Mortal Sin? :-/

[Nov1411]

I think I might be scrupulous (I worry that pretty much everything I think, say, do or don’t do is in some way a sin). I think I read somewhere that scrupulosity is a grave sin. Is it?

Since receiving Communion while in a state of Mortal Sin is a grave matter itself, should I confess my scruples before receiving again? I’ve already received twice since realizing that scrupulosity might be a Mortal Sin (but I did say an Act of Contrition before each time). Was that sacrilege?

 

[Bookcat]

One must distinguish between a scrupulous conscience (or rather a conscience beset by scruples) and a delicate conscience.

A ‘tender conscience or delicate conscience’ sees the finer distinctions and seeks very much to avoid even very small sins …

As for scruples…or scrupulosity

Scruples or those who are even of a higher degree of scrupulosity take venial sin to be mortal…or non sins to be sins…or are plagued by doubts…unreasonable fears/anxieties about sins…seeing them or fearing them where they need not…etc etc

The french call it the doubting disease (though it is not a disease) for one has lot of problems knowing one knows…thus with “doubt” (or more often rather “apparent doubt” not doubt in ordinary sense…more fears…)

Of course there are degrees and it is possible for a person to have generally a delicate conscience or a normal conscience and still have a struggle with scruples in certain areas…or to have very transient scruples at the time of their conversion …

and a person may go from one to the other…

one combats scruples with a good regular confessor…(age old approach!)

by forming ones conscience…(with such as the Catechism etc)

and with the confessors guidance acting against ones scruples…

possibly by general principles given often historically by confessors to deal with scruples

by prayer…

by trust and joy in living the Christian life…(not necessarily “emotional” by the way)

With the help of your confessor:

Contra scruplos agendum est, et fixo operis pede certandum

(Act contrary to scruples and with a firm foot overcome them)

Overcoming ones scruples…ones fears with a “firm foot”. Learning to act against them under the guidance of your confessor. Dismiss them. Not argue with them. (for example ones confessor says…“unless you are certain you have committed a mortal sin…go to communion”…and you feel the fear and the doubts and the worries at the time of communion “but perhaps I committed one…?” you tell yourself “I am not certain of any mortal sins and my confessor told me to go” and you act against your fears and go to Communion! or ones confessor says regarding old past sins “only confess old sins if you are certain it was a mortal sin and certain you have not confessed it…(such is often the advice for those who are scrupulous)” one does just that ) etc

(in a way one needs be “scrupulous” about attending to ones scruples…)

When scruples arise --turn to God and let it pass by.

Scruples are to be treated like a barking dog or a hissing goose…one does not stop to argue with a barking dog or a hissing goose does one? (image borrowed from a 15th cent. Carthusian).

They are to be “despised”…“dismissed”…

And again a regular confessor is very important here…in even coming to know what ones scruples are…and then what to dismiss… It is he who can particularly guide a person with these difficulties.

---

 

[1ke]

Scrupulosity is not sin, it is an illness, a compulsion. I’m not sure where you got the idea it was a sin.

I suggest you make an appointment with your priest, discuss your scrupulosity, and set up regular times for spiritual direction and help properly forming your conscience.

 

[Bookcat]

(From previous post I made)

One must distinguish between a scrupulous conscience (or rather a conscience beset by scruples) and a delicate conscience.

A ‘tender conscience or delicate conscience’ sees the finer distinctions and seeks very much to avoid even very small sins …

As for scruples…or scrupulosity

Scruples or those who are even of a higher degree of scrupulosity take venial sin to be mortal…or non sins to be sins…or are plagued by doubts…unreasonable fears/anxieties about sins…seeing them or fearing them where they need not…etc etc

The french call it the doubting disease (though it is not a disease…rather disordered fears etc) for one has lot of problems knowing one knows…thus with “doubt” (or more often rather “apparent doubt” not doubt in ordinary sense…more fears…)

Of course there are degrees and it is possible for a person to have generally a delicate conscience or a normal conscience and still have a struggle with scruples in certain areas…or to have very transient scruples at the time of their conversion …

and a person may go from one to the other…

one combats scruples with a good regular confessor…(age old approach!)

