Scrupulosity and Sanctifying Grace

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Hello. I thought I’d post this for those who are suffering from scrupulosity and afraid that they’re constantly not in the state of grace. Karl Rahner makes excellent points in his encyclopedia article “Contrition” in Sacromentum Mundi (which I am going to summarize while putting words in his mouth). In any form of contrition (imperfect or perfect), there is detestation of sin committed with the resolution not to sin again. This will to sin no more consequently involves the will to live by God’s commandments (including the commandment to love God with one’s whole heart.) Loving God with one’s whole heart cannot be done without the theological virtue of charity, which restores in man sanctifying grace. Therefore, even in imperfect contrition, there must be the will to love God above all things. How does the will to love God that takes place in imperfect contrition differ from actually loving God that takes place within perfect contrition? Clearly there is a development in time involved between the will to love God and actively loving God. However, I think it can be shown that anyone who is actively being obedient to the will of God (and consequently loving Him with all your heart) is in the state of grace.
We have an obligation to confess all mortal sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but not we’re not obligated to confess anything that might be a sin. Doubtful sins don’t need to be confessed. There is no need to confess a doubtful sin just to experience the feeling of security of absolution in case you believe you only have imperfect contrition. I hope this theological reflection helps.
 
I am newly Confirmed Catholic, having been Confirmed last year, and I really have trouble seeing whether I have committed a mortal sin, I do sometimes tend to sin knowingly, actually it is eating things im not meant to like junk food, so I try not to do that but then I lose my self control and do it. Then I think that is a mortal sin because I have done it knowingly, so I go to Confession. But this sin plagues me a lot and I find myself having to go to Confession more than once a week, I obviously need to talk to my SD about this, as I am concerned because I may be scrupulous, or I may actually need to go to Confession whenever I do this. I was told by a Priest once that once you confess something you dont have to confess it again, that doesnt seem right :confused:

I feel like Im always in a state that I dont want to sin, then it just overcomes me and I start planning my next trip to the confessional. Am I scrupulous I dont know. Is there some sort of guide, to me it seems I am committing mortal sin by eating things I know I shouldnt. 😦
 
I just spoke to my SD and he said its not exactly a mortal sin because Im not binge eating severely, he said that its an imperfection I need to work on.
 
Hi Christine,

It’s hard for me to say whether you’re scrupulous or not; that’s probably something better determined after a talk with a priest. However, in this case, you’re worrying too much. Just eating something you’re not supposed to isn’t grave matter. It would become mortal if, say, you were diabetic and deliberately ate a giant piece of cake, knowing it would seriously injure your health. But just giving in to urges to eat junk food is not mortal, unless you’re eating until you feel disgustingly nauseous or throw up.

I think what that priest meant when he said that once you confess something, you don’t have to confess it again, is that if you committed one single mortal sin, and then confessed it and received forgiveness, you don’t have to confess that particular sin again. However, if you commit the same kind of sin again, you do have to confess that commission of the sin, because it’s a separate sin. I hope that was clear…

Have you tried finding a good examination of conscience and just sticking to that when you make your confession? It might save you some worry about whether or not something is actually a sin.
 
Brown10985 said:
Hello. I thought I’d post this for those who are suffering from scrupulosity and afraid that they’re constantly not in the state of grace. Karl Rahner makes excellent points in his encyclopedia article “Contrition” in Sacromentum Mundi (which I am going to summarize while putting words in his mouth). In any form of contrition (imperfect or perfect), there is detestation of sin committed with the resolution not to sin again. This will to sin no more consequently involves the will to live by God’s commandments (including the commandment to love God with one’s whole heart.) Loving God with one’s whole heart cannot be done without the theological virtue of charity, which restores in man sanctifying grace. Therefore, even in imperfect contrition, there must be the will to love God above all things. How does the will to love God that takes place in imperfect contrition differ from actually loving God that takes place within perfect contrition? Clearly there is a development in time involved between the will to love God and actively loving God. However, I think it can be shown that anyone who is actively being obedient to the will of God (and consequently loving Him with all your heart) is in the state of grace.
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While it is true that one who has the grace of perfect contrition yes is restored to the grace prior to confession (though they need to confess actual mortal sins prior to Communion -noting too of course that those who struggle with scruples often have unfounded fears in this area and should listen to their regular confessor)… while this is certainly true --* imperfect contrition* though does not involve the return to the state of grace until the reception of the Sacrament of Confession (see CCC).

(And while we are avoid presumption we are to also have confidence in God -even knowing that he can even give us special grace even in the last moment of life. So even those who do not yet have perfect contrition and have not yet made it to confession are to live in hope and turn to Christ …and of course seek confession)

As to being in the state of grace…those with scruples need to as noted have a “regular confessor”. Also they will do well to remember that in order to commit a mortal sin one needs the three aspects (grave matter, full knowledge and complete consent). They as Christians are indeed given true life in Christ. They are a new creation!

As to undue fear in terms of ones state of grace…let them work with their regular confessor. And the focus rather needs to move- for them especially- to be fixed more and more on Christ who loves them and less on fear.

As St. Jeanne de Arc responded to a question intended to trap her from her judges:

“Asked if she knew that she was in God’s grace, she replied: ‘If I am not, may it please God to put me in it; if I am, may it please God to keep me there.’”

