How to confess a mortal sin if you stopped yourself?

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Ravyn_Guiliani

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ok my nephew asked me this and I am not sure what to answer…he wanted to know if you need to confess if you were able to stop yourself from “sinning all the way” and if yes, how? I did not ask him for specifics, but I am guessing this had to do with some kind of impurity. Again guessing he may have been tempted and somewhere in the whole ‘process’ was able to overcome his weakness and stop himself. ( I am trying not to be offensive. ) This was a serious question and I don’t want to embarrass him, I would rather applaud his willpower.

thanks,
Ravyn
 
I don’t know if this helps, but I learned from teaching my son’s 4th grade RE that temptation is not a sin.
 
pnachazel said:
I don’t know if this helps, but I learned from teaching my son’s 4th grade RE that temptation is not a sin.
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I think that is a good reply! I am sure it helps. The young man should be given some positive feedback for fighting the temptation. Now he should be re-directed in what the near occaision of sin is.
 
He should simply tell the priest exactly what happened. This is the answer to every question about “How should I confess . . .” or "What should I say . . . " Answering these questions is an integral part of the priest’s sacramental ministry.

JSA+
 
as blackrobe says, it’s probably good to tell the priest in confession, especially if it’s a temptation that he’s working on overcoming… (doesn’t sound like it from the way you phrased it though)
 
hilde_the_dog said:
I would have to say yes esp if it was sexual in nature.
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“yes” what?

I am only assuming, but I know he has mentioned before that he has a problem with the sin of impurity (which I understand to be masturbation and/or porn in his case…) And I can only guess that maybe he started to sin but stopped himself before he felt it was completely accomplished? I took it to mean that he had gone slightly further than just temptation (eg put the magazine in the trash or left the website before he finished looking at all the pictures?) I think he would feel like he failed again if he just confessed it the same as when he went thru with it. I just told him to tell the priest that he was able to summon the strength to stop himself this time. I didn’t know what else to say. It is awkward but he has no father on the scene and his mother has her own troubles and does not go to Church at all. I am his godmother.

Ravyn
 
Tell the priest. It is very simple. For example
Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been two weeks since my last confession. I have been plagued with impure thoughts and desires. I have not acted on these thoughts but I have had them. For these and all the sins of my past life I am truly sorry and ask forgiveness and absolution from God and the Church.

Not hard to do at all and if you feel the need to get more specific go for it.👍
 
palmas85 said:
Tell the priest. It is very simple. For example
Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been two weeks since my last confession. I have been plagued with impure thoughts and desires. I have not acted on these thoughts but I have had them. For these and all the sins of my past life I am truly sorry and ask forgiveness and absolution from God and the Church.

Not hard to do at all and if you feel the need to get more specific go for it.👍
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Excellent answer!

(Can I run things through with you before my next confession, and you tell me how to phrase it?)😃
 
Ravyn,
I think you should go ahead and praise your nephew,he sounds like a great kid. It’s good that he can come to you with this type of problem, how wonderful to be trusted like that!
 
he has not sinned, what he has done is beat the devil to the punch.prayer has helped him.
 
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