Still beating myself up for sin

[pwlj_christ87]

I am still beating myself up for a sin that has been forgiven to me in confession. Usually I go to confession and do penance and that is that, i dont think about it anymore after, start fresh etc. but this time I am fearful, for myself, for my eternal stake… i am ashamed of my sin so much and in my nature, you know the blatant dismissal of god when doing it, now i know i am in a state of grace, but i cant help still beat myself up, is this a good thing maybe? maybe i am being taught the severity of such actions, i hope so, because while definately not suicidal by any means, i want eternal rest, and such sin is scary to me, because i never want to fall into it again

 

[BobCatholic]

but this time I am fearful, for myself, for my eternal stake…

Did you confess this sin and do penance? If yes, then you’re forgiven. Game over.

If you are still fearful for your eternal soul AFTER this, you are denying Christ’s power to forgive - so don’t do that!

Sin is not like a skunk attack and confession is a shower where you still stink after showering. God’s grace is 50 trillion power Tomato sauce on skunk smell. You’ll smell like Tomatoes not skunk God’s grace heals all wounds that are presented to it. No exceptions.

Listen to Bob Newhart.
youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw

Beating yourself up for sin? STOP IT

 

[JRKH]

I think that indeed there is a “lesson” in this. There are sins that once we realize them can drive us to horrible anguish. It’s not a matter of our not accepting forgiveness - for we do.
It’s more a matter of purging ourselves…Sort of a self imposed penance that can serve to build up such a wall of hatred for that sin that it could become nearly impossible to ever commit it again.
Gradually - over time - the horror and anguish will abate but the memory and the lesseon will remain…

How do I know???

Been there - - - Done that…:bighanky:

In today’s society there is a desire to purge guilt…There is even a sort of running joke in both Catholicism and Judaism about guilt…The Jewish or Catholic mother playing the “guilt card” on their kids is probably the most common…
But the fact is that guilt is a useful tool given us by God for our benefit. Guilt does not mean that you are “getting down on yourself”. it means that you are taking a good hard look at yourself. That you recognize problems and seek to improve. Guilt helps us to do that. Remove guilt and there is no need to improve.

Now guilt can certainly be misapplied and misused and can lead to despair - but it doesn’t have to.

You know you are forgiven so hang on to that. You know you are sorrowful, embarrassed and sad…so use that extra “penance” to fortify yourself against any future attacks by the enemy and temptations to sin.

Peace
James

 

[Rabih86]

My sibling in Christ,

I have committed a sin a few years back that made me so ashamed of myself it drove me away from the Church. When God blessed me with the courage to confess it, it was like a thorn that was taken out of my side. I’m telling you, now I lead a Happy, Faithful life dedicated to God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Mother Mary, and to St. Francis as I have recently joined the Secular Franciscan Order in Lebanon. My experience and spiritual up-brining taught me that we should never become victims of our past. We should never fall into the trap of guilt that satan probably wants us to feel, to distance ourselves from the Church. Leave the past to God as St. Augustine said, and start working on yourself to become a better Christian NOW, to serve your community in the future free of any distresses and emotional tension your past might have had.

You have received God’s grace and you have been absolved of your sin, like our siblings had already said, you should stop there, clear your conscience because it is already cleared for you by God because falling into the trap of guilt will never let you move forward and progress in life. Know that you are in my prayers and that our Merciful God is always by the side and in those who repent and who chose to have the courage to lead a healthy spiritual life. Move forward! Recite the Rosary (as it is our Weapon against evil: Padre Pio)! Continue with Confession, and receive the Grace of the Eucharist, and you as all who do such amazingly courageous things, will be granted Eternal Life.

Praise be to our Savior Jesus Christ, our Mother Mary, and to the Holy Spirit!

 

[Golf_Zulu]

Following one of my first confessions after returning from an extended absence from the Church, I commented to my confessor that getting God’s forgivness was the easy part. Forgiving myself was much harder. His responce was that God forgives and forgets, Humans say they forgive but they remember.

 

[pwlj_christ87]

thank you for all your responses very useful.

my only hope is that god gives everyone a chance to repent before dying, i think that is only fair. i am grateful that we have the sacrament of reconciliation, and that it can be made available to everyone, and ih ope that everyone does repent.

