How to confess masterbation

[Scaredofhell]

I have masterbated I feel very sorry for doing it. I am afraid to confess it because of a possible reaction I could get from a priest.

Do confessions have to be detailed? Can I still confess it without saying.

example: When I have lustfull feelings for the opposite sex?

Thankyou for any help.

 

[edjco]

Don’t sweat it at all. I would bet a priest hears this one more than any other, and I don’t think anything you confess to a priest would shock him. They’ve heard it all.
Just tell him you had lustful thoughts and deeds, and he will know what you are talking about. If he has any questions, he will ask, but probably not.
He will also be able to give you some guidance, so go for it!

 

[wcknight]

Just say it as it is. “I committed acts of masurbation.” Don’t try to paint a pretty picture of it. IF in your mind you are trying to be evasive, you may be guilty of a more serious sin, that of not telling the truth in confession. It’s tough enough getting the nerve to enter the confession, do NOT make things worse by trying to mislead the priest. Honesty and sincerity in the confessional, is most important. And as the previous post says, the priests have heard them all, and this one more than most others.

 

[fbl9]

I have masterbated I feel very sorry for doing it. I am afraid to confess it because of a possible reaction I could get from a priest.

Do confessions have to be detailed? Can I still confess it without saying.

example: When I have lustfull feelings for the opposite sex?

Thankyou for any help.

well you could be like me and not confess to this sin and end living trapped in it for many yrs…
it is that very same fear of being rejected,that caused me not confess many yrs ago and my friend it cost me dearly
it is best to remeber who the priest is “representing"in the confessional(Jesus) and remember it is our Lord who said"BE NOT AFRAID,IT IS I”
i would suggest you follow the previous poster to me and confess your sin upfront,…before recieving the sacrement of reconcillation try to remeber the period leading up to you committing this sin and in doing such it will help you recognize that perhaps there was something else that allowed you to fall into this sin…such as not avoiding the near occassion to sin…

 

[ericka1701]

I do agree with previous posters that one should actually say masterbation when in the confessional. But there are some people that are so mortified of actually saying masterbation that they would leave it out and make an invalid confession. The first few times myself I had to say, “I committed impure acts with myself”. As I have heard other places, the priest will know what you mean, and if there is any clarification needed, he will ask.

This is still a daily struggle to not get back into old habits, but confessing this has helped me to at least cut back on it, and now it’s something that I don’t have to confess every single time. YMMV, but I know that others have been able to break this habit by doing the same thing.

God Bless!
Ericka

 

[WatchfulPilgrim]

It is a hard word to say sometimes I suppose. I think one of my examinations of conscience calls it an offense to purity which I think is much less offensive sounding than “masterbation”. However, the priest may ask just how you have offended purity, since fornication is an offence to purity, as is viewing pornography, and many other things.

I’m quite certain this is a commonly confessed sin that the priest is familiar with. I really mean that. I think for some reason the word just doesn’t sound proper. Maybe it sounds like slang b/c of the contexts in which it has been used, so it doesn’t seem appropriate to use in a holy sacrament.

Forgive me father for I have sinned. I have been impatient with my family, I’ve been uncharitable in my conversation about my in-laws, I’ve offended purity solitarily, etc… fbl9 has a good point about the period leading up to the sin. Often, that is also something which needs to be confessed. Something worth contemplating anyway. With every temptation, God always provides a way out.

God will give you the grace to overcome your sin. I pray you will be responsive to it. Please pray for me also.

Peace~

 

[RobertLGarrett]

I do agree with previous posters that one should actually say masterbation when in the confessional. But there are some people that are so mortified of actually saying masterbation that they would leave it out and make an invalid confession. The first few times myself I had to say, “I committed impure acts with myself”. As I have heard other places, the priest will know what you mean, and if there is any clarification needed, he will ask.

This is still a daily struggle to not get back into old habits, but confessing this has helped me to at least cut back on it, and now it’s something that I don’t have to confess every single time. YMMV, but I know that others have been able to break this habit by doing the same thing.

God Bless!
Ericka

I heard Fr. Larry Richards say this on his Confession CD (it’s free, so click on the link to order it…I personally think it is excellent!).

 

[TLM08]

Here’s what I say:

“Father, I want to accuse myself of viewing an inapropriate website, magazine, movie (or whatever) and doing an impure act”

Don’t sweat the priests reaction. He will help you with good advice! He has heard this sin thousands of times over the years… I guarantee it!