Confession - trouble determining the species of the sin

[RCKC333]

I really am having a hard time and struggling right now with this topic. I apologize before I even go in to detail. I know there are questions about how specific to be in confession. And the common answer is to name the species of sin, and the number of times (Ive read the Jimmy Akin page about this). So I understand all of what that means. But what if you dont know what species your sin belongs to? Many, many years ago, I lead a very very very sinful life and was involved with a person who was not a good influence in the slightest bit. There are about 3 things that I did, all pertain to the species of fornication or masturbation/pornography, but i honestly dont know how to confess them. They are under that species, but they go beyond that and i dont know how to explain this to the priest without being too specific about it and putting images in his mind (he is after all human). So im so torn about this. I go regularly to confession now, every 2 weeks. I attend mass almost daily. Ive tried to confess these things many times but each time I just dont know if im saying enough without going into gory details. Just saying the sin would be too much i would think. I hope this makes sense? I was just dead, so dead in sin and did some dark things that i am unbelievably shameful of but i want to make sure i confess them properly. Any advice on this? THanks

 

[CalCatholic]

I really am having a hard time and struggling right now with this topic. I apologize before I even go in to detail. I know there are questions about how specific to be in confession. And the common answer is to name the species of sin, and the number of times (Ive read the Jimmy Akin page about this). So I understand all of what that means. But what if you dont know what species your sin belongs to? Many, many years ago, I lead a very very very sinful life and was involved with a person who was not a good influence in the slightest bit. There are about 3 things that I did, all pertain to the species of fornication or masturbation/pornography, but i honestly dont know how to confess them. They are under that species, but they go beyond that and i dont know how to explain this to the priest without being too specific about it and putting images in his mind (he is after all human). So im so torn about this. I go regularly to confession now, every 2 weeks. I attend mass almost daily. Ive tried to confess these things many times but each time I just dont know if im saying enough without going into gory details. Just saying the sin would be too much i would think. I hope this makes sense? I was just dead, so dead in sin and did some dark things that i am unbelievably shameful of but i want to make sure i confess them properly. Any advice on this? THanks

Make an appointment with your pastor or spiritual advisor and dicuss these concerns with him, and ease your mind. God loves you and want to forgive you of your sins!

 

[Jon_S_1]

Make an appointment with your pastor or spiritual advisor and dicuss these concerns with him, and ease your mind. God loves you and want to forgive you of your sins!

You need to get this off your chest. Just go and tell the priest in confession or in appointment. Lay it out…forget “the formalities” just say. Years ago I did x and y and z and I am so sorry for it.

Be free.

 

[pianistclare]

You need to get this off your chest. Just go and tell the priest in confession or in appointment. Lay it out…forget “the formalities” just say. Years ago I did x and y and z and I am so sorry for it.

Be free.

Yes, this^^.
Theologians like to speak about mechanics. Your confessor will help you make a good confession.
God bless.

 

[crenfro]

Hello.

Have you considered reading some good books about confession? Roman Catholic Books and TAN books and EWTN have some good books about confession.

Thank you for your post. Found it very comforting.

Placing you in the enclosed garden of the most Sacred Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

i dont know how to explain this to the priest without being too specific about it and putting images in his mind (he is after all human). So im so torn about this.

…

dead in sin and did some dark things that i am unbelievably shameful of but i want to make sure i confess them properly. Any advice on this? THanks

 

[Elizium23]

If I understand the desccription your original post correctly, you are frequenting confession but you are deliberately holding back mortal sins on your conscience. This is an extremely bad idea because it has the potential to invalidate each and every absolution your priest has attempted, leaving you right back in a state of mortal sin.

You need to do what it takes to cough these up in your next trip to the confessional or it will be a futile endeavor. Do what it takes, others have provided good suggestions, such as making an appointment; you can go to another priest in another parish, and do it anonymously if you feel the need (I certainly do) but GET IT DONE!

 

[Edmundus1581]

Make an appointment with your pastor or spiritual advisor and dicuss these concerns with him, and ease your mind. God loves you and want to forgive you of your sins!

I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I can’t see any reason the OP shouldn’t just attend a normal confession and say something like “Previously I’ve confessed some sexual sins from my past and I’m not sure if I adequately confessed the species of the sin”, and let the priest take it from there. And after that confession, let it go. Priests are used to taking questions about previous confessions, and it doesn’t require a big deal.

It seems to me the OP is, possibly, getting confused about the level of detail in “species”. Masturbation, fornication and pornography (as mentioned by the OP) are species of sexual sin, and we don’t need to go further, eg. “homosexual pornography”, “kinky sex”. We may feel burdened by the shame of the particular, but we are not obliged to confess it.

From Specific Confessions [Jimmy Akin]

Now, because of the shame involved in confessing many of these things, penitents often use circumlocutions to convey the idea while blunting the sense of shame that is involved. For example, they may say, “I had impure thoughts” rather than “I wilfully engaged in sexual fantasies about someone I’m not married to.” “Impure thoughts” is code for what they did, and priests understand what it means. Technically, your thoughts could be impure in all sorts of way not involving sex (i.e., they could be tainted, and thus not pure, by any kind of sin you wilfully entertained), but priests know people mean they entertained improper sexual thoughts when they say this.

