My Confession

[C794]

During confession I confessed a sin (ocurred twice) that may have implied something about me that wasn’t true. It invloved an unfair oppinion and bad motives for thinking it. Since I often correct my self when this came up I wouldn’t normally confess it and I doubt it was mortal. Of the two I mentioned today, I’m most unsure of the second, since I cannot recall my thought process exactly and am most bothered by the reasons that caused it to come up – they are truly bad. I do think I was unhappy with the fact I thought it and was trying to counter it ( as I speak of thoughts I want to mention these are different than intrusive thoughts that are associated with OCD) and if it weren’t for a completely different sin I’m sure I’d have received the Eucharist that day.

As a result of not wanting to imply anything about myself, I gave two counter examples to prove otherwise. Does this count as lying in confession? I don’t think what I said was untrue in its self; I guess the second instance of this sin – the most worisome – wouldn’t appear sinful after I gave the examples – I don’t think I meant to do this; I just realized it as I type. I don’t remember how I came up with the first example, it may have been specifically for that confession or something I thought of as I thought about the situation. The second example is one of the most clear aspects of my thought process during the second instance of the sin, which was the instance both examples applied to.

So was my confession valid? If I’m being scrupulous just type scruples or something. I’ll be meeting with my confessor soon to come up with a new approach towards dealing with this and I have been trying to follow the advice on Scrupulous Anonymous. I don’t want to wait to talk to him because I’m embarrassed about this situation and would like to not have to bring it up again.

 

[marydaze]

I think you might be worrying about it a bit too much, but, in the future, be more blunt. Try saying “I don’t want you to think x about me, so just to clarify, x” (fill in the blank with whatever it is you want to say.) Be blunt so there will be no room for worry or wondering later on. I find it is better to express something by saying it rather than by saying something else that hopefully will imply it. Hope this helps.

 

[C794]

Thanks for the reply; it did help.

My problem isn’t so much a lack of bluntness, but that I feel what I said could have diminished the gravity of the sins and been done with some intent to achieve that end. Since everything I said was true – as far as I know; I don’t think I’d have intentionally lied-- and I didn’t worry about this for a couple of minutes after confession, I’d assume I’m fine unless someone told me otherwise (I feel like asking to make sure is a good idea). Still I’d normally leave out the things I said for clarification due to this worry; I don’t trust myself in these matters and feel it’s best to keep out all doubt. I think leaving this information out was my original plan prior to confession. Granted I did plan these things out before going.

There was a third instance I could have offered as clarification during confession, that I chose to leave out because I thought it wasn’t something I should mention. It was very close to one of the things I said, the one that happens to cause me the most concern.

 

[C794]

Sorry for the double post, but I realized that my posts weren’t clears and so decided I should clarify.

The short version is that while confessing a sin, I added some non essential information that could have – and likely did – make the sin appear less grave. This was done out of embarassment about what the priest may think about me. Everything I said in confession was true, but I question my intent in saying all that I did.

 

[marydaze]

Well, either way you confessed the sin, the priest heard it, the end result is the same. Whatever you feel in your heart is all that matters. confess to God if you feel like you sinned while confessing your sin, but also forgive yourself a little bit…God doesn’t want you to worry about these things this much I would guess. Just ask for forgiveness of God yourself if you feel you need to but then let the matter go. You had all other sins absolved the last time you went to confession, so there is no need to worry about it anymore.

 

[C794]

Thanks for the reply; you’re right. Honestly, I don’t even think these sins were mortal – they wouldn’t have stopped me from receiving the Eucharist. My problem was that, while I’ll make the mortal/venial distinction before Mass, I won’t before confession – at that time I just assume most sins are mortal, especially if I’m embarrassed by them.