Confession and Anxiety after Mortal Sin

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There are many questions interspersed through my thoughts; any and all help is appreciated.
I struggle so much with the idea of confession and suffer from much guilt and unworthiness after a mortal sin. I feel unworthy of Gods love until receiving Confession. I know theres nothing I can do to separate me from Gods love but why do I have such a problem believing that it’s even impossible to pray and speak to God. Jesus told St Faustina that He “flees a soul once they commit mortal sin”. Any advice?
Also, I have so many Protestant friends and I’m afraid Im becoming convinced we are performing works of law by relying on Confession. If we aren’t free from sin until we go to Confession how is that not based on what we do rather than what Christ has done?
Thanks for you help.
 
(By grace - God may begin the work even before we make it to confession - so let us not delay but repent and turn to Jesus right away (and even if - his will is still that we come to receive the splendid Sacramental absolution of the Sacrament of Confession- and part of that forgiveness prior to the Sacrament that may happen includes the resolution to go to Confession as soon as possible). Often though it can be the case that yes it may not be that one is returned to the life of grace until Confession -but God is already at work on us. Let us turn right away to him - and repent - and seek out then Confession- knowing that God loves us and desires to give us again true life. Confession is a great gift given us by Jesus)
Do not listen to your Protestant Friends - Confession is not about the “works of the law” - such is a very mistaken understanding.

Regarding Faith and Works in St. Paul

Pope Benedict XVI

(Two audiences from the Year of St. Paul)

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20081119_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20081126_en.html (begins a bit down)

and one from a few years earlier: vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20061108_en.html
In Confession *Christ *in the person of the Priest - absolves the person of the sins. The person does not absolve themselves. It is from his death and resurrection - his work - his blood - his life.

The Holy Spirit is at work. Both in the our repentance and in the very grace of the Sacrament that is a renewal of the life given in our Baptism into Christ. We *receive *absolution. As we receive baptism…

God- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - changes us - gives us true life.
 
If we should fall into sin let us quickly turn to Jesus of Nazareth: The Lamb and the Good Shepherd…

“Jesus is called the Lamb: He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Someone might think: but how can a lamb, which is so weak, a weak little lamb, how can it take away so many sins, so much wickedness? With Love. With his meekness. Jesus never ceased being a lamb: meek, good, full of love, close to the little ones, close to the poor. He was there, among the people, healing everyone, teaching, praying. Jesus, so weak, like a lamb. However, he had the strength to take all our sins upon himself, all of them. “But, Father, you don’t know my life: I have a sin that…, I can’t even carry it with a truck…”. Many times, when we examine our conscience, we find some there that are truly bad! But he carries them. He came for this: to forgive, to make peace in the world, but first in the heart. Perhaps each one of us feels troubled in his heart, perhaps he experiences darkness in his heart, perhaps he feels a little sad over a fault… He has come to take away all of this, He gives us peace, he forgives everything. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin”: he takes away sin, it’s root and all! This is salvation Jesus brings about by his love and his meekness. And in listening to what John the Baptist says, who bears witness to Jesus as the Saviour, our confidence in Jesus should grow. Many times we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! “Lord, look at my life: I’m in the dark, I have this struggle, I have this sin…”; everything we have: “Look at this: I trust in you!”. And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints.”

~Pope Francis

vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140119_omelia-parrocchia-sacro-cuore-gesu_en.html

"Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who goes in search of lost sheep, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7; Jn 10:2-4, 11-18). He is the way, the right path that leads us to life (cf. Jn 14:6), the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears (cf. Jn 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

He is the generous host who welcomes us and rescues us from our enemies, preparing for us the table of his body and his blood (cf. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25); Lk 22:19-20) and the definitive table of the messianic banquet in Heaven (cf. Lk 14:15ff; Rev 3:20; 19:9). He is the Royal Shepherd, king in docility and in forgiveness, enthroned on the glorious wood of the cross (cf. Jn 3:13-15; 12:32; 17:4-5)."

~Pope Benedict XVI

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20111005_en.html
 
To your point about “works of the law”…

That would mean that, if we do commit a mortal sin, then WE would be able to erase it by performing good works.

We cannot.

The only way to revive our souls after a mortal sin is by running to Jesus and asking him to make us well. Read any of the healing miracles in the Gospel and Acts. This is how Jesus revives our soul, and then he asks for nothing but faith, to sin no more.

Nothing we can do can merit us the grace of heaven, but we can lose it by our faithlessness, and the signs of our faithlessness is sin.

Peace
 
Stephen_says said:
To your point about “works of the law”…

That would mean that, if we do commit a mortal sin, then WE would be able to erase it by performing good works.

We cannot.

The only way to revive our souls after a mortal sin is by running to Jesus and asking him to make us well. Read any of the healing miracles in the Gospel and Acts. This is how Jesus revives our soul, and then he asks for nothing but faith, to sin no more.

Nothing we can do can merit us the grace of heaven, but we can lose it by our faithlessness, and the signs of our faithlessness is sin.

