Confession questions - Reply quickly please!

[CatholicCatLover]

Hello,
I am going to confession tonight and have some questions regarding some sins.

1. Awhile ago I remember I was sitting with my dog and thinking about doing the sign of the cross on her . . . weird I know, anyway, I don’t remember if I actually did this or not and I don’t even know why I would do this but I need to know if this is a mortal sin that has to be confessed as I forgot about it last time.
2. is watching shows that take the Lord’s name in vain sinful, or reading it in a book, I try to replace it with “goodness” in my head but still . . . and what about shows that make sexual references, I don’t watch the shows for that purpose and am very cautious with that (sometimes skipping ahead), would these be mortal sins? It is so hard to avoid shows that take the Lord’s name in vain or do not hint at sexual jokes. And what about shows that make jokes about Christians (namely The Big Bang Theory), I don’t watch shows for these components but worry that I am sinning mortally by viewing such media.
3. I suffer from anorexia and used to abuse laxatives, and purge as well as restricting but now I have stopped purging and abusing laxatives and only tend to restrict my caloric intake. Before my last confession I wrote it down in my list of sins, and asked my mom about it but she said it is not a sin and is a medical issue, so I didn’t confess it. Now I am worrying if I have to confess it as well as if I sinned mortally by deliberately not confessing it, therefore making my confession beforehand invalid. I did however, confess purposely harming my self (I used to struggle with self harm), so would these things fall under that category even though I didn’t intend the purging and lax abuse when I said self harm though. . idk . . .

btw I am scrupulous, just in case i’m sounding irrational

God Bless, Angela

 

[MCH1]

Awhile ago I remember I was sitting with my dog and thinking about doing the sign of the cross on her . . . weird I know, anyway, I don’t remember if I actually did this or not and I don’t even know why I would do this but I need to know if this is a mortal sin that has to be confessed as I forgot about it last time.

Why would blessing your dog be sinful?

 

[CatholicCatLover]

idk . . .are we were allowed to do things like that?

 

[MCH1]

idk . . .are we were allowed to do things like that?

Why not? Blessing is good.

 

[brian_custer]

i wouldn’t see where blessing your pet is a problem

self abuse via voluntary starvation;

yes that can be a little bit problematic vis a, vis motral sin

 

[semper_catholicus]

Clear case of scrupulosity. I would ask the priest in confession to tell you what you ought to make of all these things.

 

[CatholicCatLover]

so should I confess these things . . . I don’t want to take up too much time and have severe social anxiety, last time I almost fainted

 

[semper_catholicus]

You should bring them up as DOUBTFUL sins.

 

[guanophore]

Awhile ago I remember I was sitting with my dog and thinking about doing the sign of the cross on her .

You can ask God to bless anything and everything. There is a special Mass for the blessing of animals. You can bless your house, your garden, etc.

is watching shows that take the Lord’s name in vain sinful, or reading it in a book

It is impossible to avoid every instance of this, though you should try to limit exposure to such things. Say a prayer for the author, and all those who read the book. Ask the Lord to keep your mind and heart pure no matter what you read or see.

And what about shows that make jokes about Christians (namely The Big Bang Theory), I don’t watch shows for these components but worry that I am sinning mortally by viewing such media.

Jesus may well have created the universe with a big bang. We don’t know. A mortal sin requires that you recognize the content as grave matter (jokes and theories generally don’t qualify). If you are asking the question, then it does not qualify.

I suffer from anorexia

Your mother is right, it is not a sin to have an illness. However, there are spiritual components to sickness that may benefit from spiritual solutions.

Now I am worrying if I have to confess it as well as if I sinned mortally by deliberately not confessing it, therefore making my confession beforehand invalid.

You may be suffering from scrupulosity. A confession is invalid if you hold back a sin through embarrassment or avoidance, not lack of knowledge. If you want to bring it up in confession, you may do so.

I did however, confess purposely harming my self

Yes, both of these are an insult to the Temple of the Holy Spirit, which is your body. But again, illness itself is not considered a sin.

I am scrupulous, just in case i’m sounding irrational

You can be healed of this also, and it helps to have spiritual direction.

Keep the faith! Trust in His Mercy.

 

[CatholicCatLover]

ok, thank you

 

[adgloriam]

1. Might seem irreverent. I don’t know if it actually is. People get their cars blessed (for example) as an act of devotion. There is a subtle definition to what a blessing is, in the case of making the sign of cross I don’t know exactly if any restriction applies, since I have never found myself doing the sign of the cross except upon persons…Nice point. But the way you said it, it seems like a simple spontaneous act of devotion- which is good.

