Confession before the year ends

[divinefaith]

I have not been to confession in several years and now that the year is nearly over, I know it will be a sin to neglect it for another year

My problem is I am currently experiencing anxiety and my spirituality is still not in order. I really dont want to put myself in another mortal sin but I also feel that it’s better to have a stronger spiritual union with God first. My aim was to see a spiritual director but I have been unable to do so as a result of some personal situations. What’s my best option here? I know we should confess mortal sins at least once a year (as an obligation) but dont know what to do about my situation. I also want to add that my Parish Priest is lax and wont be the best guidance.

 

[yosephdaviyd]

I have not been to confession in several years and now that the year is nearly over, I know it will be a sin to neglect it for another year

My problem is I am currently experiencing anxiety and my spirituality is still not in order. I really dont want to put myself in another mortal sin but I also feel that it’s better to have a stronger spiritual union with God first. My aim was to see a spiritual director but I have been unable to do so as a result of some personal situations. What’s my best option here? I know we should confess mortal sins at least once a year (as an obligation) but dont know what to do about my situation. I also want to add that my Parish Priest is lax and wont be the best guidance.

It is the teaching of the Church to confess your sins AT LEAST once a year. It is the opinion of many that you should see a dentist and an optomitrist at least once every two or three years - a physican once a year. But the best way to stay on top of your condition (spiritual and physical) is to make frequent visits to professionals who can help you access your condition and recommend help so that your condition doesn’t worsen.

Jesus Christ is a physician and you encounter Him at the Sacrament of Confession. He is not there for those who have it all together or those who want to become stronger on their own first. He is there for the sick. You sound as sick as the rest of us, so go to him and get your balm applied and your sins (moral and venial) forgiven. You’ll be much better to have went, than not to have went. Start making it a practice to go once every three weeks at least, rather than falling into the lowest common denominator.

Blessings and Shalom

 

[phoooiee]

I have not been to confession in several years and now that the year is nearly over, I know it will be a sin to neglect it for another year

My problem is I am currently experiencing anxiety and my spirituality is still not in order. I really dont want to put myself in another mortal sin but I also feel that it’s better to have a stronger spiritual union with God first. My aim was to see a spiritual director but I have been unable to do so as a result of some personal situations. What’s my best option here? I know we should confess mortal sins at least once a year (as an obligation) but dont know what to do about my situation. I also want to add that my Parish Priest is lax and wont be the best guidance.

I don’t think you’ll have much luck “having a stronger spiritual union with God” without the sacrament. Just go!

 

[NewsTheMan]

What’s my best option here?

Confess. Do it now. Your soul is in danger. Satan will use any means necessary to try and keep you from confession. He will take the smallest in-road and use it to wedge a giant gap between you and your saviour. Listen to me - there is no greater way to improve your relationship with God than to go to confession. There is no greater way to get your “spirituality in order” than to go to confession. You need to cleanse your soul. Don’t put the cart before the horse here friend. All these things floating around in your head are distractions. You wouldn’t put off going to a doctor if your leg was chopped off. So don’t put this off any longer. Please. I beg of you. This is your soul! This is your salvation! Forget these other things.

With a firm purpose, strap your boots up and say “Jesus Christ died for me. I love Him with all my heart. I will confess! Holy Spirit come down and give me courage; Mama Mary envelope me and lead me to your Divine Son! I will confess!”

All you need to do is go into that little confessional, confess and be absolved. Don’t build this up in your head. It’s a simple process. Your priest will be proud of you. If he gives you advice that you are not certain of - ask him about it, and if he contracts the Church then so be it and leave it for the time being. Before you can correct others you need to have a clean slate.

The first step is confession. But it is the hardest. Courage! You are in a spiritual battle here. Christ is leading you - He is your hero. He has sacrificed it all for you - you need to go onto that battlefield and face your fears. He will be standing next to you; Mama Mary will be comforting you and St.Michael will be leading the way. You cannot grow unless you have confessed. You need the Eucharist. You need God.

Prayers for you that you may have courage. I believe in you. If you don’t believe in yourself; believe in Jesus Christ who believes in you.

 

[puzzleannie]

I have not been to confession in several years and now that the year is nearly over, I know it will be a sin to neglect it for another year

My problem is I am currently experiencing anxiety and my spirituality is still not in order. I really dont want to put myself in another mortal sin but I also feel that it’s better to have a stronger spiritual union with God first. My aim was to see a spiritual director but I have been unable to do so as a result of some personal situations. What’s my best option here? I know we should confess mortal sins at least once a year (as an obligation) but dont know what to do about my situation. I also want to add that my Parish Priest is lax and wont be the best guidance.

these are excuses not reasons
at least part of your anxiety and certainly most of your spiritual malaise come from ignoring the sacrament of confession and the willingness to continue carrying a burden
we go to confess to get our spirituality in order, it is not a prerequisite to have our spiritual ducks in a row to go there
go to the closest priest and the next time for confession in your area
let the Holy Spirit worry about guiding the priest, and let Jesus worry about judginghis performance in the confessional. Your only worry is going there. You don’t need a spiritual director in order to confess, any priest is good and will be Christ to you.

instead of excuses ask yourself why you are avoiding an encounter with Christ, and they may help you work through the anxiety. It there is a medical basis for that, of course you will also get treatment for that aspect.

we all face this hurdle each and every time we need confession, you are not alone.

 

[divinefaith]

What if I doubt and go against some Church teachings? I know this would be heresy and its ongoing for me. I dont want to make excuses but I think its reasonable for me to ask whether I should solve this dilemma first. I dont want to be excommunicated again and again.

