Scrupulous conscience?

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coolduude

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Hi there,

What are some traits of scrupulosity? I fear I may have a minor form of it. Otherwise, I just have a very good conscience.

If details are needed, please ask.

Thank you,
coolduude
 
It would help to know what is making you think you are scrupulous.

Anyway, some of the traits are: thinking everything is a sin, thinking minor sins are really mortal sins, worrying about promises and vows that one may or may not have made, worrying about the validity of one’s confessions and making one general confession after another to set things right (even though it never helps), fearing that changing one’s mind is sinful because it makes what you said previously into a lie, suffering with intrusive thoughts, usually impure or blasphemous, and worrying that one is committing sins when he is truly only being tempted.

Sometimes questions of conscience arise because of poor or missing formation about sin and morality. What may appear to be scrupulosity can be “cured” by education.

At other times, scrupulosity is a religious manifestation of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Google that, since we can’t do anything that looks like giving medical advice. OCD is treated with medications and talk therapy, and the scrupulosity usually gets controlled along with it.

Does this help?

Betsy
 
Oh, and the means to manage it: choosing one and only one confessor, preferably a priest experienced and confident in dealing with scruples, and then being completely obedient to him in everything concerning sin and conscience. Sometimes you may be asked to do something that would be wrong for a person with a healthy conscience. The rules are different for scrupulous people. Obedience to your priest in confession, no matter what he tells you to help you get better, is pleasing to God.

Betsy
 
Thanks for the great advice Betsy.

Here’s what made me post:

Well my girlfriend and I fooled around the other day (no, not sex) but it was a mortal sin nonetheless. So I went to Confession today and felt much better. However, I think I’m back in mortal sin because my girlfriend brought up ways to pleasure me more. I asked how and she responded. After that we dropped the conversation. However, I feel as if I lusted and committed another mortal sin. So now I’m barred from the Eucharist until I can get to Confession again 😦 I’m already kicking myself for such a dumb move.

Please, no one lecture me on being chaste. We (my girlfriend and I) really are trying now to turn things around and be better people. We already know what to do, now we just have to do it. Please don’t go off on me. Thank you.

Hope that information helps!
 
Well, that just sounds like you’re careful. If you start worrying about things like simply thinking about your girlfriend in a romantic but not overtly sexual way, then you might be slipping into scruples.

Now, you might run into some people and even priests who might be quite lax about sexual matters. These people might label you scrupulous, but don’t be put off by that.

Good for you for working at living holy purity.

Betsy
 
coolduude said:
Yes, this does help. What a great guy Fr. Doyle was! 😃

However, I still fear I commited a mortal sin. I suppose I won’t get Communion this upcoming weekend :o
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It’s only Wednesday! There’s plenty of time to get to Confession before then. If you can’t go at the regular time, call and make an appointment!
 
baltobetsy said:
At other times, scrupulosity is a religious manifestation of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Google that, since we can’t do anything that looks like giving medical advice. OCD is treated with medications and talk therapy, and the scrupulosity usually gets controlled along with it.
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PS: if the Scrupulosity is from OCD…the single confessor etc directed towards the scruples part of things…is still important even if the person is on medication etc…
 
Make sure you get a good confessor to work with you…he can direct you. And tell you what principles to follow or not to follow perhaps.

(of course if he says something manifestly against the Church or something…like sex before marriage is ok …change confessors…)
 
PS: if you have committed a mortal sin…make a perfect act of Contrition out of love…an call a Priest to make a confession as soon as possible…
 
Bookcat said:
PS: if you have committed a mortal sin…make a perfect act of Contrition out of love…an call a Priest to make a confession as soon as possible…
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Good point.

But I suppose that I question if I committed a mortal sin in the first place. If that makes sense. :o 😦
 
baltobetsy said:
It would help to know what is making you think you are scrupulous.

Anyway, some of the traits are: thinking everything is a sin, thinking minor sins are really mortal sins, worrying about promises and vows that one may or may not have made, worrying about the validity of one’s confessions and making one general confession after another to set things right (even though it never helps), fearing that changing one’s mind is sinful because it makes what you said previously into a lie, suffering with intrusive thoughts, usually impure or blasphemous, and worrying that one is committing sins when he is truly only being tempted.

Sometimes questions of conscience arise because of poor or missing formation about sin and morality. What may appear to be scrupulosity can be “cured” by education.

At other times, scrupulosity is a religious manifestation of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Google that, since we can’t do anything that looks like giving medical advice. OCD is treated with medications and talk therapy, and the scrupulosity usually gets controlled along with it.

Does this help?

Betsy
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Wow! Your response made em feel alot better. I would leave confession and almost immediately feel as if I needed to return to the confessional. Your response cleared alot of my misconceptions up. I would almost to a point become depressed because of impure thoughts and other things that I never acted upon. Thanks a bunch!
 
LARSCOUT0311 said:
Wow! Your response made em feel alot better. I would leave confession and almost immediately feel as if I needed to return to the confessional. Your response cleared alot of my misconceptions up. I would almost to a point become depressed because of impure thoughts and other things that I never acted upon. Thanks a bunch!
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😃 Glad to help. Now, find yourself a good confessor and start working on getting better!
 
coolduude said:
Good point.

But I suppose that I question if I committed a mortal sin in the first place. If that makes sense. :o 😦
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Yes is does…such is often the very nature of scruples. So if you have a difficulty with such.

This is one reason why getting a regular confessor can help. So ask one …and he may know another Priest who has a lot of experience with this that he can send you too instead.
 
LARSCOUT0311 said:
I would almost to a point become depressed because of impure thoughts and other things that I never acted upon. Thanks a bunch!
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I would note …that one can still sin via impure thoughts…without ANY acting upon them.

I mean one can sin mortally in ones mind…just ones thoughts …

But it is true that just cause “thoughts” happen to one …does not mean one has committed ANY sin. If one did not consent for example…

(but see my post on thoughts…that can make things clearer)
 
I used to be affected by a over-scrupulous constitution, when I was about 14. I was even told by several people, including a priest, I was overly-scrupulous.

I think it’s part of one’s personal process in growing in faith and in knowing yourself. However, now that I’m 25, I wish I found more time to go.

If you are able to, try to find active parishes that offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, if you aren’t working with a singular confessor already. I know where I live in Chicago, there are several parishes in the city that offer Confession during parts of the day during the week, and also before and after weekend Masses. It’s not the best way to deal with scruples nor confessing mortal sins, but if you feel the strong desire to confess, then seek out what’s available to you at that time.
 
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