Defining a Sin Versus Naming it

[C794]

There’s a sin I’m planning on confessing, but a name of something associated with it disgusts me. I hate to mention it. If I were to define this thing in confession, instead of naming it, would it still be valid? I know that the definition will still get to the heart of the issue and not make my action appear Amy less or more grave than it was. It’s just a way to make me say it easier. So would this be okay?

 

[Michael57]

There’s a sin I’m planning on confessing, but a name of something associated with it disgusts me. I hate to mention it. If I were to define this thing in confession, instead of naming it, would it still be valid? I know that the definition will still get to the heart of the issue and not make my action appear Amy less or more grave than it was. It’s just a way to make me say it easier. So would this be okay?

There are all sorts of synonyms one may use for a variety of acts that one might confess.

You could look up the synonym online to better prepare yourself for confession. Also there are some resources online that can help as well. Here is one

Hope that helps.

 

[C794]

Thanks. The definition pretty Mich will amount to a synonym and honestly the part I’m defining is only something that led to the sin. This is a little known thing and the definition will likely make more sense to the priest.

 

[SMHW]

The point of definitions is that they are interchangeable with that which they define.

 

[Beryllos]

Thanks. The definition pretty Mich will amount to a synonym and honestly the part I’m defining is only something that led to the sin. This is a little known thing and the definition will likely make more sense to the priest.

I am not quite sure what kind of confession you are wishing to make, but I will try to give some general advice.

The key is that you have to communicate the truth. Do not choose ambiguous words which may leave uncertainty about what the sin actually was. Do not “stretch the truth” by choosing words intended to minimize the apparent seriousness of the sin. If you need to explain “something that led to the sin,” okay, but you must confess the sin as well, not just the circumstances leading up to it.

If you intend to tell the whole truth, and you think the definition will help you to better express that truth, that seems like a good approach.

 

[Lasting_faith]

Yes. It is better to tell straight what you did. It is a bit misleading is your for instance say “well, I did a bit of speeding and got a ticket, then I stole I pen and BTW, I also did kill the janitor, and oh, yes, I did use profane language at work.”

I don’t have clue how this really fit the story, but a long time ago I heard this joke about the famous & fictive barrister “Perry Mason” when he was at his dentist and told the good quack “do you swear to pull the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth.”

Look, there is not much you can tell your priest that he has not heard before. So be specific, it will help, and you will feel much better when you have used the right words for what you really did. In fact, the whole meaning about Confession is to be upfront and honest. If you did do what ever you did, then tell him what you did. That’s it.