2.I personally phased out such shows that make such references. Unavoidably sometimes I see something like that. I am still well aware of those shows committing blasphemy and although I don’t appreciate it and avoid if possible I have come to a certain peace since it is ultimately not in my power to stop it. So is freedom. As for things sensual in nature, I don’t appreciate them anymore. It becomes a habit in the long run to avoid those things.

3.Take good care of yourself and your health. I wish you the best.

You need to confess a sin once if you don’t relapse. And if you forgot about it you receive absolution nevertheless. Confess it next time and be at peace.

May peace be upon. God bless.

 

[guanophore]

are we were allowed to do things like that?

Liturgical Year : Prayers : Book of Blessings: Order for the Blessing of Animals | Catholic Culture

Blessing of animals.

I don’t want to take up too much time and have severe social anxiety, last time I almost fainted

It might be more useful for you to use a standard examination of conscience and stick to it, so you don’t fly off on tangents.

You can also meet with a priest or spiritual director outside of confession to help you sort it all out in advance. I find it helpful to make a list and read it.

 

[joeybaggz]

There is a celebration of animals in the Church. I think it is the blessing of pets on (don’t hold me to this) the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. A priest or deacon blesses any pet a parishioner would bring. If the clergy can bless them in a formal setting, why can’t you in the privacy of your own home.
Yes you are being a little scrupulous on this one. God loves all His creation, I would imagine it pleases Him to see you bless your pet.
My two cents.

 

[joeybaggz]

Hello,
I am going to confession tonight and have some questions regarding some sins.
2. is watching shows that take the Lord’s name in vain sinful, or reading it in a book, I try to replace it with “goodness” in my head but still . . . and what about shows that make sexual references, I don’t watch the shows for that purpose and am very cautious with that (sometimes skipping ahead), would these be mortal sins? It is so hard to avoid shows that take the Lord’s name in vain or do not hint at sexual jokes. And what about shows that make jokes about Christians (namely The Big Bang Theory), I don’t watch shows for these components but worry that I am sinning mortally by viewing such media.
God Bless, Angela

Angela. If you were to watch a show with a bank robbery, would you be guilty of a mortal sin against the seventh commandment? NO. Now if you were to watch it to the point where you wanted to go get a gun and rob a bank, if you infused your viewing with both malice and intent, then probably yes.
When you watched video showing sexual situations or using the Lord’s name in vain, did you choose to want to break the second or sixth commandments in a manner that made you realize you want the evil more than you want to live in the friendship of God. NO. No mortal sin in the viewing if you do as you say, skip it or ignore it. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Shalom

 

[guanophore]

I see that I am not the only one tortured by scrupulosity.

Not at all! In fact, there are probably hundreds of threads on here about it. The good news is that God heals that too!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I see that I am not the only one tortured by scrupulosity.

Yes, this forum is a bit of a magnet for people suffering from scrupulosity.
You’re definitely not alone.
But it’s better to discuss such issues individually with a confessor or spiritual director than with people on an Internet forum.

 

[Bluebright]

When you watch a tv show (or hear in real life) people taking the name of the Lord in vain there is a prayer I say which is said to counter act it/make up for it. I can’t remember which Saint it is attributed too , sorry wonky brain. It is ‘Admirable is the name of God’ . I personally try to avoid films/movies/books like that if it is too much but it is shocking how much it is in the world and you cannot avoid peoples saying it in your hearing. I did tell my priest in confession once that I said this prayer and he just nodded.
OH I just found this on google …so here it is : Say in a prayerful spirit during the day, whenever you can, “Admirable is the Name of God.”. Our Lord revealed this to Sr Mary of St Peter: “O if you only knew what great merit you acquire by saying even once, “Admirable is the Name of God”, in the spirit of reparation for blasphemy!”.

 

[SacredHeartBassist]

You didn’t list any sins. Sorry you have an eating disorder. I do too.

 

[guanophore]

If the Church printed out an official examination of conscience with clearly named mortal sins and basically said confess these and no more that would help a lot of us I think.

The Church will never restrict the sacrament in this way. The faithful ma confess whatever they feel is necessary. The examination helps focus us for the task, and answers some of the questions about what the sins are, and the severity of them.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-wor...entals/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I understand what you are saying, but it’s hard for the Church to do that, because a sin that is mortal for person A may be venial for person B due to some factor like state of mind or the reason why somebody did the sin, so you really need to discuss individually with a priest.