Peace
Click to expand...
I like this answer. Well said.
Mary.
 
pjlanning1 said:
There are many questions interspersed through my thoughts; any and all help is appreciated.
I struggle so much with the idea of confession and suffer from much guilt and unworthiness after a mortal sin. I feel unworthy of Gods love until receiving Confession. I know theres nothing I can do to separate me from Gods love but why do I have such a problem believing that it’s even impossible to pray and speak to God. Jesus told St Faustina that He “flees a soul once they commit mortal sin”. Any advice?
Also, I have so many Protestant friends and I’m afraid Im becoming convinced we are performing works of law by relying on Confession. If we aren’t free from sin until we go to Confession how is that not based on what we do rather than what Christ has done?
Thanks for you help.
Click to expand...
I don’t think that Jesus “flees a soul once they commit mortal sin.” We distance ourselves from him through mortal sin, but he waits for our return to him by our repentance and confession. It is our conscience that helps us to know that we need repent for our sins, which requires action on our part (going to confession).

Please remember that Jesus himself told his Apostles, after the Resurrection, that…“What sins you forgive are forgiven, what sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23) Jesus himself instituted the sacrament of Penance.

Here are some references from a Catholic Answers article on confession, which includes quotes from the early Church Fathers on the subject:

catholic.com/tracts/confession

Have you sought out a good confessor to help with this problem? If not, it would be a good idea. Some of my favorite saints have suffered from scrupulosity (if that’s what’s the problem is). Take St. Alphonsus, for instance. He suffered so much from scrupulosity both before and after he was ordained that he wasn’t allowed to hear confessions for a few years, because he had great trouble deciding if he should absolve penitents in confession. He had a very good confessor though, and though it took a few years, he eventually got over it.
 
If Mortal sin

Say an act of contrition, be truly sorry, decide to say it in confession.

Jesus also told St faustina, “I start working in a soul from the moment they decide to confess, (although they still need to confess the sin at the next possible confession)”

St Margaret of Alocoque wrote
“we are meant to have God’s peace always. If we slip, repent, decide to say it in confession, and RECLAIM God’s PEACE!”

Also
Forgive youself
We are ALL sinners, pride is agonizing over sins rather than accepting Jesus forgiveness as you await your confession day and time.
Denise1957 said:
I don’t think that Jesus “flees a soul once they commit mortal sin.” We distance ourselves from him through mortal sin, but he waits for our return to him by our repentance and confession. It is our conscience that helps us to know that we need repent for our sins, which requires action on our part (going to confession).

Please remember that Jesus himself told his Apostles, after the Resurrection, that…“What sins you forgive are forgiven, what sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23) Jesus himself instituted the sacrament of Penance.

Here are some references from a Catholic Answers article on confession, which includes quotes from the early Church Fathers on the subject:

catholic.com/tracts/confession

Have you sought out a good confessor to help with this problem? If not, it would be a good idea. Some of my favorite saints have suffered from scrupulosity (if that’s what’s the problem is). Take St. Alphonsus, for instance. He suffered so much from scrupulosity both before and after he was ordained that he wasn’t allowed to hear confessions for a few years, because he had great trouble deciding if he should absolve penitents in confession. He had a very good confessor though, and though it took a few years, he eventually got over it.
Click to expand...
 
Bookcat said:
If we should fall into sin let us quickly turn to Jesus of Nazareth: The Lamb and the Good Shepherd…

“Jesus is called the Lamb: He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Someone might think: but how can a lamb, which is so weak, a weak little lamb, how can it take away so many sins, so much wickedness? With Love. With his meekness. Jesus never ceased being a lamb: meek, good, full of love, close to the little ones, close to the poor. He was there, among the people, healing everyone, teaching, praying. Jesus, so weak, like a lamb. However, he had the strength to take all our sins upon himself, all of them. “But, Father, you don’t know my life: I have a sin that…, I can’t even carry it with a truck…”. Many times, when we examine our conscience, we find some there that are truly bad! But he carries them. He came for this: to forgive, to make peace in the world, but first in the heart. Perhaps each one of us feels troubled in his heart, perhaps he experiences darkness in his heart, perhaps he feels a little sad over a fault… He has come to take away all of this, He gives us peace, he forgives everything. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away sin”: he takes away sin, it’s root and all! This is salvation Jesus brings about by his love and his meekness. And in listening to what John the Baptist says, who bears witness to Jesus as the Saviour, our confidence in Jesus should grow. Many times we trust a doctor: it is good, because the doctor is there to cure us; we trust in a person: brothers and sisters can help us. It is good to have this human trust among ourselves. But we forget about trust in the Lord: this is the key to success in life. Trust in the Lord, let us trust in the Lord! “Lord, look at my life: I’m in the dark, I have this struggle, I have this sin…”; everything we have: “Look at this: I trust in you!”. And this is a risk we must take: to trust in Him, and He never disappoints.”

