Confessions...A Lot

[KelseyBelsey]

For the past like, 2 months or so, I’ve been going to confession almost every week. Even though confession is on Saturday, the next day I feel like I am in a state of sin and avoid receiving the Holy Eucharist. I haven’t gone to Communion in the past 2 months…
I’ve been sad lately because going to Confession stresses me out somewhat, and every week…it’s hard. I want to go to Communion and I want to quit going to Confession so often. For some things I feel like I don’t really have to worry about them as sins anymore after I confess them, just to be sure or something…but I feel like if I commit them after I confess them it would be bad if I promised not to commit them anymore and then I’m not counting them as sins anymore.
It’s frustrating and it’s really getting to me, I feel like. I have a lot of time at home and I feel like it’s giving me too much time to think about sins. Do you think I am overthinking my sins? I’m not enjoying this summer as much because I keep on worrying about my sins. Do you think it’s bad if I confess a sin and then not count it anymore as a sin after that?

 

[katy]

(In a very gentle voice) I do believe you need to wonder if scrupulosity is getting you down this way. It bothers a good many people, and even saints such as St. Alphonsus Ligouri. Check with your confessor, he will have a good background to help you.

 

[Nigel7]

Kelsey,

Are you committing mortal sin? If so then it is good that you are not receiving. We must be in a state of Grace in order to receive the Eucharist.
If on the other hand these are venial sins that you are committing then do not let that keep you from receiving. We are forgiven our venial sins during mass and through receiving our Lord in the most blessed sacrament.

but I feel like if I commit them after I confess them it would be bad if I promised not to commit them anymore and then I’m not counting them as sins anymore.

Do you think it’s bad if I confess a sin and then not count it anymore as a sin after that?

A newly committed sin never ceases to be a sin simply because you have confessed that sort of sin before. To the contrary, the next time you commit that sinful act then you are still sinning, even more so really - since you know that it is an offense to the Lord and yet still continue to commit that sin.

Do be sure that you know the difference between mortal and venial sins, Kelsey. When in doubt then ask a priest.

 

[just_came_back]

I have been to confession the last 5 Saturdays. Stay for the Saturday Mass so you can receive. You’ve been forgiven. Life is tough, sin is tough. Hang in there. Avail yourself weekly, take it from me, and know Jesus loves you and wants to commune with you. Peace!

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I will reiterate what others have said about speaking to your confessor about scrupulosity (or maybe you’re just ignorant of the difference between mortal and venial sin, which your confessor can explain to you. This sounds more likely.).

It is perfectly fine for most people to go to Confession weekly (I do, despite not having any mortal sins. I’m not scrupulous, but I am working at eradicating sin from my life and developing a more delicate conscience.). There are saints and popes who went to Confession daily. That being said, some people should not confess so frequently under the instruction and guidance of their confessor. Unless there is something you’re specifically doing on Saturday nights that is grave matter, it is very doubtful that you’re not disposed to receive communion. I would talk to a priest if I were you and get his professional opinion on this.

 

[R_C]

For the past like, 2 months or so, I’ve been going to confession almost every week. Even though confession is on Saturday, the next day I feel like I am in a state of sin and avoid receiving the Holy Eucharist. I haven’t gone to Communion in the past 2 months…

Please, never ever avoid receiving the Beloved in Communion unless you are absolutely certain that you are in a state of **mortal **sin!

If you went to the supreme tribunal of Reconciliation and Christ Himself told you: “I absolve you”, then not only all your sins - even those you may have forgotten to mention - were forgiven, but God completely cast them away and He will never mention them to you again!

Now remember this: no matter what, we are sinners, and of ourselves that is all we know how to do. Anything good we do, we can do it thanks to the grace, which is a supernatural gift from God. But God loves us unconditionately, that is, despite our being sinners, as St. Paul clearly states:

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I would recommend that you speak to your confessor or pastor and ask him for a few minutes of spiritual direction on this matter. When you go see him, open your soul to him and explain what you are going through. You cannot just stop considering something a sin…unless your confessor clearly tells you that such thing does not constitute mortal sin.

Also remember this, please: only mortal sin prevents you from receiving Communion. If your sin was on a matter that is not grave, or without a completely deliberate consent, or if you did something without knowing or being fully sure that it was a sin and then you found out, then you should not be guilty of a mortal sin. And we are told by the Church that the Body and Blood of Christ wash away all venial sins!

I leave you with a few statements from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola - you may consider in the future to go into a Parrish retreat to practice them.

In the persons who are going on intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord …] then it is the way of the evil spirit to bite, sadden and put obstacles, disquieting with false reasons …]

They commonly call a scruple what proceeds from our own judgment and freedom: that is to say, when I freely decide that that is sin which is not sin, as when it happens that after some one has accidentally stepped on a cross of straw, he decides with his own judgment that he has sinned. …]

The second: After I have stepped on that cross, or after I have thought or said or done some other thing, there comes to me a thought from without that I have sinned, and on the other hand it appears to me that I have not sinned; still I feel disturbance in this; that is to say, in as much as I doubt and in as much as I do not doubt.

