How would you answer this question?

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Hi,

It’s me again. Posting yet another question on Confession.

I have a friend who often says, that they feel that they cannot go to Confession because they are confessing the same things over and over again. They want to repent of the sin first and turn away. They said they feel hypocritical if they go to Confession and confess the same sin over and over again.

My reply to this, is that the Sacrament is there to help us with the sins we struggle. We need the grace of frequent Confession if we are falling into the same sins over and over again.

However, I’m not sure if this is the best thing I could have said. How would you have answered this?
I’m new in the Faith and yet people come asking questions to me about it, and I feel at a loss to explain things.
 
I think that you gave the proper answer, stopping an habitual sin is not done with our will but with the grace of God, thus the need of frequent confession and communion.
 
Turtle_Turtle said:
Hi,

It’s me again. Posting yet another question on Confession.

I have a friend who often says, that they feel that they cannot go to Confession because they are confessing the same things over and over again. They want to repent of the sin first and turn away. They said they feel hypocritical if they go to Confession and confess the same sin over and over again.

My reply to this, is that the Sacrament is there to help us with the sins we struggle. We need the grace of frequent Confession if we are falling into the same sins over and over again.

However, I’m not sure if this is the best thing I could have said. How would you have answered this?
I’m new in the Faith and yet people come asking questions to me about it, and I feel at a loss to explain things.
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My priest advised me that he hasn’t had any one come to confession with something new in their list. ie i commit x sin regularly i am not likely to come to confession saying i’ve committed some;thing totally different.
We each have our own crosses to bear while the crosss may be simular each is to the individual.
 
I agree with the others that you gave a very good answer. The only thing I might suggest to the person is that, if they keep repeating the same sin, there may be a deeper sin (root cause) that is the real problem.
For instance - if the person keeps taking the Lord’s name in vain, the underlying issue might be anger.
If the root cause can be isolated and worked on then real progress can be made whereas if one tries to stop swearing without addressing the underlying cause…🤷

Just a thought

Peace
James
 
Your reply is great.
Another tack is this.

Our spiritual formation is much like working out or dieting: we hit plateaus at times where it seems like we are making no progress, but that is not the case. We don’t always *see *the progress, but we can’t give up or stop trying, we need to endure and push through.

Repetitious beat-downs by the sins that dominate us helps us with our humility only if we do go to confession. That is definitely something that is positive amidst our trials.

Perhaps even worse, are those who think they have no reason to go to confession because they are so perfect.
 
It is not as though you only have to confess the sins you’ve committed that you have never committed before. Think about it, “Father I hate my brother without a cause but I am not going to repent of that because I haven’t actually killed him yet so I’ll see you Tuesday after he gets back in town.”

Such a thing is unthinkable.

I have sin that I struggle with day by day and it drives me crazy and I would give anything to be delivered from this body of death because that which I would do I do not but that which I would not do I do.

Hmm… that sounds familiar.

Oh yeah its St Paul. Well if St Paul had a thorn in his flesh then I will accept mine and pray daily that God will remove it however knowing that His grace is sufficient to sustain me and forgive me when I confess because it is by His grace that my heart breaks over my sin day by day.

It is folly to think confession is a magic balm that prevents us sinning again (that is Pentecostalism) instead we walk by faith believing daily the Holy Spirit forgives us and quickens us and gives us the desire to confess and seek reconciliation because penance is grace too.

Remember the faithful in Christ keep His command to obey the Law and His command to repent and believe in God’s mercy.

God Bless
 
I think what you said is quite right.

Imagine saying ‘Well, I’ve got a really horrible flu that has lasted for weeks, and I should see the doctor about it, but I won’t, because last time I went it was also for the flu, and even if I do go now I’m just going to get the flu again in the future’. :eek:

Problem with that thinking is that your untreated flu can give rise to other worse diseases - some deadly. Whereas if you see the doctor they can check that it isn’t going to progress to something worse. And maybe give you tips to help prevent it next time, like advising you to get vaccinated or something.
 
