Will all my sins be forgiven?

[cominghome]

I am a 39 year old who has been away from the Church for about 12 years. During that time I have fallen into a life of sin. About six months ago I felt the call back into the Church. As you can see by my name I’m finally “cominghome”. I am getting ready to go to confession for the first time since 1992. I am deathly afraid of going for a number of reasons. Of course I’m afraid of the embarrassment of having to tell a priest that I have sinned so much but I’m even more afraid that I may not be able to remember all my sins.

I know that I need to go to confession in order for my sins to be forgiven. My question is: What happens if I forget to ask forgivness for a sin I may have forgotten about? I know this sounds silly but after so many years of living a sinful life it is difficult to remember them all. I’m sure I have comitted mortal sins that I don’t even remember. I have been praying for the strength to be able to remember my sins and be fully forgiven when I leave the confessional. (Your prayers would also be greatly appreciated.)

 

[mtr01]

Welcome home!

I understand your concern! I had to make a general confession that spanned about 20 years when I came back to the Church. My advice to you, however is to relax. Go over what you can remember, to the best of your ability. As long as you have true contrition and the strong desire to repent, you will be fine. God knows and searches our hearts, and if you truly want to reconcile with Him and His Church, your sins will be forgiven. A very Holy priest once told me that God isn’t like a policeman who is waiting for you to sin, so he can catch you and punish you. If you don’t remember certain sins, they will be forgiven based on your desire for repentence.

Of course, should any of these sins come to mind after you make your confession, you can always discuss them with your priest the next time you go to confession.

Also, try not to be too “embarrased” about telling your priest everything. Technically, you aren’t even telling the priest, you are confessing to God (and he already knows them all), so it wouldn’t be prudent to leave anything out. Also, priests have generally heard everything before, so you wont be alone. And, of course, the priest cannot discuss what you tell him in the confessional with anyone, not even you (unless you bring it up first)!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

cominghome:

I am getting ready to go to confession for the first time since 1992. I am deathly afraid of going for a number of reasons. Of course I’m afraid of the embarrassment of having to tell a priest that I have sinned so much but I’m even more afraid that I may not be able to remember all my sins.

I am deathly afraid of going for a number of reasons.

Then go anonymously, use the screen that must be provided or go at some time other than with the “group” if you are returning with a “group”. Reconciliation is a private affair no one needs to know if you ever did or not. You will however.

What happens if I forget to ask forgiveness for a sin I may have forgotten about?

If you simply forget and not intentionally or conveniently forget it is included in the absolution.

Remember you are confessing sins to God that He already knows you have committed.