Am I just being scrupulous, or should I confess it?

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I went to confession on Saturday before Mass, and confessed, did my penance, etc.

Later, before church, I remembered one sin that I didn’t confess, but I told myself that it was venial, so it was already forgiven and I didn’t need to mention it in my next confession. I went ahead and recieved Communion.

However, the more I think about it, the more I am not sure if it was mortal or venial. I can’t remember if when I did the action, I knew that it was wrong and did it anyways, or if I did it without thinking about it being wrong. The fact that I didn’t think of it again until a few weeks later leads me to believe that it was venial, but I don’t know.

I’m not sure if I am just thinking too much and making it seem bigger than it really was/is, or if I should go and confess it (which I would rather not, becuse it is VERY embarrassing and sounds kind of bad). I’ve been thinking about it constantly since I remembered it, and I just need some guidance. I don’t want to confess it as a mortal if it really was just venial, because I know we aren’t supposed to do that.

Thank you!
 
Does this kind of thing happen often to you? If so, you might look into getting some help for scrupulosity. Google Scrupulous Anonlymous, and you’ll find some great stuff.

If this is the first time, or it only happens rarely, go ahead, bite the bullet and confess it. The act of humility will do you good, and then you’ll be certain you’ve taken care of it. If you are not certain if it was venial or mortal, the priest will be happy to help you sort that out if you ask him. Then you’ll know in case it ever happens again.

Betsy
 
Well, it has happened before, it’s starting to get a little worse that it used to be. I always feel guilty about EVERYTHING. I don’t really want to go into detail with the priest, because it will make me sound bad, when I don’t really think it was THAT bad… I’m so embarrassed.
 
You only need to confess your mortal sins to go to Communion, you are ok. If you forget it isn’t your fault, just confess that sin the next time you go to confession. You are forgiven your venial sins at the beginning of mass when we say the confietor(spelling?).

God Bless you
 
Oh, and I don’t know if it means anything, but I worried about it so much last night that it made me cry, get naseous, and stay up late.
 
Awe :hug3: Don’t worry God is so merciful there is nothing you can do wrong that is greater than his mercy.

Be at peace and keep praying.
:hug3:
 
Unsure16 said:
Oh, and I don’t know if it means anything, but I worried about it so much last night that it made me cry, get naseous, and stay up late.
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Yes, that definitely means you need to talk to your priest in depth about the whole thing - the sin, your forgetting it, whether it’s mortal or venial, and how upset you are over the whole deal. It sounds very much like you are developing a case of scruples, and the best cure is to be candid and open with your priest about it. Only go to one priest, do whatever he says, and don’t do any Monday Morning Quarterbacking of your confessions, either alone or online with us. Jesus does not want you to suffer like this - go and do the right thing and start the healing.

Betsy
 
The more Holy one becomes, the more the devil plies you with doubt and confusion…
In order to commit a mortal sin you must KNOW it to be of grave matter and then go ahead and do it anyway

At times it is helpful to go to confession at another parish and to always remember you are speaking to Jesus in the confessional.

Try not to let yourself become too tired which can really hamper your reasoning ability.:cool:
 
Unsure16 said:
Oh, and I don’t know if it means anything, but I worried about it so much last night that it made me cry, get naseous, and stay up late.
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Whatever your sin was, it was not greater than His Divine Mercy. :love:

If you feel that you need to confess it, then confess it…maybe you should make an appointment with your priest face to face instead of a confessional and get his spiritual direction. There is nothing that you did that would shock the priest…they have heard it all.

I gave up the screen 35 years ago. It is so so so wonderful to speak face to face with a priest about whatever is troubling you, that I can’t even begin to explain the blessings that flow from that.

And…always remember…NO sin is greater than God’s Divine Mercy! And God loves you unconditionally !
 
Discouragement with despair and lack of trust in the Divine Mercy will keep you from growing closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily:thumbsup:
 
Jimdandy said:
Discouragement with despair and lack of trust in the Divine Mercy will keep you from growing closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily:thumbsup:
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Amen Amen Amen to that! :clapping:
 
I am entirely at a loss in understanding this and similar questions about “should I confess this sin because I am not sure if it is mortal or venial?” This implies that I intend to confess only my mortal sins, and withhold my venial sins. Why would I do that? That minimalist approach to confession is surely not spiritually healthy.
 
puzzleannie said:
I am entirely at a loss in understanding this and similar questions about “should I confess this sin because I am not sure if it is mortal or venial?” This implies that I intend to confess only my mortal sins, and withhold my venial sins. Why would I do that? That minimalist approach to confession is surely not spiritually healthy.
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For you and for me, this is true. But there are many many people who are in dire distress over shame that you and I cannot understand…cannot fathom. I can’t even come close to understanding what Mother Teresa saw in the streets but it was still very real, just the same.
 
Venial sins may be remitted during Mass, but mortal sins must be confessed and absolved through the sacrament of confession. Since it is necessary to receive Holy Communion in a state of grace-someone having questions as to whether a sin is mortal or not can be a in a state of extreme anxiousness and worry-wondering if they need the sacrament of confession-(how long does anyone want to walk around with an un-confessed mortal sin on their soul??)
This can be a very troubling spiritual matter for some, and quite baffling to others if one has never experienced it.

It does not matter at the time if just the ambiguity is enough to render the sin not mortal-the anguish is unsettling and can be very distracting from a prayerful life.
 
For a sin to be mortal, it must be grave and committed with FULL knowledge and consent.

Being you’re not sure if it was a mortal sin or not, you apparently didn’t commit the sin with full knowledge, and therefore, it wasn’t a mortal sin in the first place.

Jim
 
I think you are probably being scrupulous. I tend to be scrupulous . Which for me the funny thing is that I have a devotion to the divine mercy message. I just read a book on being scruplous and in it it says that if you commited mortal sin you would know instantly what you did. So I don’t think you commited a mortal sin. If it was a sin at all I think it is probably vienal. pray the chapet of Divine mercy and if you can read the diary of St.Faustina. :gopray2:
 
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