Confessing Nothing?

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Must be nice, running out of sins to confess. Wish we could all have that problem. :cool:

Kidding aside this does sound a little scrupulous to me. I’d recommend speaking to someone you trust about that possibility.
 
Kidding aside this does sound a little scrupulous to me. I’d recommend speaking to someone you trust about that possibility.
No such would not be the case.

A person who is not aware of sins to confess and having trouble finding things to confess and seeking assistance to do that -is not being scrupulous. Not at all.

Scruples involve such matters as seeing sin where sin is not…or thinking venial sins are mortal…undue concern over past confessions …etc etc etc not this.

Such is* not *about “not about not seeing sin”. But seeing sin where sin is not.
 
No such would not be the case.

A person who is not aware of sins to confess and having trouble finding things to confess and seeking assistance to do that -is not being scrupulous. Not at all.

Scruples involve such matters as seeing sin where sin is not…or thinking venial sins are mortal…undue concern over past confessions …etc etc etc not this.

Such is* not *about “not about not seeing sin”. But seeing sin where sin is not.
Seems to me that it’s a fairly short jump from feeling as though you need to go to confession even though you aren’t conscious of any actual sin to seeing sin where there is none. Either way I think my point still stands. Getting face to face advice from someone who is experienced in this kind of thing is probably needed.
 
Seems to me that it’s a fairly short jump from feeling as though you need to go to confession even though you aren’t conscious of any actual sin to seeing sin where there is none. Either way I think my point still stands. Getting face to face advice from someone who is experienced in this kind of thing is probably needed.
Face to face isn’t going to happen, at least not for me. I am profoundly grateful for that screen.
The point about possible pride is something I’ve considered, and may be quite true, but the situation still exists: can’t see anything. There seems to be quite a bit written about scrupulosity, but not much about whatever one calls the reverse.
 
I would also offer that if you are having a hard time coming up with anything to confess, consider looking into a more thorough examination of conscience. If you have a smart phone or tablet, there is an app called iConfess, which offers a terrific examination. I use it for my own confessions.

Also, don’t just look at sins of commission, what we have done, but also sins of omission, what we have failed to do.

For instance, how are you spending your time? Is it how God wants you to spend it? I find myself falling in this area frequently. I waste a terrible amount of time.
I heard once that if you don’t know what sins to confess ask the people that you live with. Not that one actually has to do this but thinking about things from another person’s perspective can be useful. If one still thinks they have nothing to confess (even venial) then you might actually have to ask.

I’ve mentioned this before, I think, that some friends of mine overheard some women and my mom’s name came up. They all said very complimentary things about her. 🙂 My friends agreed that I was probably the only one who knew how my mom sinned. They were probably right. I had a hard time putting my finger on it but there were some faults that I wonder if she was aware of. She didn’t discuss or admit to them and I still wonder if I should have mentioned them, especially since I know she wanted to be holy and also I think they would have been easy to correct, though painful to acknowledge.
 
Face to face isn’t going to happen, at least not for me. I am profoundly grateful for that screen.
The point about possible pride is something I’ve considered, and may be quite true, but the situation still exists: can’t see anything. There seems to be quite a bit written about scrupulosity, but not much about whatever one calls the reverse.
I think person-to-person is what he met. Behind the screen is always appropriate.
 
Seems to me that it’s a fairly short jump from feeling as though you need to go to confession even though you aren’t conscious of any actual sin to seeing sin where there is none. Either way I think my point still stands.
No not really.
 
Face to face isn’t going to happen, at least not for me. I am profoundly grateful for that screen.
The point about possible pride is something I’ve considered, and may be quite true, but the situation still exists: can’t see anything. There seems to be quite a bit written about scrupulosity, but not much about whatever one calls the reverse.
This is where you are making a mistake in my opinion. You are making these observations about yourself. You need a spiritual director to guide you in such things. Essentially you are on here asking for spiritual direction from a bunch of well meaning strangers. That should show you that you are in need of it.

Although they are related, and inseparable, spiritual direction and confession are two different things. You have to have both. We are terrible judges of ourselves. Inevitably we are either too hard or too easy on ourselves. That’s why having an experienced director who knows our struggles is so incredibly important.
 
I think person-to-person is what he met. Behind the screen is always appropriate.
That is what I meant but spiritual direction isn’t anonymous. It can’t happen from behind a screen. The spiritual director has to know you and your struggles so they can offer informed advice.
 
Sure it can.
Well of course it can but it won’t be nearly as effective as having someone who knows you and your struggles intimately. It’s tantamount to going to a different primary care doctor every time you go and not giving them access to your medical records. No one would argue that’s the best way to get healthy. Our spiritual health is no different.
 
