Confession validity

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In the past (years ago) I went to Confession with the knowledge that I would repeat the mortal sins I was confessing. Not that I would struggle and probably repeat them, but would definitely repeat them. Until I did commit those sins again I received the Eucharist. I’m not sure if I really didn’t see how this was wrong, maybe didn’t want to see, but I do think that I felt I was still in a state of Grace after the Confession and before the sin. If I hadn’t made it to Confession I doubt I would have received the Eucharist so internally I think I was trying to do the right thing (as convoluted as that seems now). I have also (I don’t believe it was the same Confession) confessed that I feel that I have been deceptive during past Confessions and also received Absolution after that with no clarifying questions. This again mostly would have been years ago as I have recently fallen down an unfortunate path of over-confessing and scrupulosity so I try to be very (and probably overly) detailed.
Upon recently realizing this, I confessed that I had confessed sins in my past which I am no longer committing that, at the time, I didn’t really have an intention of stopping. I did not confess the Eucharist part since I only recently thought about it. My priest did not ask for any clarifying information and gave me Absolution. This was years after stopping committing those sins and numerous Confessions later. Is there anything more I should do? I’m worried about whether this has invalidated years of Confessions or what it really means or if my recent confession of that sin has wiped my slate clean. This has thrown me down a path of worry and I have not gone to Confession since for fear of making an invalid Confession of some sort.
 
If you’re still worried, go again, and keep trying not to!
 
Since you mention that you struggle with scruples…or scrupulosity here is what you are to do:

Bring this to your regular confessor in confession and tell him this and your concerns.

If you do not have a regular confessor…try to find one. Such is extremely important for those in your shoes.

In the meantime…if you do not have one…perhaps make an appointment with a Priest …and explain this to him in confession (and your scruples)…do not worry that doing so will “invalidate” your confession…for you are putting these problems and questions into his hands…tell him of your scruples and ask him to direct you…at least for this confession …

Let him help you.

Perhaps he can become your regular confessor…or suggest someone…or you can call the Chancery office of your Diocese and ask their recommendation and go see him…
 
As for Scruples in general:

Scruples are to be dismissed… despised… conquered with a firm foot.

Treated like a barking dog or a hissing goose…one does not stop and *argue *or discuss things with a hissing goose or barking dog does one? No one keeps walking…

(Image borrowed from a 15th century Carthusian)

With your confessor you will be able to get back on track…but you need to be able to follow his directions…rest in his decisions…(unless he tells you something clearly wrong…like use contraception or go murder someone!)

you will need to be be firm with yourself or rather with your scruples…

(if I can be of more help let me know…but you really need to get a regular confessor to guide you for now)
 
What you are referring to is called the sin of presumption. When you knowingly sin with the intention of simply confessing it and it will be okay.

IE…I am going to have sex with a man who is not my husband, but it will be okay because tomorrow is Saturday and I can just go to confession.

This is totally NOT okay.

I have said it before and I will say it again…I hate confession!! I hate the confessional…that little room brings on the worst anxiety attacks. That being said, I do suck it up and go when I need to, but more often then not, I schedule an appointment just to avoid that room. I went last night actually…to THE ROOM!! yikes

Anyways, all you can really do is look forward, not back. Strive to do better in the future and to fight the temptation of sin. There is only 1 priest I have ever gone to in confession that prompted me for more details, everyone else is happy with whatever details I choose to share.
 
Maureen not all confessions are in a “little room”. St Joeseph on Capital Hill the confessional is two chairs seperated by a small screen - every one there knows who is confessing and don’t talk to loud. The chairs are next to the pews.

Newbie wrote “and also received Absolution after that with no clarifying questions”. Newbie I just came from confession two hours ago and once again no questions were asked. As a matter of fact rarely are questions ever asked. **All the priest needs is amount and type of sin. ** He does not need detail or explanations. That could be you attempting to justify your actions.
 
hilde_the_dog said:
Maureen not all confessions are in a “little room”. St Joeseph on Capital Hill the confessional is two chairs seperated by a small screen - every one there knows who is confessing and don’t talk to loud. The chairs are next to the pews.

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As someone who actually does have anxiety, Social Anxiety to be specific, I would think that would make for even greater anxiety attacks.
 
Question One AT THIS TIME have you confessed those “old” sins? (Yes)
Did you Stop committing those sins? (yes)
All good!

