Confession question about thoughts

  • Thread starter Thread starter PatB22
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PatB22

Guest
Hey, so I have many thoughts that I dont want. Some intrusive thoughts can be blasphemous, lustful, and even sexual. I never want any of these thoughts but Im planning to go to confession today and I’m not sure how to tell the priest that im having these thoughts. Any advice helps 😃
 
Are these thoughts when your awake or asleep?

I believe if they are when your asleep you do not have to confess to them.
 
You don’t need to confess them (i.e. as sins), but as far as advice goes just mention what you said in your post here. No more detail than that is needed.

If this is an ongoing thing and you’re having intrusive thoughts often, you may need to look into professional help in addition to advice on the spiritual side of things.
 
As long as you didn’t consent to the thoughts (like truly mean them) you’re fine. If you want to confess it though just in case, a wise choice. Please do not be scrupulous though (from a scrupulous person himself 🙂)
 
Last edited:
Yes, I’m very scrupulous, sometimes the smallest things can make me go insane and its a pain but I know one day ill overcome it. 😃
 
I’m glad I read this thread as I am having the same problem at times.
Thank you!
 
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause distress are not a matter for the Confessional, except to maybe get advice from the Priest.

The fact that you have these thoughts coupled with the fact that you suffer symptoms of scrupulosity leads me to think you may want to see a therapist and be evaluated for OCD.
 
You are only bound to confess what you willfully engage in.

That said, it might be good to let your confessor (or, if you have one, spiritual adviser) know that you are prone to intrusive, immoral thoughts. They may have some advice on how to handle them.
 
PatB22 said:
Hey, so I have many thoughts that I dont want. Some intrusive thoughts can be blasphemous, lustful, and even sexual. I never want any of these thoughts but Im planning to go to confession today and I’m not sure how to tell the priest that im having these thoughts. Any advice helps 😃
Click to expand...
Just talk to him.
We worry about worry. We worry about having bad thoughts, and the more we worry about them, the more they preoccupy us. The more they preoccupy us, the more they come into our heads. It’s like they are unavoidable. (can you tell I’ve been there?)

So don’t avoid them. Accept the struggle, and respond by giving them to Christ. Christ loves to take our struggles and endure them with us. Don’t be afraid of the way your mind works, or the way your personality works. God will take you where you are and give you peace. Let go.
 
Intrusive thoughts are not mortal sins and so don’t need to be confessed.

You might be able to ask a priest about dealing with intrusive thoughts, not as a confession, necessarily, but for guidance.
 
If you know that nothing can stop you from trying to be faithful to God repeatedly and permanently these types of thoughts are simply irritants. Your higher self can understand these lower thoughts, accept that it’s your ego fearing a loss of supremacy and placate that ego with a parents smile.

Don’t ignore them just understand them and then carry on with your mission, to be a great Catholic. 🙂
 
I suffer from this. A few mental Hail Marys nip it in the bud for me. Sometimes when I am alone in the car, I’ll say them aloud. Maybe something like this will work for you. Good luck.
 
PatB22 said:
Some intrusive thoughts can be blasphemous, lustful, and even sexual. I never want any of these thoughts but Im planning to go to confession today and I’m not sure how to tell the priest that im having these thoughts.
Click to expand...
Just tell him that you have had blasphemous thoughts and lustful thoughts and an idea of number of times if you can remember. You don’t need to go into detail unless he asks. I wouldn’t worry about telling him this, he will have heard this sort of thing very frequently I think.
 
Brendan_64 said:
40.png
Wesrock:
Intrusive thoughts are not mortal sins and so don’t need to be confessed.
Click to expand...
I think they can be if you dwell on them and take pleasure in them. And even if they are not mortal sins it is a good thing to confess venial sins.
Click to expand...
This kind of parsing advice drives the scrupulous out of their minds.
Thoughts are not mortal sins, and don’t need to be confessed.
Morality evaluates human actions.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top