 

[chris138]

Just go, if you are waiting to have “all your ducks in row” chances are it will never happen. If you are trying to be sin free or have overcome something like your principle defect then you may be waiting forever. You can not have spiritual union with God if you are in mortal sin–this is a lie.

I am not sure what you mean by “my spirituality is still not in order,” are you living in mortal sin with no intent to change and that is why you feel you can not go to confession?? (for example living with someone you are not married to) Then you may have a problem, but seek counsel…this will help your anxiety in the long run.

This happened to me. When I was young I left the church and got married outside of the church. Later I returned and after a couple years finally got the courage to go to confession when I was told I could not have absolution because in the eyes of the church I was not married–I was devastated and embarrased, but I called the priest and we fixed it had our marriage blessed and now everything is fine. So even though my spirituality was not in order it was able to be fixed with the help of the priest.

If you don’t think your priest will be what you need, then go to another parish. We have a shrine near where I live that has confession at least once a day.

I go to confession often it is painless. I am certain you have nothing to say that hasn’t been heard before. It is probably harder with the anxiety(I am always anxious before confession as I am sure many people are). Since it has been awhile just let the confessor know, he will help you. It will be done in a few minutes and you’ll be on your way. Then go often, the yearly requirement certainly doesn’t mean only. You receive graces that are needed and then the anxiety is reduced since it is more often. I have anxiety too, I always ask myself what is the worse thing that can happen? You can either get the absolution you are clearly wanting and needing, or the priest can tell you no. Either way you will know where you stand.

I will pray for you to have the courage to go. Just do it. And do it as soon as you can(like this Saturday).

 

[puzzleannie]

What if I doubt and go against some Church teachings? I know this would be heresy and .

more excuses

no it is not heresy, it is admission you need to study more about the faith and ask questions and get answers. ahem, this site is a great place to do that.
don’t accuse yourself, simply go to confession,
if you still have not asked yourself why you are avoiding a personal encounter with Jesus in that sacrament–and you certainly are not obligated to do that here–may I suggest it as a helpful starting place.

you are not excommunicated unless you willingly, knowingly and deliberately committed an excommunicable offense. Since you don’t say say so, no you are not. e
e

even if you were, confession is the place to start healing that condition

You do seem to have a lot of confusion about what is a sin and what is not, so seek some instruction.

The classes going in in most parishes for parents and sponsor of children preparing for first confession are a great place to start.

 

[divinefaith]

I am not sure what you mean by “my spirituality is still not in order,” are you living in mortal sin with no intent to change and that is why you feel you can not go to confession?? (for example living with someone you are not married to) Then you may have a problem, but seek counsel…this will help your anxiety in the long run.

I will pray for you to have the courage to go. Just do it. And do it as soon as you can(like this Saturday).

No this isnt the case for me, but I mentioned in another post that my problem is dissent. How could I reunite if I am dissenting constantly? But what you are saying about not getting my spiritual life in order til Im reconciled from sin is true. I am getting more motivated to confess because the thought of using Confession as my first guide will be the best. Thanks for your prayer

more excuses

no it is not heresy, it is admission you need to study more about the faith and ask questions and get answers. ahem, this site is a great place to do that.
don’t accuse yourself, simply go to confession,
if you still have not asked yourself why you are avoiding a personal encounter with Jesus in that sacrament–and you certainly are not obligated to do that here–may I suggest it as a helpful starting place.

you are not excommunicated unless you willingly, knowingly and deliberately committed an excommunicable offense. Since you don’t say say so, no you are not. e
e

even if you were, confession is the place to start healing that condition

You do seem to have a lot of confusion about what is a sin and what is not, so seek some instruction.

The classes going in in most parishes for parents and sponsor of children preparing for first confession are a great place to start.

If I want to question Catholic teachings and look thru the other perspective aren’t I a dissenter? yes, I agree I do need instruction I just mentioned that I do consider confession to be a good step to take but am I unworthy of Confession if I walk in with this mindset?

 

[domandcarols]

If I want to question Catholic teachings and look thru the other perspective aren’t I a dissenter? yes, I agree I do need instruction I just mentioned that I do consider confession to be a good step to take but am I unworthy of Confession if I walk in with this mindset?

No, that doesn’t make you a dissenter. You are never unworthy of confession
Go as soon as possible. God bless you.

 

[puzzleannie]

If I want to question Catholic teachings and look thru the other perspective aren’t I a dissenter? yes, I agree I do need instruction I just mentioned that I do consider confession to be a good step to take but am I unworthy of Confession if I walk in with this mindset?

no you are a dissenter when you refuse to humbly seek instruction and answers to your questions from legitimate Catholic sources, and refuse to believe, accept and act on the true Church teaching when you discover it. For instance, someone who insists on rejecting Church teaching on artificial birth control is a dissenter. He may or may not be materially sinning, depending on how he acts on this belief.

A heretic is one who not only rejects the teaching but teaches others to do so in a formal way, particularly someone, lay or ordained, who has been delegated or commissioned to teach the faith, such as a catechist, religion teacher or preacher, persists in deliberately imparting teaching contrary to the Faith, using his position as a platform to promote his agenda. Those are not complete definitions, but definitions by example.

For example, many married people in my generation, the first for whom chemical birth control was an option, engaged in debate on the issue, even rejected or misunderstood the teaching (sometimes being mislead by priests and others who should have known better), and simply could not understand it. Yet some still obeyed the teaching, coming to a fuller understanding only after years of marriage and family gave insight. Others rejected the teaching outright, and suffered the consequences for their wrong actions. Whether or not they believed the teaching, the true test was in the actions.