This has made me stronger, but again I dont like the fact that we might sin, i think its because my outlook on this sin wasnt particular strong, well ti was, but not really… i dont like the philosophy that you can sin becaouse christ forgave, im grateful for the church, i can only pray and hope and not feel sad that i wont make it to heaven,

also i have tos tart reading the word more, i am reading our holy fathers book jesus of nazareth which is amazing

 

[Jeanne_S]

I am still beating myself up for a sin that has been forgiven to me in confession. Usually I go to confession and do penance and that is that, i dont think about it anymore after, start fresh etc. but this time I am fearful, for myself, for my eternal stake… i am ashamed of my sin so much and in my nature, you know the blatant dismissal of god when doing it, now i know i am in a state of grace, but i cant help still beat myself up, is this a good thing maybe? maybe i am being taught the severity of such actions, i hope so, because while definately not suicidal by any means, i want eternal rest, and such sin is scary to me, because i never want to fall into it again

I have dealt with this type of guilt due to grievous sin as well. This is the evil one at work.As long as you don’t trust in God’s great mercy,you stay in a state of ruinous remorse,just what the evil one wants. You have been forgiven,Thank God for His mercy and love and forgiveness,move forward in joy because of Him.

 

[domNoah]

I am still beating myself up for a sin that has been forgiven to me in confession. Usually I go to confession and do penance and that is that, i dont think about it anymore after, start fresh etc. but this time I am fearful, for myself, for my eternal stake… i am ashamed of my sin so much and in my nature, you know the blatant dismissal of god when doing it, now i know i am in a state of grace, but i cant help still beat myself up, is this a good thing maybe? maybe i am being taught the severity of such actions, i hope so, because while definately not suicidal by any means, i want eternal rest, and such sin is scary to me, because i never want to fall into it again

That my friend is a good thing. First we must accept that God has forgiven us, but we must never forgive ourselves for our sins.

If you get a chance listen to this homily called The Fruits of Repentance

Taken from the link above
"Through one good confession we are restored to grace, but to truly have repented is to daily renew our sorrow for past sins. In a sense we are never to forgive ourselves for our offenses to such a good God. Sometimes there is this idea that we should forgive ourselves for our sins and move on.

Not if you wish to walk in the way of perfection dear Christian, St. Benedict the Great Patriarch of Monasticism says that we are to ”daily in their prayers, with tears and sighs, to confess their past sins to God and to amend those sins for the future”[1] St Theresa of Avila also says that “the more they receive from our God, the greater grows their sorrow for sin.”[2]

However, even though life is filled with tears and weeping if we truly love God and hate our sins, “they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5) It is not because of despair that we weep for our sins, but rather because God has filled in our hearts his love and we have come to know Good and Kind of a God we have offended."

 

[Sarcelle]

I am still beating myself up for a sin that has been forgiven to me in confession. Usually I go to confession and do penance and that is that, i dont think about it anymore after, start fresh etc. but this time I am fearful, for myself, for my eternal stake… i am ashamed of my sin so much and in my nature, you know the blatant dismissal of god when doing it, now i know i am in a state of grace, but i cant help still beat myself up, is this a good thing maybe? maybe i am being taught the severity of such actions, i hope so, because while definately not suicidal by any means, i want eternal rest, and such sin is scary to me, because i never want to fall into it again

St. Faustina recalled in her diary that she also was unable to forgive herself of a certain sin, even after confession. She told this to Jesus and He told her that she wounded Him more by her mistrust of His forgiveness than by the commission of the offense itself.

 

[JRKH]

St. Faustina recalled in her diary that she also was unable to forgive herself of a certain sin, even after confession. She told this to Jesus and He told her that she wounded Him more by her mistrust of His forgiveness than by the commission of the offense itself.

This is a good point…but I know from personal experience that it is possible to fully accept and trust in God’s forgiveness and yet still “beat myself up” over past sins.
Of course I can’t speak for the OP, but for me…

The disappointment I feel is not in God, but in myself.

The way I balance this so as to not fall into despair (such as what is intimated above by St Faustina) is to recognize the great potential for sanctification in such memories. The trick in this is twofold…
a) Do not seek to recollect the memories. They will come of their own accord.
b) When they do recur, recognize them for what they are…reaffirm your dedication to not “go there” ever again and thank God anew for his loving forgiveness.

Works for me…

Peace
James

 

[Jeanne_S]

This is a good point…but I know from personal experience that it is possible to fully accept and trust in God’s forgiveness and yet still “beat myself up” over past sins.
Of course I can’t speak for the OP, but for me…

The disappointment I feel is not in God, but in myself.

The way I balance this so as to not fall into despair (such as what is intimated above by St Faustina) is to recognize the great potential for sanctification in such memories. The trick in this is twofold…
a) Do not seek to recollect the memories. They will come of their own accord.
b) When they do recur, recognize them for what they are…reaffirm your dedication to not “go there” ever again and thank God anew for his loving forgiveness.

Works for me…

Peace
James

Good advice.I too often find myself wanting to smack myself upside the head and wonder “I can’t believe I did that” re my grievous sin.