Afraid that I may have inadvertently lied in confession

[met1591]

I was in confession and I confessed all of my sins. After I confessed them, the priest asked me what I thought I needed to work on the most. I told him that masturbation was the biggest issue and I told him that I masturbate because I have anxiety and I use it as a kind of “drug”. Although what I said was true, it wasn’t the whole truth. I also masturbate for pure lustful reasons. I’m not sure if I purposely withheld information or not. I’ve read that there is no such thing as an inadvertent lie, but that’s what it felt like to me. My mind keeps telling me I did this on purpose. Is this an invalid confession?

 

[adamhovey1988]

I’m pretty sure he drew that conclusion, you went to confession, you told him everything you could think of, I think you’re fine.

 

[Rutherford2]

God already knows what you wanted to confess before you confess it. If you think it is embarrassing, instead of saying “masturbation” just say “sins of the flesh”. I’m sure your priest will understand.

 

[Canvas]

No, he asked you a question and you answered him. You were probably nervous and a bit embarrassed. Looking back you think you could have been more precise and made a better answer, but it was what popped into your head on the fly. Things like this have happened to all of us—I am a scrupulant and I have the terrible habit of replaying my confessions in my head, and sometimes, hours or even days after my confession, I think of something that wasn’t perfectly stated or a question that could have been answered more accurately.

I bet if you took this post and told the Priest who heard your confession what it says, he would tell you not to worry, your confession was valid and that you have been absolved.

What you have to do is try to forget your confession as soon as you leave the confessional. Most confessions aren’t perfect. Most of us have answered a question in Confession that on second thought could have been answered better or could have stated something more clearly but just kind of rambled through it in a hurry to get it out. I think the Confessor knows this. After all, he has to go to Confession too and has probably fumbled something at one time. He has been on both sides and doesn’t need every single detail described to him, he knows how the Sacrament works.

 

[Fuerza]

And Jesus left us the sacrament of penance for that purpose. If you don’t like it take it up with Him. This is a Catholic forum. Please don’t mislead people looking for advice on how to better practice the faith and sacraments which Christ Himself gave us.

 

[Quis_UtDeus]

All things considered he probably understood that as a lustfull thing as well by the nature of masturbation. You can always ask him in private if you want absolute peace of mind.

But I’m confident that you are absolved.

 

[LilyM]

A lie is a deliberate and conscious telling of an untruth. Which is something you would know if you did it Not just a case of something maybe slipping your mind at the time.

By the way - you are only obligated to confess the sin itself. To mention the reason or reasons for your sin may be helpful but really, at least in your case, not necessary. And I doubt you said (or the priest thought) that lust was not a factor.

So no lie, no harm, no foul.