How do I know if I am truly sorry for my sins?

[veryworried6277]

Hello,
I am wondering how can we know if we are truly sorry for our sins?

I keep getting caught out with a particular sin, and I use the fact that I am going to go to confession as an excuse to sin.

This is quite worrying me, as I know I don’t want to offend God, but I just keep falling back into the same pattern: I think i’ve committed a mortal sin, plan to go to confession then I sin hours before going to confession, almost using it as an excuse to sin.

Now I’ve always got a firm purpose of amendment not to sin again, but how can I be truly sorry if I continue to commit this sin, after I decided I will go to confession?

Maybe it’s because I don’t allow myself enough time to reflect?

I’m just a little confused as I don’t want to offend God and end up in hell.

Thanks in advance.

 

[1ke]

Seek the counsel of your priest in confession. This is not the appropriate place for this typee of spiritual counseling.

 

[JRKH]

What Ike said…

You are dealing with several different things here that need to be addressed carefully and over time. Your confessor is best able to help you with this.

Peace
James

 

[Angelsflight]

Hello,
I am wondering how can we know if we are truly sorry for our sins?

I keep getting caught out with a particular sin, and I use the fact that I am going to go to confession as an excuse to sin.

This is quite worrying me, as I know I don’t want to offend God, but I just keep falling back into the same pattern: I think i’ve committed a mortal sin, plan to go to confession then I sin hours before going to confession, almost using it as an excuse to sin.

Now I’ve always got a firm purpose of amendment not to sin again, but how can I be truly sorry if I continue to commit this sin, after I decided I will go to confession?

Maybe it’s because I don’t allow myself enough time to reflect?

I’m just a little confused as I don’t want to offend God and end up in hell.

Thanks in advance.

Actually I had the same problem sometimes. I was comitting the same sin, then running off to confession. I felt that I was using confession as my “get out of jail free card”.

I am getting better with it. One of the things I did that helped some was to think seriously about the shame of going back to my priest with the same sin over and over. I imagined him shaking his head in disappointment, and telling me he wont absolve me next time. I care very much for my priest, as he has bailed me out of a few spiritual jams with his wonderful advice and his absolution. It hurts my heart to put disappointment on his face, or worse yet, the face of our savior, Jesus.

Try that. Picture in your head the disappointment on God’s face, and that of your priest. And maybe try confessions face-to-face. There is a little more discomfort in sitting in front of your priest and baring your sins to him.

You are going to sin, its a given. You may even commit the same sin again and again. the important thing is to try to stop. A little struggle is good. Makes you stronger!

Good luck!

 

[A_G]

Make an Examination of conscience first. Think about it, and then ask yourself, if you could go back in time knowing what you know now -would do repeat that sin? And simply pray to God to have the knowledge, courage and strength to do His will.

 

[littlestsouls]

Sin has a way of blinding us to God’s goodness and weakening our wills, so don’t be surprised to find yourself falling into sin after having formed the intention to confess. At the same time, beware of treating God like a vending machine. He has such a tender, human Heart and He is grieved when we abuse His graces. He yearns for your love. Ask God that you may yearn for Him.

Meditate on God’s tender mercy for you. After doing this, ask yourself the question: ‘Am I sorry for my sin because I have hurt God, or because I have hurt myself?’ Try to emphasise the former. Too much emphasis on the latter begets discouragement, frustration, bitterness etc.

Here is a meditation that I hope will assist you by providing a source of lasting contrition:
Jesus said to Sr. Benigna Consolata: “If the hands of a robber were nailed, even though he wished to rob again, could he do so? If the hands of an assassin were nailed, even though he wished to still murder another, could he do so? Well, My Benigna, I Myself let My Hands be nailed as if to render Myself unable to punish poor sinners. I love these souls so tenderly! Write this to give me pleasure: I wish they could see how much I love them! I suffered so much pain in My Head from the Crown of Thorns, and also from the Blood which trickled into My eyes, that I was scarcely able to open them; yet from time to time I unclosed them to look with tenderness upon My executioners.”

Also, don’t forget to speak with a priest. They can provide you with more specific advice in relation to how to overcome particular sins etc.

God bless.

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

We cannot be truly sorry without the grace of God. The Sacrament of Reconciliation does two things: forgiveness for our weakness and gives us grace to avoid future sin.

Keep the Sacrament honest and be as open with God (thought the Priest) on repeat offenses and keep asking for the grace to, "… Avoid the near occasion of sin … "