That is a real scruple and temptation which the enemy sets.

the enemy looks much if a soul is gross or delicate, and if it is delicate, he tries to make it more delicate in the extreme, to disturb and embarrass it more. For instance, if he sees that a soul does not consent to either mortal sin or venial or any appearance of deliberate sin, then the enemy, when he cannot make it fall into a thing that appears sin, aims at making it make out sin where there is not sin, as in a word or very small thought.

 

[Bookcat]

Please, never ever avoid receiving the Beloved in Communion unless you are absolutely certain that you are in a state of **mortal **sin!

I would not put it quite that way…

though some certainly can be confused and need particular direction from say their confessor.

But here is the guidelines from the USCCB:

usccb.org/about/divine-worship/documents/guidelines-for-the-reception-of-communion.cfm

I note this in general and not per se as to the persons difficulty above (it would be recommended that discuss their difficulties with confessor)

 

[fred_conty]

(In a very gentle voice) I do believe you need to wonder if scrupulosity is getting you down this way. It bothers a good many people, and even saints such as St. Alphonsus Ligouri. Check with your confessor, he will have a good background to help you.

Good advice.

 

[R_C]

I would not put it quite that way…

Just to clarify: my advice was that if he thinks that he may or may not be in a state of mortal sin but he is not sure or is not aware of having committed a mortal sin, he should not abstain from receiving the Eucharist.

I didn’t come up with that statement, and anyways it remains the humble opinion of an anonymous forum contributor, and I gladly exhort you to be subject to the determination of the confessor.

Of course, if the doubt is consistent, then it may be preferable to confess before receiving Communion. The Sacrament of Reconciliation, thanks be to God, is nowadays rather accessible to the faithful, especially on Sunday.

 

[Bookcat]

I didn’t come up with that statement, and anyways it remains the humble opinion of an anonymous forum contributor, and I gladly exhort you to be subject to the determination of the confessor.

The person needs to judge according to the teaching of the Church if they are conscious of having committed a mortal sin (which I am sure you will agree of course) and perhaps seek the direction of their confessor.

 

[R_C]

Of course I agree. But if he is not sure of having committed a mortal sin, doesn’t that mean that he lacks the full knowledge that is indispensable for a sin to be mortal? My advice was perhaps too sharp, but he had not received the Beloved in 60 days, even after just having confessed!

But yes, indeed, the confessor has the last word. Even though in this case it seems more like he requires some spiritual direction beyond the Reconciliation.

Thank you for your kind reply.

 

[Bookcat]

Of course I agree. But if he is not sure of having committed a mortal sin, doesn’t that mean that he lacks the full knowledge that is indispensable for a sin to be mortal?.

It can perhaps.

There is a reason why we are to “examine our conscience”.

Often a mortal sin will – for a person seeking to follow Christ -living a devote Christian life –stick out like a sore thumb.

Various persons are at various places with various kinds of conscience etc.

THe OP in particular yes needs direction from a good confessor…I often respond with an eye that various persons read these posts.

 

[KelseyBelsey]

A newly committed sin never ceases to be a sin simply because you have confessed that sort of sin before. To the contrary, the next time you commit that sinful act then you are still sinning, even more so really - since you know that it is an offense to the Lord and yet still continue to commit that sin.

What I mean is, I’m thinking that some things might be venial sins, but I want to go confess them anyways. But after that confession they’re gonna still be venial sins. But I wanted to confess it before. Do you get it?

 

[R_C]

What I mean is, I’m thinking that some things might be venial sins, but I want to go confess them anyways. But after that confession they’re gonna still be venial sins. But I wanted to confess it before. Do you get it?

• Thing (a) may be a venial sin
• you want to confess thing (a) anyways
• the confessor may clarify if in your specific case thing (a) was venial or mortal or no sin
• after you are judged and absolved and given a penance, you are no longer guilty of thing (a)
• it is a good practice to tell your confessor venial sins, though they don’t stop you from receiving Communion

Only if you are certain that you have committed and not yet confessed a mortal sin (grave matter, full knowledge, deliberate consent) then you should not receive Communion. Feeling like you are in mortal sin is just that, a feeling, and you may want to discuss this feeling with the confessor and ask his advice, but if you just confessed and did not hide anything and you were absolved, you should have the proper disposition to receive the Lord in Communion.

Pax Christi tecum

 

[R_C]

From the Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, on the virtue of obedience to the confessor or spiritual director.

When it seemed to me that I should not communicate, I went, before Holy Communion, to the Directress and told her that I could not approach the Sacrament, because it seemed to me that I should not do so. But she would not permit me to omit Holy Communion, so I went,and I understand now that it was only obedience that saved me.

A private revelation of our Lord to St. Faustina Kowalska on this matter.

When I set about my work, my heart full of bitterness, Jesus suddenly stood by me and said, My daughter, do not omit Holy Communion unless you know well that your fall was serious; apart from this, no doubt must stop you from uniting yourself with Me in the mystery of My love. Your minor faults will disappear in My love like a piece of straw thrown into a great furnace. Know that you grieve Me much when you fail to receive Me in Holy Communion.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

You can still receive communion with venial sins, but if you really want to be free of them, you can either make a devout personal recitation of either the Confiteor (I Confess) or an Act of Contrition right prior to communion. A good time to probably do this is while the army of EMHC’s are trying to organize themselves in the sanctuary. This is was/is the purpose of the second Confiteor in the EF that’s recited by the altar boys on behalf of the congregation right after the priest received and right before they received.