My boyfriend and I have been struggling with impurity and nearing fornication for some time; I have confessed it multiple times, and we keep falling into the same sins.
So obviously all the ways you both have employed to avoid the near occasion of sin, not to mention any actual sins of impurity etc
have all failed - as you stated.
Perhaps this new priest was enlightened by God, or perhaps he is very experienced and knows a temporary break is the only way to break this what is almost becoming a habit .
You could choose this man or you can choose God - whichever relationship matters the most to you. As others have said, if this is genuine
love, then a temporary break will do no harm. Think of all the couples temporarily separated due to jobs etc.
I needed to remove the occasion of sin
You’re right. Whilst we used to add that part to the end of our act of contrition, I don’t think it is commonly said for decades now.
lack of contrition (which is not the case here, though my contrition may be imperfect rather than perfect), or the confessor’s refusal to make changes in the direction of discontinuing the sin.
Contrition is not just being sorry for our sins, or regretting we’ve committed them, but also firmly intending to change our behavior so as to not commit them again, even if that means changing/giving up friends in the example for instance if going out with this group always or frequently leads to one getting drunk etc. Then the firm purpose of amendment which is necessary for absolution would be to ditch that group of friends and find another, especially if our refusal to join in with their partying leads to them pressuring us to go and us succumbing to it, even if at first we have the intention of only having one drink and no more. Because experience tells us that we don’t stop at just one drink.
Perhaps view it as a temporary separation rather than a break up/severing of the relationship?
100% agree that I need to make some changes; however, to skip right to a breakup seems extreme. Not pray together, not fast from touch, no other options; just break up, or you’re not to be forgiven.
You already said you’ve confessed struggling with impurity and near occasion of fornication
for some time, that you’ve confessed it
multiple times, and that
we keep falling into the same sins - all of which indicate that your efforts perhaps including those you suggested above
all have
failed.
Could the priest be wise enough to see this is the case and be his reasons for his decision and saying what he did?