Well of course it can but it won’t be nearly as effective as having someone who knows you and your struggles intimately. It’s tantamount to going to a different primary care doctor every time you go and not giving them access to your medical records. No one would argue that’s the best way to get healthy. Our spiritual health is no different.
A Priest can know such …even with a screen present.

As to the second part - It can be yes a consideration. But I would think that countless Saints even have had spiritual direction only via that method.
 
A Priest can know such …even with a screen present.

As to the second part - It can be yes a consideration. But I would think that countless Saints even have had spiritual direction only via that method.
Well I’m certainly no saint. How many saints do you think would recommend having a spiritual father or mother?
 
That is what I meant but spiritual direction isn’t anonymous. It can’t happen from behind a screen. The spiritual director has to know you and your struggles so they can offer informed advice.
As a priest who has done spiritual direction and still does it to a lesser degree now that I am retired, I want to affirm what you have written. To be effective, spiritual direction cannot be anonymous. The director, whoever he or she is (and spiritual directors are ever increasingly not uniquely priests,) is giving direction to an individual in a concrete state of life who will be in a very individual situation. It is important for there to be a rapport that transcends any screen.

A second point is that spiritual direction should never happen in the confessional. It can happen that a session of spiritual direction may happen to also involve a celebration of reconciliation – but it should never be the other way around. That is neither fair to the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation and, frankly, it is not just to the other penitents who are waiting and simply want to avail themselves of the opportunity to confess.

Beyond this, and to the original poster’s points, while the Church does recommend “frequent” use of the sacrament of penance, the penitent must discern what is spiritually useful as opposed to what is not useful or even spiritually harmful. Some times the confessor, too, must intervene when the use of the sacrament becomes either radically infrequent or too frequent.
I have told him in the past, I don’t do anything. I know this might not make sense but can we confess we hate gong to confession? Do we still get the graces? Maybe I can confess to being clueless.
As a confessor, I would ask you please not to do this.

As I scan the list, there are only two of us who are priests, unless I have missed someone. Father B.F. (for want of knowing his preferred designation here) has suggested using different aids for the examination of conscience and examining against the paradigm of sins of omission. This is a very good suggestion.

Beyond that, I would suggest the help of a spiritual director – or in the absence of that possibility, as we can be hard to come by today, you could ask the confessor after your confession and before leaving the confessional his thoughts about useful frequency based on the confession you have made. An experienced confessor should have no problem in making a reasoned suggestion.

My advice, personally, would be if you don’t find the need to confess, then don’t go to the confessional, assuming you are going when conscious of mortal sin.
 
Well I’m certainly no saint. How many saints do you think would recommend having a spiritual father or mother?
I do not follow the question exactly. But yes such has been present in the Church for ages. And yes Saints have received Spiritual Direction from confessors behind the screen of the confessional.

The point being that it is fine if the person wishes to only go to confession (and even receive spiritual direction) with the screen. The Priest can yes get to know the Penitent (he can identify himself) and guide him even if there is a screen. It can also be helpful for many to see him face to face for such.

But alas we are off topic.
 
I do not follow the question exactly. But yes such has been present in the Church for ages. And yes Saints have received Spiritual Direction from confessors behind the screen of the confessional.

The point being that it is fine if the person wishes to only go to confession (and even receive spiritual direction) with the screen. The Priest can yes get to know the Penitent (he can identify himself) and guide him even if there is a screen. It can also be helpful for many to see him face to face for such.

But alas we are off topic.
Yes we are but that brings me right back to where this tangent started. I was simply offering friendly advice to the OP that if they are worried about the issue they brought up it may be benificial for them to find a spiritual director to help them with questions like these.
 
Well I’m certainly no saint. How many saints do you think would recommend having a spiritual father or mother?
When I was making my response, quoting you relative to the original poster’s question and concerns, I had not adverted to the fact that you are Orthodox…and then just saw the reference to “spiritual mother” which prompted me to look up and see that you are Orthodox…and new.

I wanted to make a point to extend a word of very special greeting and of very cordial welcome to you.

Χριστός ανέστη
 
When I was making my response, quoting you relative to the original poster’s question and concerns, I had not adverted to the fact that you are Orthodox…and then just saw the reference to “spiritual mother” which prompted me to look up and see that you are Orthodox…and new.

I wanted to make a point to extend a word of very special greeting and of very cordial welcome to you.

Χριστός ανέστη
Thank you very much and although it’s a few weeks early…😛

Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
 
Yes we are but that brings me right back to where this tangent started. I was simply offering friendly advice to the OP that if they are worried about the issue they brought up it may be benificial for them to find a spiritual director to help them with questions like these.
Yes and that is good.
 
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