I went to 1st. Friday tonight and also confession, After through I did nit feel any better.I confessed all my sins and waited for advice about them.The priest just absolved me without any advice.I just felt else like this black, sticky, tar like feeling in the pit of my stomach.Now that I think about it this did not start until I started the devotions to the Sacred Heart.Tinker that is tied in?
Most of the time, here in Mexico, especially. That’s normally what I get. I rarely get advice, but then again, priests here are really overburdened. Many are in the US, too. I once talked to a priest in the US who admitted, “I’m tired! I’ve been working 14 hour days!” Another talked about how thin priests, today, were being stretched. I’ve known some who are stretched over 2 parishes! So, he may have also been busy.
When you are absolved, if you are truly repentant and all, you ARE forgiven whether you feel like you are not.
I’ve seen a movement in modern times to place a lot of emphasis on feelings. I’ve seen this again and again. Well, it seems to go from people choosing to marry or not right on up.
I’ll see people saying, “I’m in love! This is the one!” Never mind that sometimes “the one” may be already married to somebody else! They will say it’s their “soul mate”, etc.
Or, sometimes, someone is “in love”…is 100% positive THIS time, it’s THE one. Okay, go out, marry, in months or years then “fall out of love”. Either divorce or stay married. Then, “fall in love”, this time with someone else…married or single. This happens again and again and again…sometimes in a form of “serial monogamy”…or sometimes adulterous-type relationships.
“Feelings” here are considered the overriding factor. It seems to determine what the decision will be. I “feel”…“love”…therefore…will go with this person, who is already married, say. My feelings are telling me to do this. I must listen to my feelings.
Now, a lot of people talk about experiences when they, are in confession, receive communion, and these can be quite wonderful. However, I think some are under the impression that if we DON’T feel them, something is wrong.
It’s sort of like people who, with sexuality, want to divorce if they don’t feel they are up over the moon every time in intimacy with a spouse.
So, not every time we go to communion or confession will we have an experience. Sometimes, many times, we may even feel NOTHING! We may not feel one thing!
Some people tell me, “I felt I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I could feel it”. They also say this happens all the time, and they can determine when it’ll happen rather than God. Maybe it’s true, but I question that.
Most of the time, I would not even expect to feel things during communion or confession. If I am absolved, I would not expect to feel a thing. Whether or not I feel absolved, I AM absolved. You were actually clean, whether you felt like it or not. Then, it’s a matter of faith to believe you were forgiven, not think, because advice wasn’t given that you are still in a state of sin. You’re not.
Receiving advice, and being forgiven, are 2 separate issues. One doesn’t have to do with the other. You were forgiven.
Now, if you would like advice, it’s nice, but whether or not you receive advice, the key is forgiveness. You received that.
To get advice, might be good as an above posted suggested and make an appt.
