Help with this situation

[Butaperson]

Ok, so I am a Catholic revert of 9 or 6 ish months. I have been to confession several times now, and each time I am sure I tried very hard to confess every sin. I wrote down a list and used an examination of conscious and all that.

However, I have recently become aware of something. Basically, it’s a little awkward to discuss, but I guess I presumed to know my future. I thought that I was literally fated to do this thing, and I was sure that it would happen. But some way or another, i never quite zeroed in on it as contrary to Catholic teachings.

In my first confession, I did confess having put faith in divination, things like horoscopes and and fortune cookies and things like that. But this particular event did not cross my mind at the time, I don’t think. I even went as far as to think perhaps God had destined me for it, and it was sure to happen.

Anyways, I realize now that this is wrong. And I don’t know how I ever could have thought it wasn’t wrong; indeed, I’m pretty sure it was one of those really awkward situations where you know that you are doing thing A, and you know that thing A is wrong, but you don’t quite put the puzzle pieces together to realize that you are indeed doing something wrong.

Am I in a state of mortal sin, do you think? I will go to confession next time I have the opportunity, but…I don’t know. The whole situation feels really stupid, and I indeed feel really stupid, but I just don’t know, y’know?

 

[tawny]

Ok, so I am a Catholic revert of 9 or 6 ish months. I have been to confession several times now, and each time I am sure I tried very hard to confess every sin. I wrote down a list and used an examination of conscious and all that.

However, I have recently become aware of something. Basically, it’s a little awkward to discuss, but I guess I presumed to know my future. I thought that I was literally fated to do this thing, and I was sure that it would happen. But some way or another, i never quite zeroed in on it as contrary to Catholic teachings.

In my first confession, I did confess having put faith in divination, things like horoscopes and and fortune cookies and things like that. But this particular event did not cross my mind at the time, I don’t think. I even went as far as to think perhaps God had destined me for it, and it was sure to happen.

Anyways, I realize now that this is wrong. And I don’t know how I ever could have thought it wasn’t wrong; indeed, I’m pretty sure it was one of those really awkward situations where you know that you are doing thing A, and you know that thing A is wrong, but you don’t quite put the puzzle pieces together to realize that you are indeed doing something wrong.

Am I in a state of mortal sin, do you think? I will go to confession next time I have the opportunity, but…I don’t know. The whole situation feels really stupid, and I indeed feel really stupid, but I just don’t know, y’know?

Have you discussed this with your priest?

 

[JorduSpeaks]

It’s hard to really know what you’re talking about when you’re this vague. Still, it doesn’t sound like you’re a mortal sinner, and it doesn’t sound like you’re stupid.

Is belief in magic a sin? Well, it kind of depends. If you specifically are trying to conjure demons, spirits, or angels and bend them to your will, then yes that is sinful. If you are trying to use magic to predict the future, alter the natural world, or subvert the wills of others, that is sinful. If you are easily taken in by horoscopes and superstition, that’s simply an example of what is called “magical thinking”. It’s irrational and should be avoided, but it’s not inherently sinful. Belief in fate or destiny is similarly irrational, but not inherently sinful. I should stress, though, that while these thought patterns are not willful defiance of God, they will still reduce the quality of your life and should therefore be avoided.

Now, if you can cognitively recognize irrational thoughts, but continue to feel like they are difficult to reject, and if these thoughts are persistent, unwanted, intrusive, and repetitive, you may actually be suffering from a mental disorder. I, myself, suffer from a mental disorder which causes me to repeatedly tell myself that I’m inherently flawed and fated for unhappiness. I know these thoughts are irrational, but it’s still a struggle to reject them and requires significant medication and therapy just to keep from becoming overwhelmed. If you feel like there’s a chance that something similar is happening to you, you need to talk it over with your doctor and see if he or she can recommend someone who can help.

 

[ClearWater]

Ok, so I am a Catholic revert of 9 or 6 ish months. I have been to confession several times now, and each time I am sure I tried very hard to confess every sin. I wrote down a list and used an examination of conscious and all that.

However, I have recently become aware of something. Basically, it’s a little awkward to discuss, but I guess I presumed to know my future. I thought that I was literally fated to do this thing, and I was sure that it would happen. But some way or another, i never quite zeroed in on it as contrary to Catholic teachings.

In my first confession, I did confess having put faith in divination, things like horoscopes and and fortune cookies and things like that. But this particular event did not cross my mind at the time, I don’t think. I even went as far as to think perhaps God had destined me for it, and it was sure to happen.

Anyways, I realize now that this is wrong. And I don’t know how I ever could have thought it wasn’t wrong; indeed, I’m pretty sure it was one of those really awkward situations where you know that you are doing thing A, and you know that thing A is wrong, but you don’t quite put the puzzle pieces together to realize that you are indeed doing something wrong.

