Masterbation, pornography, and confession

[Trela]

Hi. I’m not new, I have a different account here at CAF but i created another specifically to ask these questions. I’m to ashamed to ask on my other

I’m planning on going to confession soon, and I have many mortal sins on my soul. I wanted to clear up whether i would have to confess them.

1. I’ve missed mass even when i had the opportunity to attend.
2. I’ve taken the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin.
3. I’ve masturbated. Do I have to be specific here? As to how often or how many times? Honestly, too many to count can I just say that?
4. I’ve watched pornography. Do I also have to be specific here? As to what kind? Because I’ve watched straight porn along with gay porn. Do I have to mention both?

Thank you. To be clear, I’m not trolling or anything. I’m being completely serious and I know i can always come here for answers and prayers.

Thank you all.

 

[JRKH]

Yes you must confess these.

As to specificity - you do not need a lot of detail.
“I masturbated - Many times”
“I watched porn - Many times”
Should be sufficient. If your confessor needs more information - he will ask.

The important thing to remember here though is that the underlying sin - the one that leads to these others is “Lust”…Ask your confessor for advice, reading materials, and other things that might help you to overcome this problem.

The one that ultimately worked for me was this:
I developed a “visual prayer”…After all, if we can “visualize” toward lust - why not “visualize” away from it…
So I prayed, “Father, take me to the foot of the cross”, and then began thinking, visualizing myself there. Gazing on the scene of teh one who died for my sins.
Hot, dry, dusty day.
The foot of the cross buried in the ground.
The wood of the cross stained black from blood and sweat.
The feet of our Lord.
Filthy and stained and dripping blood and sweat.
I did this - I put Him there - Not alone - but I helped.
Every time I sin, it is increases His pain.
If I refrain, it eases His pain.
Feel the heat of that day, the dryness of the air.
How thirsty He is…
…and so on…

How could I possibly sin while standing at the foot of the cross.

Peace
James

 

[triumphguy]

Good post!

 

[Bookcat]

Hi. I’m not new, I have a different account here at CAF but i created another specifically to ask these questions. I’m to ashamed to ask on my other

I’m planning on going to confession soon, and I have many mortal sins on my soul. I wanted to clear up whether i would have to confess them.

1. I’ve missed mass even when i had the opportunity to attend. Yes in terms of Sunday or Holy Days of obligation–and confess how many times
2. I’ve taken the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin.Yes confess that and how many times
3. I’ve masturbated. Do I have to be specific here? As to how often or how many times? Honestly, too many to count can I just say that? One is to confess all mortal sins in number and kind and circumstance that changes the nature of the sin such as “it was my brother I murdered”.

I accuse myself of “Masturbation 2x” there are some other words one can choose but the Priest needs to know what it is not just a general term like “impurity” and the number is according to what you know after you examine – so if you now it was 5x you must say that-- if you know only that it was around 8-12 times one says that, if one knows it was “at least 20 but likely more” one says that…if one knows it was 2-3 times a month for the last 10 years one says that…sometimes one only knows it was many times or a few times…we are to confess the number --but may approximate according to what we know if we do not know the number.

1. I’ve watched pornography. Do I also have to be specific here? As to what kind? Because I’ve watched straight porn along with gay porn. Do I have to mention both?
   The Priest has heard it all…do not give unnecessary details though. As to this question – not sure what to say exactly --but the Priest can guide you (though I will add if a person was having homosexual thoughts or engaging things from that aspect that seems to be something mention–the Priest can guide you.)

Thank you. To be clear, I’m not trolling or anything. I’m being completely serious and I know i can always come here for answers and prayers.

Thank you all.

From Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers jimmyakin.com/2007/03/specific_confes.html

(also note from the Catechism etc what a mortal sin is…and if something is doubtful --one mentions that aspect if one confesses it)

(and note too venial sins need not be confessed or in number if they are…I note this for general info)

 

[Trela]

Thank you all so much! James, I was just about to sin again and your post stopped me cold…thank you.

Please pray that God grants me the grace to overcome.

 

[JRKH]

Thank you all so much! James, I was just about to sin again and your post stopped me cold…thank you.

Please pray that God grants me the grace to overcome.

Praise God.

Peace
James

 

[holyghost]

Please pray that God grants me the grace to overcome.

I will keep you in my prayers tonight…but you must continuously pray for yourself as well. These sins require act of will on your part. Praise to Lord Jesus Christ.