Invalid confession?, scrupulosity, just feeling confused...

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friendlyperson

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Hi everyone, and Happy New Year!

I am a very scrupulous person and I have some OCD tendencies. I went to confession today and one of the sins I confessed was neglecting my prayer life. I was truly contrite for this and I intended (as I still do) to improve this going forward.

So I got to the Act of Contrition and the part that says I intend to “avoid whatever leads me to sin.” At this point, my racing thoughts started. I started wondering, “What if x, y, or z activity that I like to do (and can sometimes become obsessive) hurts my prayer life?” Then I started worrying, "what if I don’t really intend to avoid whatever leads me to sin? I told myself that I would try to make sure that I reconcile my pastimes with my prayer life. All of these thoughts happened in about one second (my mind always races really, really fast when I get to this part of the Act of Contrition).

I’m still just not completely sure if my confession was valid. I don’t know if I should go to Communion tomorrow. When I don’t go to Communion, sometimes my dad will ask me, “Why didn’t you go to Communion?” If it wasn’t a valid Confession, I’ll have to go to Confession next Saturday. Will the priest be confused when he hears me give the exact same Confession? How do I keep the racing thoughts away during the Act of Contrition?
Does anyone have any advice? Please pray for me.
Thanks,
Rachel
 
1ke said:
Yes it is valid.

Get professional help for your scrupulosity and OCD.

Also you can say any act of contrition you want. You can say, “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice! If it is the wording of that prayer that causes my scrupulous thoughts, I will consider a different Act of Contrition.
 
friendlyperson said:
Hi everyone, and Happy New Year!

I am a very scrupulous person and I have some OCD tendencies. I went to confession today and one of the sins I confessed was neglecting my prayer life. I was truly contrite for this and I intended (as I still do) to improve this going forward.

So I got to the Act of Contrition and the part that says I intend to “avoid whatever leads me to sin.” At this point, my racing thoughts started. I started wondering, “What if x, y, or z activity that I like to do (and can sometimes become obsessive) hurts my prayer life?” Then I started worrying, "what if I don’t really intend to avoid whatever leads me to sin? I told myself that I would try to make sure that I reconcile my pastimes with my prayer life. All of these thoughts happened in about one second (my mind always races really, really fast when I get to this part of the Act of Contrition).

I’m still just not completely sure if my confession was valid. I don’t know if I should go to Communion tomorrow. When I don’t go to Communion, sometimes my dad will ask me, “Why didn’t you go to Communion?” If it wasn’t a valid Confession, I’ll have to go to Confession next Saturday. Will the priest be confused when he hears me give the exact same Confession? How do I keep the racing thoughts away during the Act of Contrition?
Does anyone have any advice? Please pray for me.
Thanks,
Rachel
Click to expand...
Hello, sweet child of God.When you enter the confessional,write what you need to discuss down on paper. Go to the same priest and ask for his guidance in your prayer life. Sometimes, we’ll forget a sin and recall it later. God knows your heart and you should confess it to God and move on.
When I was going to be a nun, confession turned into counselling sessons. We’d discuss behaviors or thoughts that would keep me further away from my relationship with Jesus. As an adult, you can say, “I said a bad word 8 times” but it is more like, " I aM getting angry more with my sister and have started using some bad words." You need guidance with how to deal with your sister. Look for Jesus in all creation. Take a deep breath and make your sister’s bed this week and make it a prayer. Train your mind to say,I am glad God gave me you as a sister. Spiritual maturity is what you are looking for.
Jeremiah 29 / 11 I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU, RACHEL. IT IS A PLAN FOR GOOD AND NOT FOR EVIL. IT HAS A FUTURE AND A PROMISE.
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
May God bless you today and all your life. May you know the feel of His loving prescence. May you be able to stand before the cross and feel"CLEAN BEFORE THE LORD, I STAND".
In Christ’s love
Tweedlealice 🙂
 
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