Overcoming Scrupulosity....Help?

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Focus on GOD’s mercy. Read all the verses in the Bible on GOD’s mercy - especially the Psalms - and memorize some that you feel good about. Find articles and books that talk about GOD’s mercy. Stop focusing on your behavior and focus on GOD’s behavior of mercy to sinners. We all sin, no one is worthy and being scrupulous does not make you any more or less unworthy than the rest of us sinner. Therefore, don’t put your hope and trust in living well, living good, living sin free and being scrupulous about that goal, instead live to hope in GOD’s mercy, HIS charity which HE gives freely to those who believe in HIM and HIS mercy.

Change your mental position to look to GOD and not unto yourself.

And do not reply to this with a “but” or “if” or “however”, just meditate on GOD’s mercy.
 
Julian0404 said:
Focus on GOD’s mercy. Read all the verses in the Bible on GOD’s mercy - especially the Psalms - and memorize some that you feel good about. Find articles and books that talk about GOD’s mercy. Stop focusing on your behavior and focus on GOD’s behavior of mercy to sinners. We all sin, no one is worthy and being scrupulous does not make you any more or less unworthy than the rest of us sinner. Therefore, don’t put your hope and trust in living well, living good, living sin free and being scrupulous about that goal, instead live to hope in GOD’s mercy, HIS charity which HE gives freely to those who believe in HIM and HIS mercy.

Change your mental position to look to GOD and not unto yourself.

And do not reply to this with a “but” or “if” or “however”, just meditate on GOD’s mercy.
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Thanks! I’ll try! GBU! ~ PP
 
TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH SCRUPULOSITY
  1. Do not repeat prayers, no matter how badly they may have been prayed, even if the prayers were given to you as a penance during the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
  2. Do not repeat the confession of sins that have already been confessed and which have never been re-committed.
  3. If you doubt the earnestness of your sorrow in Confession, consider the sorrow as having been adequate.
  4. If you are doubtful as to whether a past action committed was sinful, mention it simply to your confessor.
  5. If you are worrying that maybe you never confessed a certain sin from your past, consider it confessed. If you know for a fact that you have never confessed that sin, then confess it simply. The Holy Spirit does not torment us with doubts and/or guilt; rather, He always brings peace as He awakens our conscience to our sins.
    (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11: “Indeed, sorrow for God’s sake produces a repentance without regrets, leading to salvation, whereas worldly sorrow brings death. Just look at the fruit of this sorrow which stems from God. What a measure of holy zeal it has brought you.”)
  6. Examine your conscience for no longer than three minutes each day, and for no longer than about ten minutes before you go to Confession.
  7. If you have prayed at the time of temptation, you can be sure you did not commit a mortal sin.
  8. If you have a history of scrupulosity, and you have made a General Confession at some time in your past, do not make another General Confession. Once a month is a good norm for the frequency of a regular Confession.
  9. If possible, go to Confession to the same confessor-priest.
10.Most importantly, cultivate a humble heart by complete obedience to the direction of your confessor. Be patient with yourself. Love is the goal of all our lives. It is important to remember that scrupulosity usually (and, quite often, ultimately) stems from one’s personal pride or arrogance, as though the scrupulous person holds this personal opinion: “I have a higher norm than most normal people.”

Fr. Wade L. J. Menezes, CPM
The Fathers of Mercy
806 Shaker Museum Road Auburn, KY 42206
 
Well…to be more specific. I’m obsessing over mortal sins I committed 4yrs ago! I’ve been to Confession but I seem to always find something wrong with it. for example: I’m obsessing over the fact the Priest forgot to give me a penance and I forgot to ask him for one! stuff like that! :o And I fear I’ll end up in hell one day! GBU! 🙂
 
The Scrupulous Anonymous website is fantastic- it helped me a lot!
mission.liguori.org/newsletters/archives.htm#SA

Just a few small tidbits of advice from one who has struggled with scrupulosity herself:

*focus on God’s saving mercy and on Him, not yourself; scrupulocity pulls us always inward, always looking at ourselves, weighing and measuring our souls- we are not equipped to do this, only God is. Focus on God and love of neighbor instead of always looking at yourself;
*offer up your suffering from scrupulosity - it is truly a suffering, and giving it to Jesus does help yourself and others.
*remember that we can’t save ourselves- only God can do this, and trying to be “perfect” all of the time- making a “perfect” confession, saying our “perfect” prayers, etc is very self destructive. Go to God as you are and believe in His love, mercy, forgiveness, and His ability to love you as you are and His ability to covert you from where ever you are spirititually to where ever you need to be.

Prayers for you!
 
Hi Polishprincess,

I am sorry you battle this difficult problem. It is a difficult battle within your own mind. I’m sure if you had a physical ailment it may be easier because you could see it and knew what you were fighting. I would pick up a copy of “The Doubting Disease” online, by Joseph Ciarrochi (sp.?). It will help.

If you are doubting whether your mortal sin was absolved, it certainly was. We have to remember the priest is imperfect too and he will not always give a “perfect confession.” This is why we just have to put all of our trust in the Lord’s Hands. Whenever I have the same problem (doubting my sin is truly absolved), I just whisper Jesus’ name and say “trust” “trust” “trust.”

Is there a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel near you? Spend time there!!! That is my advice.

And if you do start to get anxious, remember, we can offer all of our anxious thoughts up to God for the Poor Souls of Purgatory. In fact, as soon as you start to have troubled thinking, say, “God, I’m thinking about my sins again so I want to offer up my anxiety for the Poor Souls.” And then God takes it and it is removed from you. Best of luck to you. May you find peace.
 
Polish Princess, if you have a printer, print this out pamphlets.org.au/australia/acts0784.html. It is an old pamphlet on scrupulosity that is excellent.

I suffer from scruples too. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Thank you to everyone who posted here as I found some help for myself as well.
 
You learn something new each day.

I finally discovered today why I never feel any interior peace. It is on account of scruples.
 
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