Conscience, confession and Communion

[brotherjoe]

I am rather alienated from my faith these days - I am in a relationship sanctioned by my conscience but not by the Church. Unless I am mistaken I cannot go to confession because I am not contrite, and I cannot go to Communion because I cannot to go confession. I attend Mass because I still have faith, but it seems that there is no ministry - no relationship with God now and the Church has nothing to say to me at all at this point in my life except “see you when you repent, hope you do in time.” It seems that the Church has nothing else really to offer those in the vast grey area of partial belief or partial obedience. Am I wrong? I hope so.

 

[Bookcat]

Church offers indeed* prayer* and sacrifice for those who are away from the* true life* in Christ.

The Church invites them to seek to form their consciences with the Teachings of the Church and work to heal any errors in their conscience. And can help them do so in various ways…counsel etc. Jesus and the Church loves them and desires their good and authentic happiness.

While persons in various circumstance and states may not yet receive the Sacraments- the Church accompanies them and welcomes their faith and encourages their prayer and reading of the Word of God and other ways to live their faith.

Seeking God …seeking more and more conversion that God asks of them and offers them…

The Church invites them to seek to the* “renewal of the mind”* that Saint Paul and Pope Benedict XVI spoke of.

Seek out a good Priest…and pray and work for such a renewal. We all are in need of various degrees of continued renewal.

 

[Catholic1954]

You are cutting yourself off from God’s grace and the Church, and you are correct, the Church can do nothing for you, until you make the choice to end this relationship. Please do not stop attending Mass and please re-examine your conscience and make the right choice, for God and the Church.

 

[Bookcat]

Also:

“For all those who are not at the present moment in the objective conditions required by the sacrament of penance, the church’s manifestations of maternal kindness, the support of acts of piety apart from sacramental ones, a sincere effort to maintain contact with the Lord, attendance at Mass and the frequent repetition of acts of faith, hope, charity and sorrow made as perfectly as possible can prepare the way for full reconciliation at the hour that providence alone knows.”

~ Pope Saint John Paul II

POST-SYNODAL
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE

w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

 

[TK421]

I am rather alienated from my faith these days - I am in a relationship sanctioned by my conscience but not by the Church. Unless I am mistaken I cannot go to confession because I am not contrite, and I cannot go to Communion because I cannot to go confession. I attend Mass because I still have faith, but it seems that there is no ministry - no relationship with God now and the Church has nothing to say to me at all at this point in my life except “see you when you repent, hope you do in time.” It seems that the Church has nothing else really to offer those in the vast grey area of partial belief or partial obedience. Am I wrong? I hope so.

Hi brotherjoe,

The Catholic Church is a religion which prescribes to a belief in objective reality. Meaning that it is not possible for both your conscience and the Church to be right. One of them is wrong, or both of them are wrong, but it is undefined, or inapplicable, to say that both of them could possibly ever be right. It’s an incoherent statement.

So you are correct in that you can’t enjoy sacramental participation with the Universal Church if you’re doctrinally at odds with one another and in a relationship of grave matter. Your participation would be limited to your human participation and presence among Catholic worship, which like anybody else under the sun, you’re perfectly welcome to do, and the Church takes joy in that, but in the present circumstances, the level of intimacy stops there and goes no further. You are not spousally joined to Christ in the way one who receives Eucharist is.

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

TK421 rightly says worship, St JP II and other posters say various additional things.

If any parishes near you have:

• prayer meetings
• Bible studies
• Legion Of Mary
• St Vincent De Paul Society
• Charismatic Renewal
• various other societies and groups

please join them as well while you await “full reconciliation at the hour that Providence alone knows”.

These things will feed your appetite and your sense of anticipation!

Sacraments though important aren’t “the only show in town” or oughtn’t to be.

Faith, growth and sustenance can happen now, don’t have to wait.

 

[brotherjoe]

Also:

“For all those who are not at the present moment in the objective conditions required by the sacrament of penance, the church’s manifestations of maternal kindness, the support of acts of piety apart from sacramental ones, a sincere effort to maintain contact with the Lord, attendance at Mass and the frequent repetition of acts of faith, hope, charity and sorrow made as perfectly as possible can prepare the way for full reconciliation at the hour that providence alone knows.”