~Pope Francis

vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140119_omelia-parrocchia-sacro-cuore-gesu_en.html

"Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” who goes in search of lost sheep, who knows his sheep and lays down his life for them (cf. Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:4-7; Jn 10:2-4, 11-18). He is the way, the right path that leads us to life (cf. Jn 14:6), the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears (cf. Jn 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

He is the generous host who welcomes us and rescues us from our enemies, preparing for us the table of his body and his blood (cf. Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25); Lk 22:19-20) and the definitive table of the messianic banquet in Heaven (cf. Lk 14:15ff; Rev 3:20; 19:9). He is the Royal Shepherd, king in docility and in forgiveness, enthroned on the glorious wood of the cross (cf. Jn 3:13-15; 12:32; 17:4-5)."

~Pope Benedict XVI

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20111005_en.html
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Don’t listen to bookcat and you have scrupulosity and it’s trash like bookcat that make it even worse he should leave this website for his heresy
 
pjlanning1 said:
There are many questions interspersed through my thoughts; any and all help is appreciated.
I struggle so much with the idea of confession and suffer from much guilt and unworthiness after a mortal sin. I feel unworthy of Gods love until receiving Confession. I know theres nothing I can do to separate me from Gods love but why do I have such a problem believing that it’s even impossible to pray and speak to God. Jesus told St Faustina that He “flees a soul once they commit mortal sin”. Any advice?
Also, I have so many Protestant friends and I’m afraid Im becoming convinced we are performing works of law by relying on Confession. If we aren’t free from sin until we go to Confession how is that not based on what we do rather than what Christ has done?
Thanks for you help.
Click to expand...
It sounds like what our Lord told Sister Faustina was referring to sanctifying grace. It is not that He doesn’t love us anymore! He loves us without limit, and eagerly awaits our return to Him.
 
Dorothy said:
It sounds like what our Lord told Sister Faustina was referring to sanctifying grace. It is not that He doesn’t love us anymore! He loves us without limit, and eagerly awaits our return to Him.
Click to expand...
Actually that never happened and catholics are not required to belive in what st.faustina said you heretc
 
Scrupulouscatho said:
Actually that never happened and catholics are not required to belive in what st.faustina said you heretc
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Yes, it is true that we are not required to believe in private revelation, as it is not the public revelation of the Church.
 
This is a lovely site and a breath of fresh air to find a site were i can be free to be Catholic witout the usual sarcasm and total rudeness. So im disgusted to find a fellow catholic calling a person a heretic for making a quite normal comment. I think you need to say sorry. It goes a long way and maybe it was a slip of the tongue
 
raphaeluriel said:
This is a lovely site and a breath of fresh air to find a site were i can be free to be Catholic witout the usual sarcasm and total rudeness. So im disgusted to find a fellow catholic calling a person a heretic for making a quite normal comment. I think you need to say sorry. It goes a long way and maybe it was a slip of the tongue
Click to expand...
A heretic is someone disagreeing with the Catholic Church teaching and since she/he was disagreeing with catholic teaching then that makes him a heretic
 
BLESSED POPE John Paul II was the Bishop in Krakow who gave the imprimateur to St Faustina’s devotion,

And BLESSED Pope John Paul II also Canonized her a saint, AND made the Feast of Divine Mercy available for the whole Church, AND made a PLENARY indulgence available for those who complete the Divine Mercy Novena.

We are not obligated to believe in private revelation, But we can, especially if it IS APPROVED BY A POPE WHO IS ALSO PART WAY CANONISED in the process of becoming a SAINT, and has been made by the BLESSED POPE into a devotion for the WHOLE CHURCH to avail of

If God wants to give GRACE to someone for deciding to confess, Is God not being merciful? Jesus said in the Bible, “Repent and believe in the good news.”

He blesses us for having repentence.
 
Thank you very much everyone for your kind and timely replies! They all provided much clarity and peace for my soul. Our Lord is very merciful and full of love to any who would call upon Him! We are blessed to have the Sacrament of Confession.
 
OurLadysServant said:
BLESSED POPE John Paul II was the Bishop in Krakow who gave the imprimateur to St Faustina’s devotion,

And BLESSED Pope John Paul II also Canonized her a saint, AND made the Feast of Divine Mercy available for the whole Church, AND made a PLENARY indulgence available for those who complete the Divine Mercy Novena.

We are not obligated to believe in private revelation, But we can, especially if it IS APPROVED BY A POPE WHO IS ALSO PART WAY CANONISED in the process of becoming a SAINT, and has been made by the BLESSED POPE into a devotion for the WHOLE CHURCH to avail of

If God wants to give GRACE to someone for deciding to confess, Is God not being merciful? Jesus said in the Bible, “Repent and believe in the good news.”
He blesses us for having repentence.
Click to expand...
That’s what I meant retard
 
Scrupulouscatho said:
That’s what I meant retard
Click to expand...
Jesus said in the Bible; “He who calls his brother a fool is liable for the judgement of hell.”

Name calling breaks the 2nd Commandment, which also means to use decent language, and not hurt others with words unnecessarily.

Malicious Name calling can be a mortal sin, if deliberate, in full knowledge and full freedom.
 
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