2 Weeks Without Confession

[DavidSears]

Last week I had bronchitis and couldn’t go to confession. Now this week I had to go to a wake and I promised God I’d go today to confession, but the wake took too long. I have a few sins that the church classifies as mortal. But they don’t hold confession until next week, so now I’m scared if God forbid I die before next Saturday I’ll go to Hell… I really am sorry for what I did…

 

[MichaelHowling]

the church teaches if you have PERFECT contrition: meaning you are sorry from your heart ONLY because you have offended God (not whatsoever due to fear of hell, what it has done to you, etc etc ) .,u can be forgiven if you ask god in faith.

However, why take a chance…you can always go to a rectory and ask ANY priest to hear your confession.

 

[DavidSears]

the church teaches if you have PERFECT contrition: meaning you are sorry from your heart ONLY because you have offended God (not whatsoever due to fear of hell, what it has done to you, etc etc ) .,u can be forgiven if you ask god in faith.

However, why take a chance…you can always go to a rectory and ask ANY priest to hear your confession.

And what if I have imperfect contrition? Will I be forgiven? I don’t know what I feel, and because of my scrupulosity, it seems as though my judgment is clouded and I’m always afraid of hell…

 

[po18guy]

Last week I had bronchitis and couldn’t go to confession. Now this week I had to go to a wake and I promised God I’d go today to confession, but the wake took too long. I have a few sins that the church classifies as mortal. But they don’t hold confession until next week, so now I’m scared if God forbid I die before next Saturday I’ll go to Hell… I really am sorry for what I did…

Is God so unmerciful that He would wait until you missed confession, then ZAP!!! gotya’? Really, now! How do you know the sins are mortal? Have you discussed those sins with Father? To me it sounds like scruples, actually. Not saying that you do, but if you suffer from scriuples, do not let them become the sin. As well, Priests are available for confession by appointment. A mere phone call away.

 

[poptown]

No need to be afraid of hell. You have done what you have done. The rest is at God’s hand. God wants you to feel peace instead of fear. So why not put that meaningless fear away and do something meaningful?

 

[Annie39]

If the Church considers whatever you did to be a mortal sin, then it is a mortal sin. You need to find a priest pronto.

Annie

 

[po18guy]

If the Church considers whatever you did to be a mortal sin, then it is a mortal sin. You need to find a priest pronto.

Annie

My concern is that scruples (if they indeed apply here) turn virtually any normal human activity into sin.

 

[DavidSears]

My concern is that scruples (if they indeed apply here) turn virtually any normal human activity into sin.

Well I do have the scruples. My problem is I need to choose a confessor or a spiritual advisor. I like my priest, but he’s young and gives advice I sometimes question. Every time I ask if somethings a sin its always a no. I’m looking for someone in their 30’s or 40’s, someone not extremely conservative, not judgmental, easy to talk to, etc. Maybe I’m too picky…

 

[DavidSears]

Well, I went to 5:30 mass and I asked my priest if I could meet him in the confessional, so I made confession. All set, thanks. To the elder that posted, poguy18 I think, can you PM me please when you get the chance and tell me more about scruples or who/what I may need to treat it? It would really help and you seem to be knowledgeable about the topic. Thank you!

 

[po18guy]

Well I do have the scruples. My problem is I need to choose a confessor or a spiritual advisor. I like my priest, but he’s young and gives advice I sometimes question. Every time I ask if somethings a sin its always a no. I’m looking for someone in their 30’s or 40’s, someone not extremely conservative, not judgmental, easy to talk to, etc. Maybe I’m too picky…

Be careful of what you look for, as it appears that you seek agreement. That may not be best for you. Also, you need objective information on whether or not what you are doing is sin at all - let alone mortal sin. Think of this: Do you willingly, after considered deliberation, turn away from God several times in two weeks? Simple human weakness is not sin! I believe that scruples are a much larger problem than you may think. The Lord knows what you are made of. He knows your weaknesses and the spiritual and physical energy that you exert in resisting sin.

