Going Back to confession: How soon is too soon?

[Mattjolley]

So I went to confession thursday of last week and after today I am aware I need to go again. I am really, really struggling with a certain Mortal Sin that I keep on falling back into, week after week. Its tough to go a full week without it happening. So my question is, should I go back to confession straight away? I hate wallowing in my sin and like the throught of making amends to God and starting again, but I dont want to feel like I’m taking the sacrament for granted. I cant even bring myself to read scripture when I am in a state of sin, I feel that bad. Its as if I rationalise my sin ‘It’s ok just get to confession before the weekend and you’ll be fine’, or ‘Its ok to sin just go back to confession in the week’ I dont know what makes me think this, but I know it isnt a good influence to presume on God’s mercy before we delve into sin, assuming we’ll come out alright. I think like this when I am tempted to sin and therefore I feel as if i am misusing the sacrament or abusing it, but once I am in that confessional, I know I am truly sorry, no matter how often I fall again, I am sorry when I’m there. I’m just really struggling lately, feeling like I’m treating the whole thing as a weekly cycle, confession, communion, sin, back to confession…

I know with the help of God’s grace, I can keep away from that confessional gradually until I only feel the need to go once a month and so on. Am I guilty of presumption, though?

 

[Michael038]

So I went to confession thursday of last week and after today I am aware I need to go again. I am really, really struggling with a certain Mortal Sin that I keep on falling back into, week after week. Its tough to go a full week without it happening. So my question is, should I go back to confession straight away? I hate wallowing in my sin and like the throught of making amends to God and starting again, but I dont want to feel like I’m taking the sacrament for granted. I cant even bring myself to read scripture when I am in a state of sin, I feel that bad. Its as if I rationalise my sin ‘It’s ok just get to confession before the weekend and you’ll be fine’, or ‘Its ok to sin just go back to confession in the week’ I dont know what makes me think this, but I know it isnt a good influence to presume on God’s mercy before we delve into sin, assuming we’ll come out alright. I think like this when I am tempted to sin and therefore I feel as if i am misusing the sacrament or abusing it, but once I am in that confessional, I know I am truly sorry, no matter how often I fall again, I am sorry when I’m there. I’m just really struggling lately, feeling like I’m treating the whole thing as a weekly cycle, confession, communion, sin, back to confession…

I know with the help of God’s grace, I can keep away from that confessional gradually until I only feel the need to go once a month and so on. Am I guilty of presumption, though?

I would go back as soon as possible, you dont want to die in the state of mortal sin. Talk to your priest about this sin your struggling with and see if he has some suggestions on how to get help dealing with it, or some suggestions on certain prayers. Spending time before the Eucharist is always good.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Do go back to confession, but for a valid confession you must have a “firm purpose of amendment” — the intention not to sin again. We may suspect that we may fall again someday, but our intention must be to avoid the sin. Thus the line of thinking:

‘Its ok to sin just go back to confession in the week’

is something you must strive to get rid of.

 

[Karl_M]

Go back right away. And tell the priest that it’s only been how ever many days-and that you can barely make it a week. If you have one confessor, he should be able to help you immensely-specifically ask for guidance in the confessional if you need to (but do be mindful of people in line behind you).