Confession

[georgehamilton]

What if I go to confession but do not feel guilty, like sometimes I go and I dont really feel sorry, I am sorry but it doesn’t pain me like i think it should. And other times when i do feel bad and I come out of confession I still feel guilty and bad. So my question is do I go to confession when I feel bad for what I have done in order for it to be a meaningful confession and when I do how do I stop feeling guilty? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kristie_m]

What if I go to confession but do not feel guilty, like sometimes I go and I dont really feel sorry, I am sorry but it doesn’t pain me like i think it should. And other times when i do feel bad and I come out of confession I still feel guilty and bad. So my question is do I go to confession when I feel bad for what I have done in order for it to be a meaningful confession and when I do how do I stop feeling guilty? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I think I follow what you’re saying. Sometimes I go to confession…It’s like I know that what I’ve done is a sin, and that’s why I’m going to confession, but I don’t really want to let go of the sin…I enjoy it. But I know that I need to let go of it, even if I don’t really want to, and the grace that comes with a sacramental confession will help me do that.

As to still feeling guilty…well, that’s happened to me too. I’ve had to sort of talk myself through it. How I feel doesn’t change that fact that I AM forgiven for all that stuff. Maybe the guilty feeling will help me to avoid it in the future. But no matter how bad I might feel…the reality is, God has forgiven me. Cool, huh?

 

[po18guy]

Father Vincent Serpa has excellent advice: Hold a crucifix in your hands and just contemplate it.

Consider how Jesus willingly suffered because of sin - every sin that you have ever committed and every sin that you will ever commit. Know that your sins hurt God, damage your relationship with Him and made Jesus’ suffering necessary. Do you have a catechism? Read the sections dealing with sin, so as to see the unseen consequences of sin - it does damage tot he Body of Christ of which we may not be aware.

There are books in your parish library dealing with sin and the sacrament of reconciliation. Check one out and have a healthy read. Please discuss this with your Priest, as I can guarantee he has heard this problem before. Through the Priest, you hear the words of Christ, whom we have injured by our sin. Christ, through the Priest, is calling you back to Him.

 

[puzzleannie]

What if I go to confession but do not feel guilty, like sometimes I go and I dont really feel sorry, I am sorry but it doesn’t pain me like i think it should. And other times when i do feel bad and I come out of confession I still feel guilty and bad. So my question is do I go to confession when I feel bad for what I have done in order for it to be a meaningful confession and when I do how do I stop feeling guilty? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

feeling is subjective and human emotions vary like the wind, and have not much to do with this sacrament. your act of contrition is just that, a deliberate action of the will. It is enough to know you have done wrong and are sorry because you know it is wrong and has offended God. If is even enough to be sorry simply because of the fear of hell while we are still learning to love God more. You go to confession whenever you have done wrong. That is the way to stop feeling guilty. Once you are absolved the sin is gone so the guilt is gone. think about Jesus in confession, more than your self.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

What if I go to confession but do not feel guilty, like sometimes I go and I dont really feel sorry, I am sorry but it doesn’t pain me like i think it should. And other times when i do feel bad and I come out of confession I still feel guilty and bad. So my question is do I go to confession when I feel bad for what I have done in order for it to be a meaningful confession and when I do how do I stop feeling guilty? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I agree with what the other posters have said.

Once I went to confession and told the priest as much. I didn’t think I really had any mortal sins or I would know about them (full consent and knowledge) and the venial sins I’ve pretty much gotten over. The priest told me that it wasn’t about how I felt, but (as other posters have said) it’s about going through the process. When you say the act of contrition, you’re forgiven. It was several years ago so I didn’t maybe word it as well as he did, but that was the gist of it.

Alan

 

[yosephdaviyd]

What if I go to confession but do not feel guilty, like sometimes I go and I dont really feel sorry, I am sorry but it doesn’t pain me like i think it should. And other times when i do feel bad and I come out of confession I still feel guilty and bad. So my question is do I go to confession when I feel bad for what I have done in order for it to be a meaningful confession and when I do how do I stop feeling guilty? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Yes there are depths of discernment of ones state of being ‘made’ holy in the light of Him who is All Holy. You may notice that there are some sins that you hate with great passion, but others that you know are horrible, but you do not hate them as you know you ought. If you murdered someone or committed adultery, you would probably very easily be able to discern your state in the the light of God, but it is true that venial sins take awhile to be despised.

Perhaps pray to God and ask him to stir up a passion in you for sin, especially those that you are accustomed of committing.

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David L. Gray (Yoseph Daviyd)​

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