The danger with scruples is that they can lead to all sorts of disordered thinking and behavior. Example: Why sleep, when there are millions that need prayer right now? Well, we sleep because Gods granted us sleep as a form of restoration. Jesus slept!

A danger of scruples is that they lead you to doubt God’s forgiveness and mercy - both of which are absolutely unlimited. Doubt and discouragement are the devils two main weapons. They attack faith like corrosion. Since scruples introduce doubt and discouragement into your faith life, their source is obvious. Resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7). How can you go wrong in periodically renewing your baptismal promises?

The louder, and the more heartfelt, the better:

V. Do you reject Satan?
R. I do. **
V. And all his works?
R. I do.**
V. And all his empty promises?
R. I do. **
V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R. I do.**
V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
R.** I do.**

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R. I do.

V. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

Notice that the final “Amen” is the seventh response - a complete repudiation of the devil.

 

[Nigel7]

Say an act of perfect contrition…

"Oh my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all of my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all, Lord, because they offend thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all of my love.
I firmly resolve - with the help of thy grace - to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
Amen."

That will hold you over until you can make a formal confession and receive communion again.
And also, believe that you are forgiven, because you are!

 

[odile53]

According to the precepts of the Church we are only required to confess our sins once a year. However, more frequent reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation is a spiritually very healthy thing to do.

“Scrupulosity” is a term you’ll frequently hear on this forum, and true scrupulosity is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder: The person who experiences it believes morally neutral, or sometimes even good, actions, thoughts, and words are sinful. In other words, the person sees sin where none exists. This may be due to mild mental health issues, or may be a trick of the enemy, but the result is the same, at least temporally: The person is so preoccupied by the possibility that they may have sinned that they are nearly paralyzed in their ability to make and carry out actions based on sound moral judgment and discernment.

I would suggest making a private appointment with your parish priest, even the younger one will do just fine, and instead of asking if such and such actions are sins, discuss with him your suspicions. The fact that he has told you repeatedly that certain things weren’t sins may indicate either scrupulosity, or an overly sensitized conscience. Priests aren’t generally in the habit of telling someone that no sin exists when one in fact does. People in your situation are frequently in need of spiritual direction, counseling, or both. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but if you are truly suffering from scrupulosity, there is no sense in continuing to suffer when help is available to you. Find out for sure whether you are experiencing this, and follow the priest’s advice: Obedience is a great virtue, and will lead you to learn to examine your conscience with neither fear nor laxity.

 

[po18guy]

According to the precepts of the Church we are only required to confess our sins once a year. However, more frequent reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation is a spiritually very healthy thing to do.

“Scrupulosity” is a term you’ll frequently hear on this forum, and true scrupulosity is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder: The person who experiences it believes morally neutral, or sometimes even good, actions, thoughts, and words are sinful. In other words, the person sees sin where none exists. This may be due to mild mental health issues, or may be a trick of the enemy, but the result is the same, at least temporally: The person is so preoccupied by the possibility that they may have sinned that they are nearly paralyzed in their ability to make and carry out actions based on sound moral judgment and discernment.

I would suggest making a private appointment with your parish priest, even the younger one will do just fine, and instead of asking if such and such actions are sins, discuss with him your suspicions. The fact that he has told you repeatedly that certain things weren’t sins may indicate either scrupulosity, or an overly sensitized conscience. Priests aren’t generally in the habit of telling someone that no sin exists when one in fact does. People in your situation are frequently in need of spiritual direction, counseling, or both. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but if you are truly suffering from scrupulosity, there is no sense in continuing to suffer when help is available to you. Find out for sure whether you are experiencing this, and follow the priest’s advice: Obedience is a great virtue, and will lead you to learn to examine your conscience with neither fear nor laxity.

Well said. Combine this with a God that created us out of infinite love, and Who knew our weaknesses and limitations before we took flesh, and Who offered His only Begotten Son for our sake anyway, and it is easy to see that “an enemy” has sown these seeds. The parable of the wheat and the weeds is instructive here:

Matthew 13:24-30
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

The enemy sowed the seeds of doubt. It is the Lord alone Who can and will remove those doubts.