by forming ones conscience…(with such as the Catechism etc)

and with the confessors guidance acting against ones scruples…

possibly by general principles given often historically by confessors to deal with scruples

by prayer…

by trust and joy in living the Christian life…(not necessarily “emotional” by the way)

With the help of your confessor:

Contra scruplos agendum est, et fixo operis pede certandum

(Act contrary to scruples and with a firm foot overcome them)

Overcoming ones scruples…ones fears with a “firm foot”. Learning to act against them under the guidance of your confessor. Dismiss them. Not argue with them. (for example ones confessor says…“unless you are certain you have committed a mortal sin…go to communion”…and you feel the fear and the doubts and the worries at the time of communion “but perhaps I committed one…?” you tell yourself “I am not certain of any mortal sins and my confessor told me to go” and you act against your fears and go to Communion! or ones confessor says regarding old past sins “only confess old sins if you are certain it was a mortal sin and certain you have not confessed it…(such is often the advice for those who are scrupulous)” one does just that ) etc

(in a way one needs be “scrupulous” about attending to ones scruples…)

When scruples arise --turn to God and let it pass by.

Scruples are to be treated like a barking dog or a hissing goose…one does not stop to argue with a barking dog or a hissing goose does one? (image borrowed from a 15th cent. Carthusian).

They are to be “despised”…“dismissed”…

And again a regular confessor is very important here…in even coming to know what ones scruples are…and then what to dismiss… It is he who can particularly guide a person with these difficulties.

 

[Nov1411]

Scrupulosity is not sin, it is an illness, a compulsion. I’m not sure where you got the idea it was a sin.

I suggest you make an appointment with your priest, discuss your scrupulosity, and set up regular times for spiritual direction and help properly forming your conscience.

Okay. Thank you!

 

[Bookcat]

(From previous post I made)

One must distinguish between a scrupulous conscience (or rather a conscience beset by scruples) and a delicate conscience.

A ‘tender conscience or delicate conscience’ sees the finer distinctions and seeks very much to avoid even very small sins …

As for scruples…or scrupulosity

Scruples or those who are even of a higher degree of scrupulosity take venial sin to be mortal…or non sins to be sins…or are plagued by doubts…unreasonable fears/anxieties about sins…seeing them or fearing them where they need not…etc etc

The french call it the doubting disease (though it is not a disease…rather disordered fears etc) for one has lot of problems knowing one knows…thus with “doubt” (or more often rather “apparent doubt” not doubt in ordinary sense…more fears…)

Of course there are degrees and it is possible for a person to have generally a delicate conscience or a normal conscience and still have a struggle with scruples in certain areas…or to have very transient scruples at the time of their conversion …

and a person may go from one to the other…

one combats scruples with a good regular confessor…(age old approach!)

by forming ones conscience…(with such as the Catechism etc)

and with the confessors guidance acting against ones scruples…

possibly by general principles given often historically by confessors to deal with scruples

by prayer…

by trust and joy in living the Christian life…(not necessarily “emotional” by the way)

With the help of your confessor:

Contra scruplos agendum est, et fixo operis pede certandum

(Act contrary to scruples and with a firm foot overcome them)

Overcoming ones scruples…ones fears with a “firm foot”. Learning to act against them under the guidance of your confessor. Dismiss them. Not argue with them. (for example ones confessor says…“unless you are certain you have committed a mortal sin…go to communion”…and you feel the fear and the doubts and the worries at the time of communion “but perhaps I committed one…?” you tell yourself “I am not certain of any mortal sins and my confessor told me to go” and you act against your fears and go to Communion! or ones confessor says regarding old past sins “only confess old sins if you are certain it was a mortal sin and certain you have not confessed it…(such is often the advice for those who are scrupulous)” one does just that ) etc

(in a way one needs be “scrupulous” about attending to ones scruples…)

When scruples arise --turn to God and let it pass by.

Scruples are to be treated like a barking dog or a hissing goose…one does not stop to argue with a barking dog or a hissing goose does one? (image borrowed from a 15th cent. Carthusian).

They are to be “despised”…“dismissed”…

And again a regular confessor is very important here…in even coming to know what ones scruples are…and then what to dismiss… It is he who can particularly guide a person with these difficulties.

 

[Nov1411]

Thank you Bookcat! I appreciate the reply! I’m going to find a regular confessor.