One is to live always in hope and turn trustingly toward the Jesus of Nazareth the Good Shepherd.
 
Christine85 said:
I am newly Confirmed Catholic, having been Confirmed last year, and I really have trouble seeing whether I have committed a mortal sin, I do sometimes tend to sin knowingly, actually it is eating things im not meant to like junk food, so I try not to do that but then I lose my self control and do it. Then I think that is a mortal sin because I have done it knowingly, so I go to Confession. But this sin plagues me a lot and I find myself having to go to Confession more than once a week, I obviously need to talk to my SD about this, as I am concerned because I may be scrupulous, or I may actually need to go to Confession whenever I do this. I was told by a Priest once that once you confess something you dont have to confess it again, that doesnt seem right :confused:

I feel like Im always in a state that I dont want to sin, then it just overcomes me and I start planning my next trip to the confessional. Am I scrupulous I dont know. Is there some sort of guide, to me it seems I am committing mortal sin by eating things I know I shouldnt. 😦
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It may be that you are having (as a new convert) some ‘transitional scruples’. Such can be helpful in a way if they last a short time…but on going scruples can be more problematic for one. So be sure to “nip them in the bud” so they do not continue. (I would suggest getting a regular confessor for the time being perhaps)

As to the question of over eating or eating “junk food”.

Individual acts of overeating…intemperance (gluttony in this sense) are “ordinarily” a “venial matter” for venial sin…

(though it can be grave such as when one is getting drunk where one looses ones reason is mortal for example (or if it leads to other mortal sins)…or if one were “seriously harm ones health or life” --at least in the “short term” that is…like your doctor tells you if you keep eating a whole box of cupcakes and bag of oreos every day – your going to have a heart attack by June…;))

Ones confessor can help in this…(and to start one can tell him what you told us here).

We need to seek to grow in the virtue of temperance…

Catechism:

1806 Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; "the prudent man looks where he is going."65 "Keep sane and sober for your prayers."66 Prudence is “right reason in action,” writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle.67 It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.

1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."73 In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."74
 
Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI
  1. When does one commit a mortal sin?
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
  1. When does one commit a venial sin?
1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
 
Having had the occasion at times to respond to questions from those who struggle with with scruples I will note here a few things in general one can find in theological works on such:

One must distinguish between a scrupulous conscience and a delicate conscience.

A ‘tender conscience or delicate conscience’ sees the finer distinctions and seeks very much to avoid even very small sins …and …who can judge normally between mortal and venial sin…when in doubt is able to make judgments overcoming his doubt by prudence or abide by good advice etc

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”)

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…

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 the regular 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 -and if one is mistaken here one it not on you for a it can be the case that those who are scrupulous are in a “different boat” that others.) etc

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

When scruples arise --turn to God and let the 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.
 
Thank you for the responses I much appreciate your insights, I will see a regular Confessor and I have one in mind who is great!!! I certainly dont want to see myself become a scrupulous mess!!! I can see how it is not good for anyone. At first I thought to myself I would rather be scrupulous than live in mortal sin, but then I have realized that some things I consider mortal sin arent even mortal sin. I suppose not coming from a practicing Catholic background could be reason for this, as I assume people who are “cradle Catholics” were taught from a young age how to examine their conscience according to Church teachings on mortal sin. I will also talk to my Spiritual Director about how to make a good examination of conscience without falling into accusing myself always of mortal sin. I know it is becoming a problem when I go to Confession more than once a week. I know people who go to Confession every day, I know some Saints did that, I even heard that JPII did, I wonder if they were being scrupulous or just wanted to be sure. Surely one could not commit a mortal sin daily.😊
 
Great to hear that you’re planning to find a confessor! This is a good plan!
I know people who go to Confession every day, I know some Saints did that, I even heard that JPII did, I wonder if they were being scrupulous or just wanted to be sure. Surely one could not commit a mortal sin daily.
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The difference between these people and scrupulous people is that the former have great peace about going to confession, and do it out of a simple desire to grow closer to God. The latter go because they are anxious about sin and afraid of hell; they don’t have the right perspective on this sacrament. I hope that makes sense!
 
Hi all
I went to confession today and all seemed great. Then when my friend had to show me something on youtube I was a little troubled, because he wanted to show me a scene from Harry potter that could serve as a great example for my class project. I know it’s considered stealing if you watch a movie clip thats not uploaded by the original owners (even if the uploader says ‘I don’t own anything’).
Yet I watched the clip because I had to know what example he was talking about. And I admit I did enjoy it, even though I was doing so regretibly. So…is it a mortal sin? :confused:
 
Brown10985 said:
We have an obligation to confess all mortal sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but not we’re not obligated to confess anything that might be a sin. Doubtful sins don’t need to be confessed.

Being scrupulous, this is a topic that I’m familiar with. What exactly constitutes a doubtful sin? How can we judge with sufficient certainty?

What do people think of this link which provides some distinction?
books.google.com/books?id=jDQQAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA180&lpg=PA180&dq=doubtful+sins+confession&source=bl&ots=ULV2XIK93v&sig=KVz8RelIVjxe5S8Imcpxw6Vbq24&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JZu-T52NOOOwsgLOh6TRCQ&ved=0CFEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=doubtful%20sins%20confession&f=false
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