A
Angel
Guest
How does one stop feeling guilty after confessing a mortal sin to a Priest?
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M
marty1818
Guest
Angel,
Do not despair in the mercy of Christ. Pray that God may take away your guilt. You have been forgiven of your sins, so do not worry about what you have confessed because it has been forgiven by Christ.
God Bless,
Matt
Do not despair in the mercy of Christ. Pray that God may take away your guilt. You have been forgiven of your sins, so do not worry about what you have confessed because it has been forgiven by Christ.
God Bless,
Matt
J
JMJ_Theresa
Guest
Our priest told this story once. So, I don’t know the origin.
There was a middle aged priest living in another country. One of his parishioners often would come to him and tell him that she was having visions of Jesus. Being a natural skeptic, he would hear her and gently dismiss her. One day, the self proclaimed visionary came to him and once again told the priest of her visions. To finally test the vision, he blurted out, “When next you see Jesus, ask Him what the mortal sin I committed in seminary.” It was a terrible guilt and weight that he had carried for years. The next Sunday the woman came to him and gave him the answer. “Jesus says that he doesn’t remember.”
At that moment the priest realized that he had been forgiven in confession long ago.
I like that story. When I am feeling guilty and ashamed of confessed sins, I pray, “I trust in Thee, Jesus.” Maybe the feelings are a good reminder to pray your trust in the mercy of God. Also, remember that emotions are not a sin. They are neutral. It is the response to emotions that can be a sin. So, if you respond to the emotion of guilt with a prayer of trust, I’m sure that God is very pleased with your response.
There was a middle aged priest living in another country. One of his parishioners often would come to him and tell him that she was having visions of Jesus. Being a natural skeptic, he would hear her and gently dismiss her. One day, the self proclaimed visionary came to him and once again told the priest of her visions. To finally test the vision, he blurted out, “When next you see Jesus, ask Him what the mortal sin I committed in seminary.” It was a terrible guilt and weight that he had carried for years. The next Sunday the woman came to him and gave him the answer. “Jesus says that he doesn’t remember.”
At that moment the priest realized that he had been forgiven in confession long ago.
I like that story. When I am feeling guilty and ashamed of confessed sins, I pray, “I trust in Thee, Jesus.” Maybe the feelings are a good reminder to pray your trust in the mercy of God. Also, remember that emotions are not a sin. They are neutral. It is the response to emotions that can be a sin. So, if you respond to the emotion of guilt with a prayer of trust, I’m sure that God is very pleased with your response.
A
Angel
Guest
Thank you so much…
The one thing I am afraid of is family members finding out and perhaps that is where all the guilt is coming from.
The one thing I am afraid of is family members finding out and perhaps that is where all the guilt is coming from.
Actually, since you have been forgiven, by definition what you are feeling cannot be guilt. What you are feeling must be something else.
Realizing this is the first step.
So this means that what you ARE feeling is probably shame and regret. These are feelings that come from the disappointment you have with yourself, the disappointment others may have in you. You no doubt feel frustrated and/or angry because you cannot go back and change the past.
So pray for for the humility to accept your lack of perfection.
Pray for patience with those you place unreasonable expections of perfection on you.
You cannot change the past but your regret about it may help motivate you in the future. Pray that you gain wisdom. Do what you can to rebuild any damaged relationships. This may or may not involve admitting any wrongdoing on your part.
God has forgiven you. Go and do likewise.
Realizing this is the first step.
So this means that what you ARE feeling is probably shame and regret. These are feelings that come from the disappointment you have with yourself, the disappointment others may have in you. You no doubt feel frustrated and/or angry because you cannot go back and change the past.
So pray for for the humility to accept your lack of perfection.
Pray for patience with those you place unreasonable expections of perfection on you.
You cannot change the past but your regret about it may help motivate you in the future. Pray that you gain wisdom. Do what you can to rebuild any damaged relationships. This may or may not involve admitting any wrongdoing on your part.
God has forgiven you. Go and do likewise.
A
Akanke
Guest
I haven’t been able to confess yet because I’m not confirmed yet, but I can imagine that being forgiven doesn’t come without consequences.
The ever-common illustration is the one where you break someone’s window, you apologize, they forgive you, you start to go and they say, “Hey, when are you going to fix my window?”
So I don’t see it being without consequences, but I don’t see it not being forgiven either. I don’t know if I’ve helped you, but maybe it helps you to know that I’ve been in your shoes…well, all except the confessing part.
The ever-common illustration is the one where you break someone’s window, you apologize, they forgive you, you start to go and they say, “Hey, when are you going to fix my window?”
So I don’t see it being without consequences, but I don’t see it not being forgiven either. I don’t know if I’ve helped you, but maybe it helps you to know that I’ve been in your shoes…well, all except the confessing part.
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