The important thing is not the words that are used but that the priest understands the species of the sin that is being confessed. As long as he understands–or as long as you reasonably believe that he understands–then you have confessed adequately.

 

[Elizium23]

If I understand the desccription your original post correctly, you are frequenting confession but you are deliberately holding back mortal sins on your conscience. This is an extremely bad idea because it has the potential to invalidate each and every absolution your priest has attempted, leaving you right back in a state of mortal sin.

You need to do what it takes to cough these up in your next trip to the confessional or it will be a futile endeavor. Do what it takes, others have provided good suggestions, such as making an appointment; you can go to another priest in another parish, and do it anonymously if you feel the need (I certainly do) but GET IT DONE!

Probably I misunderstood what you said. If you’ve already confessed them, then you’re done already. Don’t dwell on the specifics too much.

 

[agnes_therese]

Ive tried to confess these things many times but each time I just dont know if im saying enough without going into gory details.

I think if the priest felt you were being too vague, he’d ask. But since this is bothering you so much, maybe you should make an appointment, not for confession, but just to talk about confession itself and how specific you need to be. There’s probably not much he hasn’t already heard, and you need to be at peace about this.

 

[pianistclare]

I think if the priest felt you were being too vague, he’d ask. But since this is bothering you so much, maybe you should make an appointment, not for confession, but just to talk about confession itself and how specific you need to be. There’s probably not much he hasn’t already heard, and you need to be at peace about this.

Exactly.

Your confessor will guide you. Confession should not be stressful. Reconciling is a beautiful thing. It’s laudable that you’re wanting to do everything right. I’m sure you will be reassured when you speak with him. My priest was told by an older priest to be a Lion in the Pulpit and a Lamb in the Confessional.
They care deeply.
God bless you!

 

[RCKC333]

Thank you for the (name removed by moderator)ut. I have already confessed them before…well I thought that I had. I ha them in my heart when I confessed but I am feeling I was too vague about them and maybe the priest really had no idea what I was talking about although they do fall under that “species” I guess. So I’m wondering if they were valid confessions since I feel I wasn’t specofic enough. And maybe I’m being scrupulous. I can see where that could be the case. I’m going to make a general confession and just lay it out as best as I can…I want to do it right. If given the choice now to commit these same sins I would die a horrible death before committing them again. I don’t want to offend Our Lord in anyway…so I’m just worried. Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. God bless you.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Thank you for the (name removed by moderator)ut. I have already confessed them before…well I thought that I had. I ha them in my heart when I confessed but I am feeling I was too vague about them and maybe the priest really had no idea what I was talking about although they do fall under that “species” I guess. So I’m wondering if they were valid confessions since I feel I wasn’t specofic enough. And maybe I’m being scrupulous. I can see where that could be the case. I’m going to make a general confession and just lay it out as best as I can…I want to do it right. If given the choice now to commit these same sins I would die a horrible death before committing them again. I don’t want to offend Our Lord in anyway…so I’m just worried. Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. God bless you.

I don’t really think your being scrupulous. The fact that these sins still way on you means you need to do something with it. Remember that you can be specific in confession of you need to be. I think you will feel so much better and healed if you do what your planning and be straightforward.

Lay down your burdens.

 

[Vico]

I really am having a hard time and struggling right now with this topic. I apologize before I even go in to detail. I know there are questions about how specific to be in confession. And the common answer is to name the species of sin, and the number of times (Ive read the Jimmy Akin page about this). So I understand all of what that means. But what if you dont know what species your sin belongs to? Many, many years ago, I lead a very very very sinful life and was involved with a person who was not a good influence in the slightest bit. There are about 3 things that I did, all pertain to the species of fornication or masturbation/pornography, but i honestly dont know how to confess them. They are under that species, but they go beyond that and i dont know how to explain this to the priest without being too specific about it and putting images in his mind (he is after all human). So im so torn about this. I go regularly to confession now, every 2 weeks. I attend mass almost daily. Ive tried to confess these things many times but each time I just dont know if im saying enough without going into gory details. Just saying the sin would be too much i would think. I hope this makes sense? I was just dead, so dead in sin and did some dark things that i am unbelievably shameful of but i want to make sure i confess them properly. Any advice on this? THanks

I noticed before that some people have difficulty with species of sin. I imagine that is because the Baltimore Catechism was not used or St. Thomas Aquinas was not studied. Those sources may it clear that in general lustful actions in act pertain to the sixth commandment and in though to the ninth commandment. St. Thomas categorized the speces of lust as:

Natural:

• incest
• fornication
• seduction
• adultery
• rape

Unnatural Vice:

• effeminacy (masturbation or consummated acts finished outside the vagina)
• beastiality
• sodomy

There is also scandal and sacrilege that can be added in some cases. Rape also offends against the fifth commandment.