Eucharist and Confession

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Awhile ago, I was not sure if some thoughts I had about 3 years ago were mortal or not. I know more now than I did back than about confession, mortal sins, and the Eucharist. However, I still wanted to confess these thoughts about last year but I didn’t because I was just nervous and not even sure exactly how to explain my thoughts. Anyway, I continued to go to church and I took the Eucharist. I got into some arguments with my mother and just said mean things that I hate her, etc. to myself mostly. I felt really bad, but I was angry. I didn;t know if this was mortal sin or not, but I wanted to go to confession before taking the Eucharist. So, I went to church but didn’t take the Eucharist for awhile (not sure, maybe a month or couple months). Today, I took the Eucharist, because Christmas is coming next week, and I also felt like I was just over-thinking too much. I plan on going to confession, to talk to the priest and tell him everything (that I can remember, including taking the Eucharisst today). I just get so nervous to go, one of the reasons is because i feel like because I get nervous, that I don’t say everything I wanted to , or i don’t explain it accurately and than I worry I didn’t have a valid confession. Do you all think it was OK for me to take the Eucharist, even though I was not sure if I was in mortal sin or not>
 
Well, in order to be in mortal sin, one must fulfill the following ALL of the following:
  1. It must be of a grave matter (ex. violating the 10 Commandments of God, etc.)
  2. Full knowledge
  3. Deliberate consent
Although I don’t know your mind, from what you said, I would come to believe that you did not fulfill #2, or possibly #3, depending. Only you would know that, of course(and God, and the angels, etc., but I’m not going to go there…lol).

If you are nervous about telling the priest, see if you can go to a parish nearby for confession. Sometimes that can help quell the nerves.

A good thing for you to reflect upon: (I have the same issue sometimes.)
If you are plagued by feelings of “not being forgiven” or being “unworthy” of the Sacrament of Penance, don’t confess venial sins that you are doubtful about lest you find yourself with a case of “the scruples.” A “scrupulous” person is one who has “an unfounded apprehension and consequently unwarranted fear that something is a sin which, as a matter of fact, is not” (Catholic Encyclopedia). This doesn’t refer to isolated incidents, but to a habitual way of feeling or thinking, an unwarranted fear, a sort of emotional obsession; it doesn’t refer to true questions as to whether such and such a behavior is a sin or not. Anxiety is involved, and often a felt doubt as to the power of confession, the genuine-ness one’s contrition, and the extent of God’s mercy. If you have a good, orthodox Confessor, trust him and his advice, and tell him about any scruples you needlessly suffer from; he may be able to help you! And pray to St. Alphonsus Liguori, the great moral theologian who suffered from scruples himself and is now the patron saint of the scrupulous.
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An awesome page about confession: fisheaters.com/penance.html
Sometimes those little examination of conscience cards are good. I sometimes take one and mark it up and burn it afterward. Makes me feel accomplished. : )
 
HNA444 said:
Awhile ago, I was not sure if some thoughts I had about 3 years ago were mortal or not. I know more now than I did back than about confession, mortal sins, and the Eucharist. However, I still wanted to confess these thoughts about last year but I didn’t because I was just nervous and not even sure exactly how to explain my thoughts. Anyway, I continued to go to church and I took the Eucharist. I got into some arguments with my mother and just said mean things that I hate her, etc. to myself mostly. I felt really bad, but I was angry. I didn;t know if this was mortal sin or not, but I wanted to go to confession before taking the Eucharist. So, I went to church but didn’t take the Eucharist for awhile (not sure, maybe a month or couple months). Today, I took the Eucharist, because Christmas is coming next week, and I also felt like I was just over-thinking too much. I plan on going to confession, to talk to the priest and tell him everything (that I can remember, including taking the Eucharisst today). I just get so nervous to go, one of the reasons is because i feel like because I get nervous, that I don’t say everything I wanted to , or i don’t explain it accurately and than I worry I didn’t have a valid confession. Do you all think it was OK for me to take the Eucharist, even though I was not sure if I was in mortal sin or not>
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Dec 21, '11, 10:02 pm

From JAW642

To HNA444,

I agree totally with Reply # 02 from DihydrogenOxide.

