Confession know-how

[Whitacre_Girl]

I am still new to confession, and I am heading out to confession here in about another half hour or so.

I am still feeling confused about it. For instance, lately I have been making a point to draw nearer to God in all that I do. I can’t tell if it’s working or failing miserably because I have noticed my more sinful actions coming to an end. You know, those things you can pin down and say “yes, I did this. I am sorry.” While I am so glad to have those done and over with (at least for the last several months) I am now faced with sins in my attitude. I am not aware of specific actions that I have done (there are maybe a handful) but more of an attitude.

Since I’ve been spending more time trying to draw nearer to Christ, I just feel. Bad. You know? Like, I am aware of selfish motives in things I do, and times where I have missed opportunities to reach out to people, and just a general attitude that is not conducive to holiness. I am more and more aware that I am NOT a good person and so far away from holiness that it’s hardly a blip on my radar.

How do I confess this? I want so badly to draw nearer to Christ and do what is right, but I feel like the more I try to expand my spiritual horizons, the more I am aware of how just…ugly I am . I don’t have any idea how to bring this into the confessional.

 

[damooster]

It’s possible that you are referring to the Seven Capital Sins. You can read about them here:

fisheaters.com/lists.html#9

Included in that list are virtues that you can focus on to prevent these capital sins.

I would also recommend a good examination of conscious so that you when you feel like you may be committing a sin, or acting in a sinful way, you can refer to the examination of conscious to p(name removed by moderator)oint what it is exactly you think you are doing wrong.

Here’s one:

ewtn.com/library/Prayer/examconscience.htm

Sins are specific offenses towards God. Just feeling like we aren’t good enough, or that we aren’t where we need to be spiritually are things we all suffer from (especially new Catholics like you and me). For example, I feel unworthy when I read about saints; I feel like I’m evil compared to them.

I guess what I’m trying to get at, is that you need to be very specific, not only for yourself but for your Confessor. Going in to the Confessional with what you told us here is pretty vague and borderline scrupulous. By knowing your sins, you can stop sin and make a better Confession.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

It’s possible that you are referring to the Seven Capital Sins. You can read about them here:

fisheaters.com/lists.html#9

Included in that list are virtues that you can focus on to prevent these capital sins.

I would also recommend a good examination of conscious so that you when you feel like you may be committing a sin, or acting in a sinful way, you can refer to the examination of conscious to p(name removed by moderator)oint what it is exactly you think you are doing wrong.

Here’s one:

ewtn.com/library/Prayer/examconscience.htm

Sins are specific offenses towards God. Just feeling like we aren’t good enough, or that we aren’t where we need to be spiritually are things we all suffer from (especially new Catholics like you and me). For example, I feel unworthy when I read about saints; I feel like I’m evil compared to them.

I guess what I’m trying to get at, is that you need to be very specific, not only for yourself but for your Confessor. Going in to the Confessional with what you told us here is pretty vague and borderline scrupulous. By knowing your sins, you can stop sin and make a better Confession.

Thanks. I guess I just am having a hard time with words. I am feeling majorly unworthy of Christ and aware of my sinful attitudes. They manifest themselves in ways that seem scrupulous such as: getting angry when someone cuts me off in traffic, keeping silent and missing witnessing opportunities, and not being friendly to people and supportive because I feel tired or stressed myself.

These sins on the surface may seem not that bad on the surface, but the underlying motive (selfishness, anger, lack of self control etc…) to me seems so bad.

Thanks for the answer though. That really helps. I’ll read that link before I head out here in a couple minutes.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Oh, and also:

I am having a hard time distinguishing my own pride from a healthy self-esteem. I am in treatment for cripplingly low self esteem and I have been doing much better but I feel so egotistical most of the time. I dunno, just a lot going on in my life lately…

 

[jmcrae]

hey manifest themselves in ways that seem scrupulous such as: getting angry when someone cuts me off in traffic, keeping silent and missing witnessing opportunities, and not being friendly to people and supportive because I feel tired or stressed myself.

Not sure if you’re already gone, but - you could just confess them like that.

 

[Student09]

T
These sins on the surface may seem not that bad on the surface, but the underlying motive (selfishness, anger, lack of self control etc…) to me seems so bad.
.

Well, they *are *bad because they offend God. They seem bad to you because you are beginning to see more accurately. That’s a good thing. And you can certainly confess them, why not? Don’t confess “I feel like a horrible person,” because that is not a sin, but you can confess getting angry or failing to defend the faith, absolutely. If you tend to be self-deprecating, you can confess that too.

God is great! We shouldn’t glory in ourselves but in God.

 

[momor]

Perhaps what you need is spiritual direction so you can talk about your struggles to grow in faith and action, apart from sin and the confessional.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Not sure if you’re already gone, but - you could just confess them like that.

Thanks all for the tips. I went to confession, and the priest (thankfully!) know exactly what I was getting at. He helped me find the words to express what I wanted, as well as all the other sins that I could name. Whew!

 

[jmcrae]

Thanks all for the tips. I went to confession, and the priest (thankfully!) know exactly what I was getting at. He helped me find the words to express what I wanted, as well as all the other sins that I could name. Whew!

Isn’t it great?