Confession question ( If possible help from a priest)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jamie
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jamie

Guest
So, like a bunch of people on here, I suffer from OCD ( the kind that gives the sufferer horrible thoughts), and it has made confession a torture chamber. I recently went to confession and confessed like I always do, telling the priest about my thoughts, how they sometimes feel more deliberate and at other times way out of my control. I told him in general terms what the thoughts are about and then moved on . I had a particular instance in mind when I confessed this, but I didn’t mention it both because I know that I am not supposed to be super specific because of time, and because I didn’t really know how to confess it really. I ended up just agreeing that it fit into the category of my other thoughts and kept on going. Like all my other confessions, I left feeling that my confession was valid and complete, but then the digging started. I started to dig at my confession and this particular thing came up. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I did deliberately have this thought because I rested more on it than I usually do, but it is super confusing to me because I always have OCD thoughts of this kind and they always hurt so much and I always reject them as best as I can. I have absolutely no real desire to carry out this thought in any way shape or form and the fact that now I think that I may have wanted it in my heart ( thought I’ve never physically carried out and have no plans to) is driving me to the point of insanity. This instance does feel different though, so now I am wondering if this made my confession sacrilegious since I didn’t specifically mention this situation and because I wonder if I didn’t convince myself that this was one of my regular thoughts ( it always felt a little different, which is why I struggled with knowing how to confess it). Will I have to confess everything over again or just this one sin and the new ones? I do struggle with repeating confessions, and it is like pulling myself apart every time, but I will do it if I have to.
 
Jamie said:
may have
Click to expand...
So you are not certain then. Confess mortal sins for which you are certain. In confession we always are sorry for each and every one of our mortal sins since baptism after the attainment of the age or reason, even though they are not remembered.
 
Last edited:
From the sounds of your comment, it seems as though you’re genuinely unsure of what to do. The fact that your agonizing over whether you should have confessed it or not tells me that you didn’t have “full knowledge” when you withheld this particular thought from your confession, which is one of the criteria for a sin to be mortal. Thus, you haven’t committed a mortal sin by withholding this thought, and your confession was indeed valid.

However, if you genuinely feel as though you should have talked to your priest about this in confession, then I think you should do it next time you’re in confession. You don’t have to say all the sins you’ve already confessed, just this one you’re struggling with (and any new sins, like you said).

Again, you sound absolutely genuine in your concern over this thought you had. Do not beat yourself up over it. Remember that turmoil in the mind/heart is NOT from God, it’s always from Satan. God may challenge us, but he always desires for our heart to be at peace. Satan wants you to feel fear and anxiety and despair, because it severs you from God. So try your best not to let this thought cause you anxiety. Just confess it next time you’re able to, and I would recommend talking to someone you trust about the nature of the thought you had.

I’m not too familiar with OCD, but I hope this helps in some way. Take care and God bless! 🙂
 
Hi Just thought or temptation are not sinful by it self ,unless you keep indulging in it or ponders or willfully enjoying it and accept it ,it become a sin.If something bothers you so much often or any sin keeps repeating or lingering thoughts keep coming up,there is nothing wrong in confessing then again,so that you can be at peace with yourself and your conscience also will be clear, you don’t have to keep worrying an about it ,remember though you are confessing to a Catholic Priest it is Jesus Himself.He loves you and forgives you ,who know your heart very well ,God Bless

Isaiah 43:25 I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
 
Last edited:
What you are describing is a medical issue, not a moral or religious one. You need to speak to a physician about it. Please do so! You know that God wants you to get better. I will pray for you.
 
Dearest Jamie,
You can make an appt to have a confession done in private. That will take pressure off, from the time constraint.
I suggested to another member , who has OCD, to keep a journal. Title one page-Mortal sins. Title the next page Venial sins. Write the definitions under the title. It will help you characterize your sins in the correct category.
Relax. You want to go to church and confession. You want a right relationship w God. That is so good. Your intent was not to hide anything from the priest. When you go back, tell him then.
To control your thoughts memorize Bible phrases. Play Christian music. Those words will pop up in your head.
In Christ’s Love
Tweedlealice

My peace, I leave you. My peace, I give you
Matthew 11: Come unto me all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…
 
I admire you and those other people who attempt to perfect their confessions. This shows your sincerity in confessing your sins. However, this gives way to a bit of psychological burden.

If I confess my sin on a generalised level, I would feel that I am not specific in enough and might feel that the absolution is not effective because I don’t give enough details. Whenever I try to provide details, time becomes a constraint. Even worse, I might never feel that I have given “exact and enough details” of my sin. I might attempt to repeat the confession, giving rise to a bit of obsessive behaviour.

If I confess, I will first confess to the Lord in prayer and ask the Lord whether I should go to confession. I won’t go to confession until I get an “approval” from the Lord. On His blessing, the Holy Spirit will give me the words required to detail my sin during confession.
 
Obsession = cleanliness. Compulsion = hand washing. Obsession = worry about sin. Compulsion = confession. If you become an atheist you will obsess about athiest things (did I harm someone, did I allow someone to fall into religion?) and your compulsions will take on a secular theme (did I alert the appropriate authority?). OCD is not a religious experience. It is a result of the way the chemicals in your brain are interacting. In many cases, it is reported in the scientific literature, it responds well to talking therapy and to the right drugs. Please consider talking to a physician or a psychiatrist.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top