Can I be forgiven after this?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HSTV
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
H

HSTV

Guest
Hi people

I am asking this question because I am a bit scared I cant be forgiven anymore.

There is a Bible verse that says:

“26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

I sinned after I received the knowleadge of the truth.

I masturbated and while I was doing it, I knew it was a sin (so I did it willfully), but I could not stop. It was as if I could not control myself.
After that I regretted it so much.

I dont know if I can ask Jesus for forgiveness, because I knew it was wrong in the moment I was doing it.
Also, I am a woman and too embarrased to confess it to a priest.
 
Last edited:
can I be forgiven even if I commited this while thinking “this is wrong, this is a sin”
 
Yes, God’s mercy is infinite. No merely human sacrifice can atone for any sin, but Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross can atone for any and all sin. I repeat the advice to go to Confession, and I would also strongly recommend praying daily to the Blessed Mother to preserve you in purity. It is… extremely effective.
 
Just because you knew it was a sin while doing it doesn’t mean you can’t be sorry for it later. If you are sorry you can be forgiven.

And just confess it. I’m sure priests have heard lots of women confess it. It is not awkward. It’s a boring old sin. Really common. I bet you more than 1/2 of confessions contain the sin masturbation.
 
Regarding how to confess: You can just tell the priest, “I masturbated once” (or twice, or however many times you did it) and that’s sufficient.

If you feel embarrassed confessing it, use that as a motivation to not commit the sin again so you don’t have to confess it again.
 
It sounds so weird to tell a man about it. I think woman should be able to confess to woman. Cant I just confess to God in prayer?
 
No, you can’t just “confess to God in prayer.” I’m a woman and I’m perfectly capable of telling a priest “I masturbated”. If you’re going to do it then you need to own it.
 
Yeah, this totally boggles me. We get people on here literally several times a week posting about masturbation or even about more graphic sex stuff and then they say they’re all embarrassed to tell a priest when they just told 50 strangers from all over the world.
It’s like this forum is PostSecret or something.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Yeah, this totally boggles me. We get people on here literally several times a week posting about masturbation or even about more graphic sex stuff and then they say they’re all embarrassed to tell a priest when they just told 50 strangers from all over the world.
It’s like this forum is PostSecret or something.
Click to expand...
Obviously you cant compare these things.

There is no pictures of myself here and no one knows me here.
The priest knows my parents and I will se him often.
 
Last edited:
Well Jesus gave us the Church to help us overcome these “habitual sins” and yes Confession is an integral part for this.
Masturbation is hard to stop due to the endorphins released in the brain. It is like being addicted.
Prayer is first. Every time you feel the urge to do it, pray a Rosary, take a cold shower, redirect your mind to something else. Pray another Rosary
Also Ask your Mother in Heaven to help you with this particular sin.

As for your fear of Confessing to the priest, well consider yourself lucky that the Church changed the way Confession is done. In the beginning it was a public affair. If You must go to another parish where the priest does not know you. That could help.
Finally, Yes you can be forgiven GOD knows your weakness, but wants you to become stronger and overcome this. Have faith it is possible.
GOD bless!!
 
HSTV said:
how do I confess it to the priest without being embarrased?
Click to expand...
All confessions are under the seal of the confessional. This means that the anyone who hears your confession cannot mention what they heard to anyone except you. If you are uncomfortable with face to face Confession then there is almost always an option for a screen. Priests also often are unable to remember sins confessed to them. They call it “holy amnesia”. If you received Communion while in a state of mortal sin, then you should confess this as well, although that is not a mortal sin if you didn’t know it is grave matter. Be sure to confess all your mortal sins by kind and number. This should also answer some of the posts that came on since I started writing this.
 
the other time he was able to see me. The confession cabinet has those holes so you can see through.
 
The priest is bound by the seal of confession. He is not going to repeat anything he hears in there to your parents or anyone else. He can’t even tell them he heard your confession.

Furthermore, as priests who post on here have written, the priest forgets the stuff he heard in the confessional about 30 seconds after you tell it to him. He’s hearing a lot of confessions each week, probably including a whole bunch of masturbation confessions, and they simply aren’t that exciting or interesting to stick in his mind.

If you are that embarrassed about confessing, then go to the next parish over and pick a priest you don’t know and will likely never see.

I will admit that when I have had to confess something difficult, I have gone to some church where I am not going to be seeing the priest again (Cathedrals or shrines are good for this) and confessed it there. It’s not because I’m worried about the priest telling it, it’s because I don’t want to be reminded about that sin every time I see my local priest.
 
Last edited:
The priest doesn’t care who you are. He’s not going to try to peek through those little holes to see you. He’ll most likely have his head turned to the side, and his eyes closed. Besides, he is acting in Persona Christi. He has heard pretty much everything that a human being can confess.
 
Last edited:
HSTV said:
It sounds so weird to tell a man about it. I think woman should be able to confess to woman. Cant I just confess to God in prayer?
Click to expand...
I know it is embarrassing to confess, but this is directly combating your sin. In sin, you chose what is pleasing to you and displeasing to God. In Confession, you chose what is pleasing to God and displeasing to you. There is no other way for a Catholic to have their sins forgiven unless in danger of imminent death, and then only with the intention of going to Confession as soon as possible.
 
Just go. It really isn’t so bad. I promise. Even if he knows who you are he isn’t going to be suprised or judge you. He will be happy you had the courage to go and confess something that you find embarrassing. I promise you they hear it all the time and it does not phase them. They probably find it boring to hear the same old thing again. He won’t care. He won’t remember. Just go or try to go at another parish if you cam
 
I once heard someone compare our sins and confessing them to a priest, to that of us telling a doctor about our illness. We are way more concerned about them than the priest/doctor is. Me having strep throat, is way more “interesting” to me (because it affects me) than it is for the doctor. He’s already seen one case of it that day and he’ll see more after me. From being in the army and being very close knit to a band of guys, and talking about EVERYTHING, I’m willing to bet men confess the same five or so sins in the confessional. I’m sure it’s the same way for women. Don’t be embarrassed. Just confess it. The priest and Jesus will be happy that you didn’t let sin and embarrassment take hold of you. But instead let Christ’s mercy take hold of you.
 
Actually, the last time I confessed I was the only one who confessed before mass. All the other people were not bothered about confessing and most of them took the Communion anyway.
 
Last edited:
Well good for you. It shows you really care and have respect for the Eucharist. Just go to confession.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top