Scrupulosity: Is It a Sin? Am I Forgiven?

[obvious_ron]

Who here struggles with scrupulosity? For most of my life, there were many times when I would leave the confessional with no sense of having been forgiven along with feeling just as guilty as I did before I confessed. I don’t recognize it so much today.

With scrupulous thinking and a constant state of guilt came despair. Even if I knew I was forgiven, if I fell into the same habitual sins that I still struggle with today, I would despair. I’d figure that there’s no way these sins and the temptations leading up to them can be overcome. After that, I’d wonder about the point of going to confession at all.

Along with all this, I still skim over and promptly forget about a particular phrase in then act of contrition that I pray each time I go to confession: with Your help. My despair and guilt stem from thinking that I’m in this alone. They stem from forgetting that the same God against whom I sin is the same God who helps me to overcome said sins.

 

[Vico]

there’s no way these sins and the temptations leading up to them can be overcome

That idea is false, so it should be recognized as false. It is through supernatural grace that our will is strengthened in each act of resistance to any temptation to sin.

Remember that the temptation before the fall of Adam and Eve began with a question: Gen 3:1 “Why hath God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?” And that Jesus said to the tempter: Matt 4:7 “Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

 

[clarkgamble1]

I think you would benefit more from psychiatric advice than anything you would get here. Jesus said of priests, …“whose sins you forgive they are forgiven…” If you believe that then your worries are needless.

 

[obvious_ron]

I should have clarified. These sins and temptations cannot be overcome without God’s help. Thus my skimming over the phrase “with Your help” and thinking I have to do it solely from my efforts.

 

[Vico]

I should have clarified. These sins and temptations cannot be overcome without God’s help. Thus my skimming over the phrase “with Your help” and thinking I have to do it solely from my efforts.

Good. Well also if we fall into mortal sin, we cannot have the expectation that grace will save us until we repent.

 

[simonjosiah1]

the rosary should help with this.

 

[goodcatholic]

I’m a weird mix of scrupulosity and backsliding deliberate sinfulness. Goes in cycles. Ignore God for days. Come back to Him. Repent. Then spend hours trying to purify and go to the nth to rid myself of toxic thoughts. Then start again.

 

[Kei]

If you were alone, indeed it would be impossible. But you aren’t. This all matters if and only if we have the LORD, and we do. He helps us. Jesus Christ, our Lord, knows the pains of hard work. Our Lord too was tempted, but He did not sin. He knew death, but is not dead. He gives life, and life to the fullest. Focus not on merely avoiding sin. Of course, avoid it. But focus on serving God.

 

[BlackFriar]

You are exhibiting significant scrupulosity here.
This forum cannot help you because you have a mild mental condition not a rational question that any answer can solve - certainly not by amateurs who don’t know you.

If you do not have a regular spiritual director you need to choose one and not come here with your issues. Trust in what he says and don’t gainsay him on a CAF forum.

Any other answer here is simply aiding and abetting your condition.

A support group would be good but I don’t think CAF can help you much there, at least not in the Liturgy/Sacraments section.
God bless.