Breaking "attachment to sin"

[Muzhik]

Greetings! I recently completed the Divine Mercy Novena. One of the conditions of the plenary indulgence is to be “free of attachment to sin”. While I’m pretty sure I understand what is meant by this phrase, and while I believe I was “free of attachment to sin” at the time, I have no idea how to make sure that the attachment is truly broken.

How do you break an attachment to sin?

 

[Dorothy]

Greetings! I recently completed the Divine Mercy Novena. One of the conditions of the plenary indulgence is to be “free of attachment to sin”. While I’m pretty sure I understand what is meant by this phrase, and while I believe I was “free of attachment to sin” at the time, I have no idea how to make sure that the attachment is truly broken.

How do you break an attachment to sin?

Prayer, offering up our sufferings, thanking the Lord for our blessings, making little mortifications,

Using all opportunities to making Him the center of our lives.

There are so many good spiritual books available that can inspire us.

 

[Blessedwithfive]

I always thought that ment to go to confession. Being in a state of grace.

 

[Dorothy]

I always thought that ment to go to confession. Being in a state of grace.

That also, of course!

 

[St_Francis]

One can go to confession and be in a state of grace and still have an attachment to sin.

 

[TiggerS]

There is always an underlying reason for a sin that is regularly repeated, faults and imperfections that regularly occur - and this underlying reason, or motivation, is what one needs to overcome. The motivation is the foundation or ‘stuff of’ of the attachment.
Once identifying the motivation or reason, confess the related sins (even faults and imperfections) stating also that underlying motivation - and confess as often as is necessary. If one has a regular confessor especially, one could discuss with Father the underlying motivation and desire to overcome it - and then embrace his advice reporting back to him one’s progress or lack of it.
Finally, but by absolutely no means last, pray daily and ask for help to over come that underlying motivation and related sins and imperfections. Acts of mortification and self denial are also important -in the spiritual life … but never ever extreme ones unless one has spiritual advice about it first.

This is an area i.e. attachment to sin (only one of them) where a regular confessor and spiritual director can be pure spiritual gold.

**“Attachment to sin” (Fr. William Most) **catholicculture.org/culture/library/most/getwork.cfm?worknum=28 :

"What is there to do to be free from attachment to venial sin, which is required to gain a plenary indulgence? It is a gap in one’s purpose of amendment, as if he said to himself: "I do not intend to commit many or great sins. But I reserve a bit for myself: If it gets hard to join in a conversation without talking against neighbor – I will do it. If it gets too hard to stick to the truth: I will lie. There are many other possibilities.

A person who has such an attitude does not have to do it consciously: it is merely the standard, habitual attitude of his soul: it sets limits to his response to God. It is as if he put a clamp on his heart, which lets it expand only so far, and no farther.

That gap not only blocks reception of a plenary indulgence (only a partial indulgence would be received) - it blocks all actual spiritual growth, no matter how many Masses a person may attend, or other good things. It is sad to see people who in general are very good ,yet making no real growth. Soon a retreat is one time to examine one’s attitudes: Do I really mean to hold out? Even if one does not realize he has such a defect, it still harms him. He can begin to really grow only when he finds he has the attitude and clean sit up."

 

[fhansen]

Greetings! I recently completed the Divine Mercy Novena. One of the conditions of the plenary indulgence is to be “free of attachment to sin”. While I’m pretty sure I understand what is meant by this phrase, and while I believe I was “free of attachment to sin” at the time, I have no idea how to make sure that the attachment is truly broken.

How do you break an attachment to sin?

Those are addictions, idolatries: to wealth, materialism, pleasure, self-glorification, etc. We pretty well know it when the attachments are gone and yet they can always seek to return. A real desire to change coupled with continuous prayer-and grace-are the requirements I know of for change. Seeking God and His Kingdom.

 

[Googler]

Get a grip at both ends, and terminate it.

I agree. A spiritual director slaps your head in the right direction.
Just ask ourselves, “Why am I here?”
The answer to that is the same to your question because that is where Grace comes from.
Jesus, for my penance plant my head in your Holy Scripture of revelation for an hour every single day. Your freedom is not mine until I know, love, and serve thee. Amen. Alleluia.

Never cease to converse with Jesus and Mary. Others are always beside us, but none like Immaculata and her Son.

Be ashamed, child, but don’t you ever let that stand between you, Christ and our Mother.