~ Pope Saint John Paul II

POST-SYNODAL
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
RECONCILIATION AND PENANCE

w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

Thanks for this quote; I had not seen it before. At least there is an open acknowledgment that people like me exist and that we are in need of support and God is there for us.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

I am rather alienated from my faith these days - I am in a relationship sanctioned by my conscience but not by the Church. Unless I am mistaken I cannot go to confession because I am not contrite, and I cannot go to Communion because I cannot to go confession. I attend Mass because I still have faith, but it seems that there is no ministry - no relationship with God now and the Church has nothing to say to me at all at this point in my life except “see you when you repent, hope you do in time.” It seems that the Church has nothing else really to offer those in the vast grey area of partial belief or partial obedience. Am I wrong? I hope so.

Go to confession. Explain your situation. Go back in a few week.s Continue. Kneel beside your bed fir first thing after you awaken and just before you get into bed at night. Ask for help in the morning and thank him in the evening. Your heart will change.

 

[brotherjoe]

Go to confession. Explain your situation. Go back in a few week.s Continue. Kneel beside your bed fir first thing after you awaken and just before you get into bed at night. Ask for help in the morning and thank him in the evening. Your heart will change.

Exactly the problem - I can’t go to confession because I can’t make an act of contrition because I’m not sure what I’m doing is really bad. I could confess all my other sins but I’m sure I still can’t receive absolution. All I can do now is trust God to either convict my heart or excuse my confusion and in the meanwhile help me do as much good as I can.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

Exactly the problem - I can’t go to confession because I can’t make an act of contrition because I’m not sure what I’m doing is really bad. I could confess all my other sins but I’m sure I still can’t receive absolution. All I can do now is trust God to either convict my heart or excuse my confusion and in the meanwhile help me do as much good as I can.

Get on your knees and say EXACTLY that to God. Again and again. Ask for help but don’t specify the outcome or type of help you feel God should give you. Become willing. Let God do the rest. God loves you and will lead you. Just stay in touch with him. Keep the communication open and grace will change your heart. Trust me.

 

[CuriousMike]

Hopefully this doesn’t sound rude, but speaking from experience (mine), it sounds as though you’re embarrassed to go to confession with the same sins.

I recently realised I may be doing battle with the Sin of Presumption. That is, going to Confession assuming you will receive absolution no matter no much you sin. (i.e. Not trying to stop, but just going because its the right thing or you have a flicker in faith).

I’m not sure of what you’re specifically talking about, but try to put together some sort of ‘battle plan.’

• Maybe make a spiritual diary so you can keep track of your thoughts and the examination of conscience and see where your mind is, and where YOU want to be with God.
• You may wish to acquire a Crucifix and Miraculous Medal to help you remember God in times of temptation

Finally, explain to the Priest in confession if you have ‘ongoing battles with XYZ’ (whether impurity, lust, deceit), and that you feel that perhaps you were presumptuous before, and unwilling to make amends?

I would implore you with as much emotion as text on an internet board can do to PLEASE go to Confession. It is not worth risking your eternal life over this.

Remember, with some sins, the moral culpability is reduced because of habit or other factors. This is besides the point. We are fallen beings, and will fall into sin (some more than others). When one temptation seemingly passes, another has already confronted you.

Stay strong, and build a strong prayer life. You may like to enlist yourself in the Rosary Confraternity, and say some prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Little Infant of Prague, St. Michael & Your Guardian Angel.

God Bless.

P.S. If I’ve misconstrued something here, correct me, and I will try and offer advice again.

 

[brotherjoe]

Get on your knees and say EXACTLY that to God. Again and again. Ask for help but don’t specify the outcome or type of help you feel God should give you. Become willing. Let God do the rest. God loves you and will lead you. Just stay in touch with him. Keep the communication open and grace will change your heart. Trust me.

Beautiful! Thanks!