Sins of the past

[reclaimed]

If I have some potentially mortal sins from a few years ago that I end up remembering… and not being sure whether I confessed them or not, though I most likely did… should I confess them even though they’ve been forgiven just by the fact that I never remembered them and have since always gone into the confessional with the intention of making a good confession? Should I keep confessing them every time I think of something and can’t remember if I confessed it or not? Does this make any sense? Thanks.

 

[CarrieH]

I’m no expert on whether you have to confess these sins, but there is no harm in doing so as long as you don’t keep confessing the same sins over and over again. I have done the same thing myself, being a convert. As I have grown in faith, I have become aware of past sins which I didn’t think were such a big deal at the time, so I will confess these, saying something such as, “I did [whatever sin] a few years/months/weeks ago. I’m not sure if I remembered to confess it at the time, so I’m confessing it now.” I have also confessed past sins, telling the priest that at the time I sinned, I didn’t “get it” that the sin in question was bad enough that it needed to be confessed, but now I have a better understanding about it and I realize that I should have confessed it at the time. My priests have been nothing but supportive of this, usually telling me to give thanks to God for making such a good confession. So when in doubt, confess it!

 

[teachccd]

If something remembered from the past completely falls outside the realm of sins that you struggle with today then you might mention it if you really cannot remember confessing it. You must be very cautious of not falling into scrupulosity which can cause you to never feel forgiven. Satan is very good at keeping one in that state so that they never feel “worthy enough” to move towards God. If you have a couple of possible mortal sins from the past that are really bothering you then confess and forget. Look to the future and quit trying to dig up anything that will cause you to continally feel unforgiven.

Christ died for you and He knows your heart. Accept His mercy and leave the rest to Him. He loves you and wants you more than anyone could ever imagine. Peace…teachccd

 

[rwoehmke]

Keep going to confession regularly to the same priest. He will get to know your voice and as long as he encourages you to do what you are doing no problem. It is a fact that all those sins have been forgiven in past good confessions and unless you are absolutely convinced you knew they were mortal sins at the time, I would personally recommend leaving them alone. A sin in the past cannot become retroactively mortal because you are now smarter.

 

[fbl9]

i have read that it is a good pratise to confess previously forgetten sin that where overlooked.ie when i came back in my first confession if i where to list the number and types of sins i might just be getting out of the confessional now.sincere contrition is the main component of a good confession.there is one sin of mine that although i haven’t confessed it i know i was forgiven of it,like the op stated i just didn’t know it was really that serious like i do now.i once lived a life full of mortal sin yet still recieved comunion( only on an ocassionaly basis) in a state of mortal sin,i would recgonize my life going even further in the gutter and i would try to go to mass to recieve the Eucharist in an atempt to halt the downward slide.since i didn’t beleive in the church there where many doctrines of the truth i didn’t believe in,about the only thing i beleived in was the Eucharist and even at that i beleived one recieved Christ in communion in any church that taught a beleif of the presence.but now due to the Grace of God i am where i belong and sumbit to the Christ given authority of His church,and no other "church"will ever cause me not to be member of His one true holy and apostolic church.