barrier between me and God. I don’t have the right of calling myself Catholic until I have gotten rid of that barrier. Getting rid of that barrier can take a day or two for me before I feel like I’ve made myself better again spiritually and can continue being an ‘Active’ Catholic.

Does anyone else have some deranged senses of forgiveness? 😉
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Well, I believe that God wants us to pick ourselves off, dust ourselves off, and start all over again. Of course, we can’t do that without him. You mustn’t be TOO hard on yourself. You are a beloved Catholic no matter what and God loves you right where you are. You simply can’t make yourself better again spiritually without Reconciliation. However, I do understand the feeling of unworthiness. That’s when I want to get to Confession as fast as possible. The Devil waits for us in ambush, not God. That barrier you build is never bigger than our loving God. Never be afraid to climb over it, and even better, don’t start building it! :heaven: 😛
 
To me, I think that if you make a good confession, and are truly sorry, then when the priest forgives you and your penence is finished, then it is over with.
If you truly believe that God forgives us, then why in the world do you want something that’s over with hanging around your neck? Either you believe God forgives, or you don’t.
If God has forgiven us, who are we to keep it going?
 
A priest once told me that to not forgive myself for something that was forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the height of Pride. How dare I refuse to forgive myself, or anyone else for that matter, if I am aware that Christ Himself has done so?
I think the problem, and the reason Christ told us to forgive 70 X 7, is because, though he forgives perfectly the first time, we are so imperfect that we must do so over and over again, getting it just a little more perfect each time.
Once I have forgiven someone, if it comes to mind again, I must realize that my prior forgiveness was less than perfect and that I must forgive that person again for whatever the sin was, not for their sake, but for my own…
 
I’m reading the diary of St. Faustina. The way she writes about God, He would rather that we come to Him with great confidence in His mercy instead of beating ourselves up over our sins. So, even though we’re really sorry for sinning, God would prefer us to focus on His mercy and feel grateful for His forgiveness. After He’s forgiven us, we should do Him the favor of not hanging on to our guilt.
 
I don’t think it is deranged. If I have a big unconfessed sin hanging over me I won’t go to Communion and I guess I do feel a little unworthy in the Church. That said, it comes full circle when I have confessed and recieved Gods forgiveness. I don’t think its necessarily bad to feel this way!
 
Thanks for the answers guys, looks like im not as insane as I thought I was 😉
 
You are now and will always be Catholic. Sin does not remove that from you. Remember the prodigal son? He had his little speech all ready for his father, including the line, “I am not worthy to be called your son.” His father would hear nothing of it - he was just overjoyed to have his son back - his son who had never ceased being his beloved son.

By the way, I just love that expression you use, “I’ve stuffed up!” 😃 Where are you from? I’ve never heard that expression here in the USA.

Betsy
 
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