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I have recently returned to the faith after many years and have received reconciliation regularly. Now I am becoming aware of many past transgressions. Does this make my previous confessions invalid? Is it necessary to spend hours in confession, so that the past sins that had been forgotten can now be forgiven? |
| Thank you for asking the question. What a wonderful Sacrament! The Sacrament of Reconciliation [ Confession ] brings us healing friendship with God, reconciliation with the wider Christian community and with one another. Thank God for his love in giving us, his Church, this gift. Of course, the penitent must be sincere about their confession of fault, about their sorrow [contrition], and about their sincere intention and resolution to change their ways for the future and even to make amends for the injury they have caused, if this is possible. On what is to be confessed, the Code of Canon Law in its legal way says: §1 "The faithful are bound to confess, in kind and number, all grave sins committed after baptism, of which after careful examination of conscience they are aware, which have not yet been directly pardoned by the keys of the Church, and which have not been confessed in an individual confession.' §2 'The faithful are recommended to confess also venial sins.' [Canon 988 Code of Canon Law] Not the most pastorally sensitive way of saying what needs to be said, but that is the straight 'regulation'. Being human it is all too easy to forget the things we would rather not remember! But If there was no intention to conceal or hide those "many past transgressions" to which you refer in your question, when you were first reconciled with the Church in the Sacrament, then there is no question about the validity of that Sacrament or of the reconciliation that flows from it through the power of God's Holy Spirit. I am tempted to suggest, that God already knows us all too well, and as nothing is hidden from God, as long as we sincerely make our confession and with true sorrow seek absolution then all is well. Being human we still have imperfections. It is sometimes not easy for us to accept that God has forgiven us totally, and accepted us totally, embracing us in friendship and love, just as the 'Prodigal' Father, in the parable told by Jesus, accepted his returning Prodigal Son! Some people may tend to become anxious about 'little' things or 'big' things, and to allow these past matters to occupy their minds and even to disturb their present state of peace of mind. So knowing yourself best, may I suggest, you either forget all about those past transgressions - now forgiven, or if you wish, speak with your prudent Confessor or Spiritual Adviser about them so that in either event, these past events can be laid to rest. Personally I rejoice with you, and join with the all the saints on hearing that one sinner has repented. For the words of Jesus in the gospel addressed to the woman accused of adultery, ring out through the centuries, "Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go away, and don't sin any more." [John 8:11] Peter Harrison |