Can a Person Abuse the Sacrament of Penance By Overuse? Newbie Catholic Requests Help!

[TeresaElizabeth]

Hi~
I’m a member of the 2008 Tiber Swim Team :heaven:

I love my new home, but I’m finding that the development of my conscience, as left over from being a Protestant, wasn’t the best. To add to the problem, I am having a hard time figuring out if the sins I commit are mortal or venial. I know that this post joins a hundred or so other “Is this mortal sin?” posts, but this isn’t just about an isolated incident.

*For example,
The other day I was talking with my father. He was blaming the celibacy discipline of priests for the molestations that have occured. I have heard stats about Southern Baptists and about teachers and molestation. I remembered hearing that one of the two groups had the highest molestation rates, couldn’t remember which one, but mentioned the Southern Baptists in this context.

Immediately afterward, someone overhearing said that wasn’t right and so I corrected myself.*

Obviously, this was bearing false witness. I shouldn’t have given any stats that would harm a group’s image unless I was sure. But was it a mortal sin?

I just went to confession within the past few days. Should I be concerned about abusing the Sacrament of Reconciliation? I feel like I will just be popping in and out whenever I realize–after the fact–that my previously excused habits of speech and mind have just damaged my soul again.

Seriously, I probably could go two or three times a week some weeks. I know the grave matter, sufficient reflection, and willful consent conditions for motal sin–but a person can’t always tell after the fact just how much she considered the error of her ways before committing the error.

Thanks for your help!

 

[brockmac]

The most common abuse of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is people’s failure to go. I was speaking with an acquaintance who happens to be a seminarian and mentioned that if people went to confession as often as they should, our priests would have no time for anything else. And as I was saying this the following thought struck me, which I also shared with him. If we were to do this, there would likely be more priests to hear all those confessions.

The only way I can think that confession could be abused by going is if one were to say to himself, “I know I shouldn’t do this (insert sin), but tomorrow is Saturday and I can go to confession.” In this case the person would be being presumptious of God’s mercy.

From your post, it appears that you might be leaning towards being overly scroupulous. If this is in the case, I highly recommend a regular confessor who will be able to tell you when you are being overly scoupulous.

And one final thought. WELCOME HOME TO THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

 

[Fitswimmer]

If I have not committed a mortal sin, I go to Confession about once a month. That is certainly not to say that I don’t commit any venial sins during the week, or even during the day. What I do is try and catch myself and say an act of contrition when I realize I have committed a sin and I say a Confiteor every night and do a good examination of conscience. Then when I do go to Confession, I confess those venial sins that I’ve committed during that past month.

 

[Newbie2]

If you confess something specific, and it isn’t a sin, the priest will (should) tell you it’s not and not to worry about it.

Don’t worry about overusing it.

 

[baltobetsy]

TeresaElizabeth (beautiful name, by the way), if you don’t learn anything else today, learn this. You CANNOT commit a mortal sin without intending to commit a mortal sin. If the word “oops” is part of your thought process concerning your supposedly sinful action, it’s NOT mortally sinful.

I’ve said this in a lighthearted and humorous way, but I’m dead serious. God is not engaged in a cosmic game of “gotcha” trying to catch you in a mortal sin. He reads your heart - he’s closer to you than you are to yourself - he understands you better than you understand yourself. And He loves you more than you love yourself.

In your example, you had NO INTENTION of bearing false witness against the other religious groups concerning the issue of sex abuse. You made a mistake, which you quickly corrected. There is no malice here, and no sin. And God knows this. He does not expect us to be 100% correct all the time. He does expect us not to intentionally lead people astray. Do you see the difference?

So anytime you are worried about whether you should run and confess something, ask yourself seriously, “Did I MEAN to sin?” In most cases, I’m quite sure your answer will be in the negative. So you have not sinned.

Welcome to the church. Take a breath. Relax a bit.

Betsy

 

[Holly3278]

I personally wouldn’t worry about overusing the Sacrament of Penance. That said, if you’re in a state of mortal sin, you should go to confession ASAP. I normally go to confession once a week but if I commit a mortal sin during the week, I’ll gladly go twice or even three or more that week just to make sure that my soul is in a state of grace and ready for judgment should I die.

 

[Holly3278]

TeresaElizabeth (beautiful name, by the way), if you don’t learn anything else today, learn this. You CANNOT commit a mortal sin without intending to commit a mortal sin. If the word “oops” is part of your thought process concerning your supposedly sinful action, it’s NOT mortally sinful.

I’ve said this in a lighthearted and humorous way, but I’m dead serious. God is not engaged in a cosmic game of “gotcha” trying to catch you in a mortal sin. He reads your heart - he’s closer to you than you are to yourself - he understands you better than you understand yourself. And He loves you more than you love yourself.

In your example, you had NO INTENTION of bearing false witness against the other religious groups concerning the issue of sex abuse. You made a mistake, which you quickly corrected. There is no malice here, and no sin. And God knows this. He does not expect us to be 100% correct all the time. He does expect us not to intentionally lead people astray. Do you see the difference?

So anytime you are worried about whether you should run and confess something, ask yourself seriously, “Did I MEAN to sin?” In most cases, I’m quite sure your answer will be in the negative. So you have not sinned.

Welcome to the church. Take a breath. Relax a bit.

Betsy

So in other words, if I say a cuss word or think a lustful thought but did not intend to do it, then I am ok?

 

[AHapka]

So in other words, if I say a cuss word or think a lustful thought but did not intend to do it, then I am ok?

There may be no intent, which can mitigate culpability. So a mortal sin could easily become venial. So I agree with the point you were trying to make about to baltobetsy. I don’t think it was no sin.

 

[Jimdandy]

[So in other words, if I say a cuss word or think a lustful thought but did not intend to do it, then I am ok? ]

A sin is an intentional, well thought-out act that you purposely do in spite of knowing it is sinful

Passing, random thoughts are not sinful in themselves.

Sounds to me as if you are in a time of trial-as satan tries to wear you away from your faith-speak to your parish priest about the need for a spiritual director-

Some saints and some Popes went to confession daily.

Also, at each Mass, we ask forgiveness of our venial sins-so take some comfort in that. The reception of the Holy Eucharist washes away these sins and fills us with the Presence and Grace of God.

I try to go to confession weekly-because quite frankly, I really need the grace given by Jesus in this sacrament,(and it is required for obtaining indulgences.)

 

[baltobetsy]

So in other words, if I say a cuss word or think a lustful thought but did not intend to do it, then I am ok?

Well, you certainly have not committed a MORTAL sin by something unintentional. You might be working on breaking a bad habit like cussing and have an occasional slip, but these are at worst venial sins. Mortal sins always involve some degree of deliberation and decision, even though the elapsed time for this may only be a fraction of a second, you do have time to choose against God and for the sin.

As for thoughts, only the ones to which you give consent are matter for sin. Thoughts, both good and bad, come and go pretty much on their own. There is only a moral dimension (for good or evil) when you begin to “entertain” a thought. It’s as if the thoughts go by you on a conveyor belt. You have no control over what’s on the conveyor, but you have complete control over what you take off as it goes past and look at and handle, etc. If you leave the bad thoughts alone as they go by, you’re just fine.

Betsy

 

[Strategery]

God is not engaged in a cosmic game of “gotcha” trying to catch you in a mortal sin. He reads your heart - he’s closer to you than you are to yourself - he understands you better than you understand yourself. And He loves you more than you love yourself.

Very well said, Betsy.

To me, this is the standard answer to the “is [insert here] a sin” questions.