Confession and the Eucharist

[Image_of_God]

I am aware of the possibillity that I might have fallen into mortal sin. As a result, I have abstained from the Eucharist for many months. I have tried to go to Confession, but everytime I go I feel like I am not sorry enough for my sins, like I don’t care about how I’ve wounded God. Therefore I have been preparing for the grace of the Confession, asking continually for true contrition, but I never seem to get it. What should I do?

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I think you need to explain this to Father in Confession. Feelings can be strange bedfellows - they can come and go without much rhyme or reason. Re Confession, I may not feel that I am sorry, but the very fact that I confess my sin is an act of sorrow. I would mention in this case to Father, that I want to confess what I know is sinful, but I just can’t feel sorry for it. This would be the full confession of my sin. Father would then give me advice. Speak to Father in Confession.

Blessings - Barb
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_14_5.gifiHs

 

[puzzleannie]

I . I have tried to go to Confession, but everytime I go I feel like I am not sorry enough for my sins, like I don’t care about how I’ve wounded God. Therefore I have been preparing for the grace of the Confession, asking continually for true contrition, but I never seem to get it. What should I do?

the grace is not something that comes by virtue of what you do, but by gift of Christ, and merely by asking for the grace of contrition, and expressing your contrition, and the desire to confess and seek absolution, you do this. If you confess sincerely all your mortal sins and express your contrition, your sins are absolved. Feelings and emotions have little part to play here. Just do it. Using feelings as an excuse to avoid the sacraments is allowing the evil one to succeed in one of his favorite ploys. In general the answer to any lack of consolation in the sacraments is increased devotion and recourse to the sacraments.

 

[baltobetsy]

Remember that perfect contrition is not required for the forgiveness of sins in confession. Imperfect contrition is quite enough for God to work with. That includes fear of hell or any other motive that refers *in any way *to God. It excludes purely human motives such as having your pride wounded at seeing yourself fail.

I will echo what Barb said about the very act of going to confession being an indication of your sorrow. I have had more than one priest tell me this.

Let God be generous and forgiving as He wants to be. Don’t put your pride in the way.

Check out this post for some other thoughts.

Betsy

 

[Image_of_God]

Thank you all for the help. I will take these words to heart.