Cristiano said:
I think that you gave the proper answer, stopping an habitual sin is not done with our will but with the grace of God, thus the need of frequent confession and communion.
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I had totally forgotten that frequent Holy Communion could be helpful as well. Thank you for reminding me, I will be sure to pass this on to my friend as well. 🙂
 
JRKH said:
I agree with the others that you gave a very good answer. The only thing I might suggest to the person is that, if they keep repeating the same sin, there may be a deeper sin (root cause) that is the real problem.
For instance - if the person keeps taking the Lord’s name in vain, the underlying issue might be anger.
If the root cause can be isolated and worked on then real progress can be made whereas if one tries to stop swearing without addressing the underlying cause…🤷

Just a thought

Peace
James
Click to expand...
This is a very good point. I will bring this up with my friend too. I had not thought of this. You guys are amazing bringing things to my mind I would have never thought of. Thank you for helping to bless my friend. 🙂
 
bogeydogg said:
It is not as though you only have to confess the sins you’ve committed that you have never committed before. Think about it, “Father I hate my brother without a cause but I am not going to repent of that because I haven’t actually killed him yet so I’ll see you Tuesday after he gets back in town.”

Such a thing is unthinkable.

I have sin that I struggle with day by day and it drives me crazy and I would give anything to be delivered from this body of death because that which I would do I do not but that which I would not do I do.

Hmm… that sounds familiar.

Oh yeah its St Paul. Well if St Paul had a thorn in his flesh then I will accept mine and pray daily that God will remove it however knowing that His grace is sufficient to sustain me and forgive me when I confess because it is by His grace that my heart breaks over my sin day by day.

It is folly to think confession is a magic balm that prevents us sinning again (that is Pentecostalism) instead we walk by faith believing daily the Holy Spirit forgives us and quickens us and gives us the desire to confess and seek reconciliation because penance is grace too.

Remember the faithful in Christ keep His command to obey the Law and His command to repent and believe in God’s mercy.

God Bless
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Oh yeah St. Paul. Thank you.

Yes I learned a long time ago that Confession was not the magic cure all for my ills. However, it does give me grace to work with God so that my sins can become less.
 
Thank you everyone for answering my question. You have been very helpful and I appreciate it. Please pray for my friend so that he may work through this. I believe he will.
 
What everyone has said is very true and you are a good listening Turtle Murtle. It does not matter how many times we sin (the same sin) Jesus forgives, remember the passage of Peter is it and the 7 x77 that Jesus answered back. God doesn’t count the number of times we commit the same sin. We might but God doesn’t and neither does the priest. Though he might prompt her to look deeper but he wouldn’t actually be counting unless she asked him to. God doesn’t judge us but loves us and I think the friend might be wanting further help on the deeper issue but in time by being able to go to regular confession to keep asking forgives may encourage her to try and do something about it for herself. Something that was said to me on wednesday on something totally diferent but I have to put the work in. In between time its perfectly okay for your friend to keep turning up at confession and keep confessing the very same sin as Jesus is not counting the number of times we say it. He just wants us to be sorry if we want forgiveness. He just wants us to love him:)
 
englishredrose said:
What everyone has said is very true and you are a good listening Turtle Murtle. It does not matter how many times we sin (the same sin) Jesus forgives, remember the passage of Peter is it and the 7 x77 that Jesus answered back. God doesn’t count the number of times we commit the same sin. We might but God doesn’t and neither does the priest. Though he might prompt her to look deeper but he wouldn’t actually be counting unless she asked him to. God doesn’t judge us but loves us and I think the friend might be wanting further help on the deeper issue but in time by being able to go to regular confession to keep asking forgives may encourage her to try and do something about it for herself. Something that was said to me on wednesday on something totally diferent but I have to put the work in. In between time its perfectly okay for your friend to keep turning up at confession and keep confessing the very same sin as Jesus is not counting the number of times we say it. He just wants us to be sorry if we want forgiveness. He just wants us to love him:)
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I thank God he does not count every single time we have to confess. Thank you for sharing your post. I will pass this on to my friend.
 
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