sacrilege

[miller_john]

Iam an old man now, recently, I have had terrible feelings that I may not have confessed all of my mortal sins during the past twenty years or so. I very much doubt that I have ever gone to confession, and deliberately withheld any mortal sin. My memory is not as sharp as it once was, and now I have this great fear that I may have committed a sacrilege.
I have had my three score years and ten, and know that I may not have many more years, or even months left, I do fear the worst. I do honestly try and receive the sacraments as often as possible, but perhaps Iam making matters worse. Is there anything I can do to put things right

 

[puzzleannie]

I very much doubt that I have ever gone to confession, and deliberately withheld any mortal sin. My memory is not as sharp as it once was, and now I have this great fear that I may have committed a sacrilege.

Unless you know you deliberately made a bad confession and withheld mortal sins, your past confessions were good and all your past sins have been absolved, even those you may have forgotten. You cannot sin by accident or forgetfulness or through senior moment, it has to be deliberate and willful.

I feel sure your priest when next you mention your troubled feelings will tell you to put those past-- confessed, absolved, forgiven, erased–sins behind you.

Fortunately as we get older we also forget how to do a lot of those sins of our youth, and couldn’t manage to do them even if we could remember how.

 

[mommyof4]

John, I think many of us go through periods of doubting if we have made good confessions, etc. It may be helpful for you to go and speak to your priest about this matter. Please, just remember, that Jesus loves you, and He is worthy of your trust.

Keeping you in prayer,
Mary

 

[Pregustator]

If you recall any mortal sins that you believe you have forgotten in the past, it suffices to confess them the next time you go. But if you’ve confessed all the mortal sins you could recall, any others that you did not recall are likewise forgiven, in any case.

Bear in mind that Penance is the Sacrament of God’s mercy, not of His exacting and of His wrath. If you’ve made an honest effort to confess and repent, you’re golden.

Go in peace.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Unless you know you deliberately made a bad confession and withheld mortal sins, your past confessions were good and all your past sins have been absolved, even those you may have forgotten. You cannot sin by accident or forgetfulness or through senior moment, it has to be deliberate and willful.

I feel sure your priest when next you mention your troubled feelings will tell you to put those past-- confessed, absolved, forgiven, erased–sins behind you.

Fortunately as we get older we also forget how to do a lot of those sins of our youth, and couldn’t manage to do them even if we could remember how.

Your last line reminds me of my friend’s mother in her 90’s who has been confined to her bed for a while. She got very sick and my friend called the hospital chaplain to come hear her confession and give her Communion.

When the priest came and told her he would hear her confession, the elderly lady looked at him and said “Confession? What the H— kind of sins do I have to confess lying in bed all the time?”

Her daughter, who was about to leave, looked at her and said “Swearing?”

 

[RosaryCrusader]

You could also try your best to recall all the sins of your life and make a good general confession.