Should I re-confess?

[jrs88]

When I was younger, somewhere between the age of 9 and 12, I committed a grave sin that was very embarrassing to confess. I’m not sure it was mortal because I did not fully understand the gravity at the time. I tried confessing this twice but was much too vague. Finally a few years ago I managed to confess it in what seemed to be enough detail. However I am having doubts now. When I confessed it, I told him it was when I was younger, and tried to use terms to describe it which were not too detailed. I think I then asked something along the lines of whether he needed more details, he hesitated and said, well it was when you were a youngster? And I said yes. However I later realized he was probably thinking it was before the age of reason, which would make it not a sin, but it wasn’t. Do you think I am still forgiven? Or do I need to confess this again, as he may have needed more detail if he knew it was after the age of reason? I may reconfess this tomorrow just so I can stop worrying, but I guess if it was unanimous that I was already forgiven it would be nice to save myself the embarassment once again. This priest was an excellent priest and confessor.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[schaeffer]

confess it fully and you won’t have to worry about it any more.

it sounds like it has been weighing on your soul long enough.

it is keeping you from full communion by its hold on your soul. Let it go.

 

[ae22]

Yes, it is forgiven. Re-confess it if it’ll make you feel better, but you don’t have to.

You said you didn’t fully understand the gravity of it at the time. That, by definition, means it wasn’t mortal.

 

[CB_Catholic]

When one confesses a sin and they know it has been absolved (which it has in your case) it should not be reconfessed. The priest who heard your confession is not stupid–he heard enough of what you had to say it to determine he could absolve you. He is acting in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the one forgiving you. That is like saying one does not trust Christ in the matter. One may think it is themselves they don’t trust, but that is not really the case. They do not trust what the Church is telling them. You yourself said you made a confession which you felt was in enough detail, the priest thought it was ok, the rest is second guessing yourself. Don’t slip into scrupulosity and doubt, that is a miserable spiritual condition.

One other thing–you said you thought that because of your age the sin might not have even been mortal–that is a good perception. Leave it there. The sin is confessed,absolved, forgiven–don’t look back. Jesus wants us to move forward.

 

[po18guy]

First, the Lord knows exactly what sin you committed. Second, He knows that you intended to confess it, no matter how poorly you might have done so. Third, the Priest took that sin and bore it up to God for destruction. Fourth, God destroyed the sin, but not your memory of it. This is so that you can recall the gravity of the situation and it will help you to avoid such sin in the future. Fifth, and this applies right now: the devil is the father of lies, and of doubt. If you are doubting, it is not God that is inspiring you to doubt - it is the evil one inciting you to doubt. It would be good and helpful for you to mention this to father outside of confession, since you need not mention the sin, but only the doubts. Doubts are like a small fire - either we control them now, or they will control us then.

 

[z_0101]

First, the Lord knows exactly what sin you committed. Second, He knows that you intended to confess it, no matter how poorly you might have done so. Third, the Priest took that sin and bore it up to God for destruction. Fourth, God destroyed the sin, but not your memory of it. This is so that you can recall the gravity of the situation and it will help you to avoid such sin in the future. Fifth, and this applies right now: the devil is the father of lies, and of doubt. If you are doubting, it is not God that is inspiring you to doubt - it is the evil one inciting you to doubt. It would be good and helpful for you to mention this to father outside of confession, since you need not mention the sin, but only the doubts. Doubts are like a small fire - either we control them now, or they will control us then.

Couldn’t have said this any better myself!
Especially the need for a little spiritual guidance.