I struggled with this same question once upon a time, and I was doing a pretty good job of ripping myself to shreds with guilt and doubt. THEN I spoke to a priest I laid it all out and here is what he said to me.

The devil loves to use doubt to weaken Christens, if you have confessed a sin and been absolved of it God has put it away from you so you never have to think of it again. in other words God’s got you covered.

In your case you might have intended to keep committing sin A when you confessed it giving you sin B but when you were better formed you confessed sin B the priest absolved you of sins A and B.

My suggestion is that you find spiritual director or short of that go to the same priest every time face to face. You might want to think about the following quote From St. Josemaria Escriva:

“Christ’s Merits are applied to us there. It is for love of us that he is on the Cross with his arms stretched out, fastened to the wood more by the Love he has for US than by the nails.”
 
hilde_the_dog said:
Newbie wrote “and also received Absolution after that with no clarifying questions”. Newbie I just came from confession two hours ago and once again no questions were asked. As a matter of fact rarely are questions ever asked. **All the priest needs is amount and type of sin. ** He does not need detail or explanations. That could be you attempting to justify your actions.
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I actually found myself trying to justify my sins last night and I stopped myself and told the Priest that I was not going to insult him or God by trying to make it seem okay. lol

Atleast I am learning.
 
Thank you very much for all your responses. You have all calmed my fears that I have had years of invalid Confessions for the other sins I confessed during Confessions when I was doing what I realize now is wrong (confessing without intent to stop) and in the years worth of Confessions since I stopped committing those sins. I now feel at ease enough to go to Confession knowing I have a clean slate (minus any sins I have committed since my last Confession).

One quick follow-up question. Since I only recently realized the Eucharist part (that I received the Eucharist in the time between my Confession and recommitting the sin I knew I would be committing) and didn’t confess it at the time, should I confess that as well or is that rolled up in what I originally told the priest?

I also appreciate the advice on dealing with my scruples. I know eventually I need to find a single Confessor/spiritual director. It’s just an internal battle of shyness vs. scrupulosity :eek:
 
Is my summary of what everyone was saying correct? Just want to make sure I’m not misinterpreting and that I can go to Confession this week without a fear of many years worth of invalid Confessions before/during/after committing the sin of confessing with no intention to stop.

Also, just to be clear I did not re-confess those sins in this specific Confession. Just that I had confessed sins in the past that I did later stop, but at the time had no intention of stopping.

Also, should I mention anything about the Eucharist aspect?
 
newbie9 said:
Thank you very much
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Again…I would bring all your difficulties to the priest in confession…and ask him to direct you as to what to do or not to do here…

Please make an appointment …so you can be at ease in discussing all these things…
 
(I could say more…but due to your potential difficulties with scruples I think the priest should directly guide you here…you need to sit down with the Priest…and tell him exactly what happened …tell him what you have told us…and more…)
 
Bookcat said:
Again…I would bring all your difficulties to the priest in confession…and ask him to direct you as to what to do or not to do here…

Please make an appointment …so you can be at ease in discussing all these things…
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I guess the whole point of my post is that I did bring this to Confession when I said I had sins in my past which I had stopped, but at the time had no intention of stopping. I then received Absolution. I then actually continued to receive the Eucharist until I started thinking that maybe what I did was not enough and maybe I had years worth of invalid Confessions.
 
newbie9 said:
I guess the whole point of my post is that I did bring this to Confession when I said I had sins in my past which I had stopped, but at the time had no intention of stopping. I then received Absolution. I then actually continued to receive the Eucharist until I started thinking that maybe what I did was not enough and maybe I had years worth of invalid Confessions.
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Yes I understand. However this still should all be addressed with ones confessor or a another priest if one does not have a confessor. I do not know the extent of your scruples etc…so hence my advice is to make an appointment and discuss it all with him in confession. Tell him what you told us…and more…

(Due to your scruples…I do not want to advise directly so much…but to give a different example… lets say I go and confess murder 2x and intentionally hide adultery 3x. The confession is invalid and in my case I committed a further mortal sin by hiding it. I now need to confess the fact of my hiding it …and the murder 2x and the adultery 3x and also any other mortal sins since then…now lets say some scrupulous person made a bad confession…but now is scrupulous in a particular way and the confessor judges that it would be really harmful…“morally impossible” to go back and reexamine such due to his particular scrupulosity…he may perhaps make certain exceptions for him…)

The Priest who may already know you…or who can get to know you in your meeting …can advise you in particular…Make an appointment and bring it all to confession.
 
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