Am I in a state of mortal sin, do you think? I will go to confession next time I have the opportunity, but…I don’t know. The whole situation feels really stupid, and I indeed feel really stupid, but I just don’t know, y’know?

I fell into New Age for years, and I didn’t realize a lot of that was sinful, or forgot about it. Try not to beat yourself up about this, since you seem genuinely sorry and repentent, now, and that’s the important thing.

A good review of conscience might help you pick up with things for the future to pick up on these issues. Here’s one I found online.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm

It doesn’t sound like you were aware of its being sinful prior to confession, or had forgotten about it. If there’s a doubt then, just don’t receive communion for now, and try to get to confession as soon as you can.

What your situation is now is more important than your past. So, be at peace, and be patient with yourself. Keep up all the good work! God bless you!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

All you had to do is confess that you were involved in New Age and that would be enough. You don’t need to go into the specifics.

In fact, in confession, we don’t need to, nor should we go into details about our sins unless your confessor asks for more information. Just confessing the sin itself, like impure thoughts, jealousy or whatever is sufficient.

Confession is more about the contrite heart than about the specifics of the sins we committed.

Jim

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

Did you say you did this before your confession but didn’t recognize the problem until after?

I don’t think we can have ex-post-facto sins, but others can correct me if I’m wrong. Plus like Jim said it sounds like it was covered unless he asks for more detail, and it was your intent to make a complete confession. That’s as opposed to going in, intentionally trying to hide. I’d guess you’re ok.

MS

 

[Butaperson]

Did you say you did this before your confession but didn’t recognize the problem until after?

I don’t think we can have ex-post-facto sins, but others can correct me if I’m wrong. Plus like Jim said it sounds like it was covered unless he asks for more detail, and it was your intent to make a complete confession. That’s as opposed to going in, intentionally trying to hide. I’d guess you’re ok.

MS

I’ll try to clarify just what happened.
When I went into confession, I had believed in a wide range of “New Age-y” things, all sorts of non-Christian jazz like past lives, ghosts, ect. Among these things was believing to know my future.
I confessed putting faith in Divination, things like crystal balls and horoscopes. However, I didn’t think about the particular event that I “knew” was going to happen, and I continued to believe it afterwards.
I knew it was sinful to presume your future, but I didn’t stop to think about how precisely what I was doing was sinful.
So it’s just a little bit awkward, y’know. And it could be mortally sinful, because I knew it was sinful, but it could not be, because I didn’t think about how it applied to what I was actually doing.

idkidkidk

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I’ll try to clarify just what happened.
When I went into confession, I had believed in a wide range of “New Age-y” things, all sorts of non-Christian jazz like past lives, ghosts, ect. Among these things was believing to know my future.
I confessed putting faith in Divination, things like crystal balls and horoscopes. However, I didn’t think about the particular event that I “knew” was going to happen, and I continued to believe it afterwards.
I knew it was sinful to presume your future, but I didn’t stop to think about how precisely what I was doing was sinful.
So it’s just a little bit awkward, y’know. And it could be mortally sinful, because I knew it was sinful, but it could not be, because I didn’t think about how it applied to what I was actually doing.

idkidkidk

Yeah, that can be difficult to try to judge and control your own thoughts.

It just occurred to me, that maybe one approach to them is to try to figure out what it is, mentally or emotionally or whatever, that you’re getting out of these thoughts. In other words, instead of maybe fighting them, find out why you’re attracted to them. Does it give you hope for the future? Or maybe, do you feel like you have some privileged information that could give you an advantage? I think if you can isolate what is attractive about those things then they could be viewed from a standpoint of your Christians faith and maybe that would make the Christian version at least as compelling as the competing thoughts?

MS

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I’ll try to clarify just what happened.
When I went into confession, I had believed in a wide range of “New Age-y” things, all sorts of non-Christian jazz like past lives, ghosts, ect. Among these things was believing to know my future.
I confessed putting faith in Divination, things like crystal balls and horoscopes. However, I didn’t think about the particular event that I “knew” was going to happen, and I continued to believe it afterwards.
I knew it was sinful to presume your future, but I didn’t stop to think about how precisely what I was doing was sinful.
So it’s just a little bit awkward, y’know. And it could be mortally sinful, because I knew it was sinful, but it could not be, because I didn’t think about how it applied to what I was actually doing.

idkidkidk

The simplest way out would be to confess it the next time you go. In the meantime you will have the benefit of your intention to confess this particular issue you’re worried about.

Personally I think you’re worrying a bit too much, and possibly making a mountain out of a molehill. God knows your heart and your intentions.

You’re a new convert after all, so I think He’s going to allow a bit of leeway. So just confess it next time if you’re still worried about it.