Confession...very scrupulous...VERY personal!

[Joe_5859]

With all due respect to priests, some of them are abrupt to the point of rudeness - so do learn how to politely interrupt. If you just say ‘excuse me, Father, I wasn’t quite done yet!’ or ‘excuse me, Father, I just remembered that I also did such-and-such’, that’s fine, nothing remotely impolite about it. Would you be upset if someone said that to you while you were speaking to them? I hope not!

Too true! There is one priest I know that, when I go to him to Confession, I know that I cannot even pause to breathe when listing my sins because the moment there is any dead air, he starts talking and he doesn’t pause for even a millisecond until he’s already given the absolution.

To the OP, I would simply echo what others have said. God is not out to trick you or send you to hell on a technicality. He loves you. More than we can possibly imagine, He loves you. You are showing up to Confession, standing before Him in sorrow for your sins and trying your best. That’s what is important.

None of us can be “perfect penitents” all the time. That’s why we’re there in the first place! We forget things. We articulate things poorly. But God’s mercy covers a multitude of sins.

Be at peace! Don’t let Satan’s tricks keep you from the great graces available in the Sacrament. And don’t let those tricks steal your sense of peace after you have confessed.

And don’t let the Moral Theology forum here at CAF be the principal former of your conscience. Some of the threads here are started by those who suffer from scrupulosity. One could surely go insane trying to avoid everything that every poster at CAF is of the opinion ought to be avoided.

 

[CesarAugustus]

In terms of confession of old mortal sins that one is doubtful that one confessed them or committed them…normally one would be advised to confess them…and if they were truly forgotten mortal sins one would normally be obliged to confess them.

But a person who is “very scrupulous” can be in a very different boat. They ought to have a regular confessor to direct them.

…

Thanks!

But this happened to me too:

Last confession, the Priest gave me the absolution and I still had sins to confess… I interrupted him previously (I think he wanted to end quickly), but not in the absolution.

Another Priest, one of the more Orthodox I know, (he knows I have scruples), said to me in a confession:

Don’t say sins you forgot in the last confession, only the new sins.

I have to follow that direction?

Thanks.

God Bless you!

 

[Joe_5859]

Don’t say sins you forgot in the last confession, only the new sins.

I have to follow that direction?

Yes, follow the directions of the priest.

 

[Bookcat]

Thanks!

But this happened to me too:

Last confession, the Priest gave me the absolution and I still had sins to confess… I interrupted him previously (I think he wanted to end quickly), but not in the absolution.

Another Priest, one of the more Orthodox I know, (he knows I have scruples), said to me in a confession:

Don’t say sins you forgot in the last confession, only the new sins.

I have to follow that direction?

Thanks.

God Bless you!

A person with a difficulty with scruples --would do very well–and it is very important to–have a “regular confessor” to guide them. One who knows them -and their particular difficulties…and can take particular responsibility for them as “their confessor”.

Certainly one is not obliged to confess doubtful sins.

Often such persons might be advised not to confess “past mortal sins” unless they are both 1. Certain they were mortal and 2. Certain they were not confessed. And not to confess past forgotten venial sins (since one need not confess them at all…and some may want to give a long list…)

Humm…now do you have to follow what one of the Priests told you to whom you confessed --for future confessions? I would not say one “has to follow” such… And if one does have mortal sins that one forgot which one is certain about --then I would confess them. If you go to that Particular Priest again and he tells you that (or has told you not to when you confess to him)…and you do have one that you are certain of etc…I would say “Father I have a mortal sin I am certain of and need to confess it…” and go from there…

But I do not know per se you particular case…so in some ways it is hard to “give advice” in the abstract.

Again it is very important for you to have a “regular confessor”…and follow what they say (unless of course they tell you to go murder someone or it ok to use contraception or other certainly manifest mortal sins…)

Feel free to pm if I can clarify anything