Resolving to confess and goign to communion

[revelations]

I have just recently returned from confession. As a recent convert to the faith, I am fairly new to confession. It feels almost as if i have been going once a week, usually for the same sin: masturbation.

It isn’t something that i want to do anymore, but it happens. I go to confession, then i go to mass. I consider it to be a mortal sin, and I do believe that the teaching of the church is that it is a mortal sin irregardless of circumstance or habit. I like to go to confession to know 100% for certain that it’s taken care of.

Today, the priest who was giving confessions mentioned that i shouldn’t let this sin stop me from attending communion. I asked for clarification, and he said so long as i have resolved to go to confession at some time in the future i shouldn’t let this sin stop me from receiving communion. Upon clarification, he said that it is not something he would preach from the pulpit, but in this pastoral situation it is something he felt he should say.

I’m still going to confess this every time it happens, and i still regard it to be a mortal sin that i have to confess before i can receive.

This priest is a pretty good one, but this just didn’t sit well with me. What do you guys think? Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[zjl56]

A priest is supposed to be a moral guide, and I think you should entrust his specific judgment to his subject. I think when he said “this isn’t something I would teach from the pulpit” he was trying to express that he couldn’t give a good answer to every random person, but he could to you because you have met with him.
This is something I have had troubles with this, and have gone with your opinion for so long. But, it can easily lead to despair and falling away from the Church. The best option in your case is to follow your priest’s guidance, and to not worry yourself into despair. It is my personal opinion in that one should receive communion if you are trying your hardest against the sin.

 

[jmcrae]

Receiving Holy Communion is actually one of the best remedies against sexual sin, under certain circumstances, so if he has advised that you receive Holy Communion even in situations where you haven’t had a chance to go to Confession yet, (for example, on a week-day) then you should go ahead and follow his advice.

 

[rwoehmke]

If you go to this same priest regularly, I am thinking this is one of those situations where an ingrained habit limits culpability. He did not try to say it was not a sin. That might be his discernment in your particular situation and would not necessarily apply to the next guy confessing the same sin. That does not mean you are off the hook and are not required to continue working on breaking that habit.

 

[revelations]

First off thank you for the replies everyone, very much appreciated.

Yes, we both agreed it was still a sin and he said that if deep in my heart i still felt I just couldn’t go to communion (which is the way i feel) that i should go to confession then i should. I still regard it a mortal sin, no matter how ingrained the habit is (a great deal).

I will still try my best not to sin though, so as to avoid the potential situation thanks everyone

 

[teachccd]

First off thank you for the replies everyone, very much appreciated.

Yes, we both agreed it was still a sin and he said that if deep in my heart i still felt I just couldn’t go to communion (which is the way i feel) that i should go to confession then i should. I still regard it a mortal sin, no matter how ingrained the habit is (a great deal).

I will still try my best not to sin though, so as to avoid the potential situation thanks everyone

Most people never see themselves as they actually are. Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves and feel that we are really bad when we’re not and sometimes we are too easy on ourselves and feel that we are just fine when we are really not. That’s where a good confessor comes in. He allows you to discern where in the spectrum of culpability you stand. If he sees that you are o.k. to receive the Eucharist then by all means follow his advice. He sees that you are being to hard on yourself with your indiviual circumstances and sees your improvement. Jesus did not give us the Eucharist as a reward for being good. No one is worthy to receive God. Albeit that mortal sin does exist and does sever our relationship with God, your confessor sees that perhaps your culpability is lessened and that the Eucharist is your source of strength to fight this battle. I struggle with the same issue and I have deprived myself the Eucharist contrary to my confessors advice. Then I have to wonder; is the same Lord in the confessional giving me the wrong advice about how I should meet Him in the Eucharist? Is the priest “in persona Christi” in the confessional or am I distorting my confessor to comfort my fears? Jesus knows you and meets you in the Sacraments. Those who have ears ought to hear…You are in my prayers. Please keep me in yours…teachccd