Also, I question whether these 3 year old thoughts were even grave matter?

I think you should stop going through the actions to see if these thoughts were mortal or not, because this exercise shows that you are definitely and actually Doubting these actions or thoughts as mortal sin.

Doubtful Sin. Everyone, who is knowledgeable about our Catholic faith, agrees that if you have a Doubt if something was a mortal sin, then it definitely cannot be a mortal sin.

BUT a Scrupulous person tends to start Doubting the Doubtful sin. Were my actions or thoughts really Doubtful sin? Or am I just fooling myself? So don’t be surprised to find yourself thinking and re-thinking about what has happened.

Just keep on believing in what the Catholic Church teaches that… Doubtful sins don’t count! So there’s no reason to worry about anything that you have classified as Doubtful sin. If you classify it as Doubtful sin, then just forget about it. Don’t start to doubt your doubt.

Getting into some arguments with my mother and just saying mean things that you hate her, etc., cannot be considered serious enough to be grave matter for mortal sin. You know and your Mom knows that you do not really hate your Mom, even if you happen to say so in anger. You did not need to go to confession before taking the Eucharist.

I took the Eucharist, because Christmas is coming next week, and I also felt like I was just over-thinking too much.

Again, I agree with you that you were just over-thinking too much.

You should Not take the Eucharist, if you definitely Know that you have Deliberately committed a mortal sin.

But you Can and Should take the Eucharist, when you have ‘Doubtful Sin’, because ‘Doubtful Sin’ cannot be Mortal sin.

So you are allowed, and it was OK for you to take the Eucharist, even though you were not sure if you were in mortal sin or not, because you were not in mortal sin.

The Catholic Church states that if you are unsure of whether or not you have committed a mortal sin, YOU DEFINITELY HAVE NOT COMMITTED A MORTAL SIN. Mortal sins leave no room for uncertainty and must be deliberate. The Catholic Church defines such uncertain acts as ‘Doubtful Sins’, and the Church does not require them to be confessed, since they are not Mortal Sins.

I think you are forgetting about the primary requirement of the Catholic Church in making a Valid and Complete Confession. And that is that you are required to confess only mortal sins, that you are Clear and Certain and Positive that you have Intentionally and Deliberately committed, with your FULL Consent of your Will. All other thoughts and actions consequentially and automatically must fall under ‘Doubtful Sins’, which you have NO Obligation to confess. And ‘Doubtful Sin’ does Not stop you from receiving Holy Communion.

Please stop being so Scrupulous. When you go to Confession, just confess any and all mortal sins which you are Sure you have Deliberately committed.

Venial sins do Not need to be confessed.
 
JAW642 said:
Doubtful Sin. Everyone, who is knowledgeable about our Catholic faith, agrees that if you have a Doubt if something was a mortal sin, then it definitely cannot be a mortal sin.

Such is not quite the case…yes for example a confessor might direct a scrupulous penitent in this way…but in terms on the norm…it is not so clear as that. Yes one is not obliged to confess a “doubtful mortal sin”. But a lax person ought to be advised to confess it (and tell that there is doubt) for the fact it is bothering him is a good sign for him to go…for not much bothers his “lax” conscience… and it can be advised (though again not required) for one with a who is not troubled with scruples …to confess “doubtful mortal sins” …again noting it is doubtful in some way

Just keep on believing in what the Catholic Church teaches that… Doubtful sins don’t count! So there’s no reason to worry about anything that you have classified as Doubtful sin. If you classify it as Doubtful sin, then just forget about it. Same notes as above…​

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I am not in the above addressing the original poster.

But simply clarifying for readers …

PS: Those who are scrupulous…have a regular confessor …he can guide you.
 
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