Self-gratification and Communion

[presidentjlh]

Alright, I’m a 17 year old guy. I just went to confession Saturday. Recently (about 3 days ago) I found out masturbation was a mortal sin.

However, it has become such a habit for me, I did it anyway.

Now, I’m faced with a problem: Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I want to take Communion. Can I still take Communion?

 

[ConallCernach]

Try going to confession, perhaps you could phone the priest to make a quick appointment.

 

[presidentjlh]

Try going to confession, perhaps you could phone the priest to make a quick appointment.

They do have confession tomorrow around noon, but I bet my parents would be wondering why I wanted to go to a confession again.

To think I wanted to be cleaned of sin for Christmas and then went and ruined it, I just feel sick to my stomach.

Also, I’m very worried I’ll forget, and I feel very uncomfortable talking about this sin with anyone I know…

I’m scared.

 

[ConallCernach]

They do have confession tomorrow around noon, but I bet my parents would be wondering why I wanted to go to a confession again.

To think I wanted to be cleaned of sin for Christmas and then went and ruined it, I just feel sick to my stomach.

Also, I’m very worried I’ll forget, and I feel very uncomfortable talking about this sin with anyone I know…

I’m scared.

Yeah, it’s definitely something that is hard to fess up to. You should either go to confession, you may just want to explain that you feel it best to go again rather than the specifics, but your parents may wonder why you do not receive the sacrament more so.

Pray to Joseph for intercession for strength to maintain yourself for your spouse, and pray that Mary help you with chastity.

Hope this helps.

 

[presidentjlh]

Yeah, it’s definitely something that is hard to fess up to. You should either go to confession, you may just want to explain that you feel it best to go again rather than the specifics, but your parents may wonder why you do not receive the sacrament more so.

Pray to Joseph for intercession for strength to maintain yourself for your spouse, and pray that Mary help you with chastity.

Hope this helps.

If I forget (Because, trust me, I am very forgetful.) and then take communion, will I be in trouble?

 

[Dauphin]

If I forget (Because, trust me, I am very forgetful.) and then take communion, will I be in trouble?

You may not receive Holy Communion unless in a state of grace.

Go to confession before Mass. Consider the embarrassment involved as a penance, and remember it the next time you want to masturbate.

Also, I have some general advice: pray. Whenever the temptation comes upon you, drop on your knees and pray fervently for God’s assistance. This isn’t something you can overcome yourself.

 

[teachccd]

If I forget (Because, trust me, I am very forgetful.) and then take communion, will I be in trouble?

Not if you truly forget but since this is really a concern chances are that you will not forget. Just go to confession and tell your parents that you need some more direction concerning your last confession. I would not question the frequency of my son’s confession. On the contrary I would praise God that my son can discern when it is necessary. Your parents may be a little more curious but just reassure them that everything is o.k. and that you just need further direction.

If you receive the Eucharist it may or may not be a mortal sin because your acquired force of habit and recent understanding of this sin may lessen your culpablity. But this is not for me to decide. This needs to come from your confessor. Try your best to get to confession tomorrow and give your parents a hug and tell them that you are trying to be the Catholic that they want you to be by celebrating the sacraments and that you will continue to take your faith seriously. This should make them proud and less apt to inquire further…My prayers are with you and remember that this is every man’s battle. Do not despair. With much prayer, and the sacraments you can overcome this habit. Again, I stress that it is not easy but God is on your side. Always turn to Him and you wiill succeed…teachccd

 

[JReducation]

If one really wants to go to confession and cannot do so for legitimate reasons, one can make an act of contrition and a firm resolve to go to confession as soon as possible and receive communion.

The idea is not to abuse the sacrament of the Eucharist by saying that you’ll get around to going to confession and not doing so. That would be a sacrilege.

If there is a real effort to go to confession and there is no real opportunity, then the matter is out of the person’s hands.

JR

 

[fellowChristian]

If it were me I would say…

I was impure with myself.

On a future note…just try to imagine that in choosing to do “that” we would be choosing “that” over Jesus. Also helps to speak with Him more frequently. Develop a relationship with Him then you’ll be more aware that you’re not alone.

May the Lord guide you and be with you always.

 

[presidentjlh]

Hey, thanks everyone, I feel much less worried about it. I told my parents I’m going to another confession, and my mom showed a little concern (she was wondering if something was wrong), but I told her it was a personal matter, and everyone was cool.

I will be sure to get to confession, and if I can’t or I truly forget, say the act of contrition and be sure to get there when I can.

 

[JReducation]

Hey, thanks everyone, I feel much less worried about it. I told my parents I’m going to another confession, and my mom showed a little concern (she was wondering if something was wrong), but I told her it was a personal matter, and everyone was cool.

I will be sure to get to confession, and if I can’t or I truly forget, say the act of contrition and be sure to get there when I can.

Just make sure that you don’t conveniently forget, because that’s cheating.

Merry Christmas!

JR :christmastree1:

 

[teachccd]

Hey, thanks everyone, I feel much less worried about it. I told my parents I’m going to another confession, and my mom showed a little concern (she was wondering if something was wrong), but I told her it was a personal matter, and everyone was cool.

I will be sure to get to confession, and if I can’t or I truly forget, say the act of contrition and be sure to get there when I can.

See? We parents can be pretty cool sometimes. God bless you and have a blessed Christmas…teachccd

 

[Mike_Dye]

Trust me, you shouldn’t be embarrassed at all, Thank Goodness that you are aware enough to realize that you have sinned and want to repent. When I say that you shouldn’t be embarrassed it is because your parents and your confessor and almost everyone you will encounter in life has struggled with the same problem. All God asks is that you do the very best you can. Be at peace and serve God.

 

[edjco]

Also, don’t sweat anyone wondering why you are going to confession. That is improper for anyone to ponder, just as we shouldn’t wonder why someone doesn’t take communion. It’s not anyone’s business.
The great thing is that you realize that it’s a sin, want to confess it and want to work on avoiding it in the future.
There have been a couple of other related threads on this in the last few days, you may want to look them up.

 

[presidentjlh]

Alright, I went to confession. My confessor said that in my case it is venial since it I’m young and it’s a habit, which is nice to know. Of course, I understand that it doesn’t give me leeway to keep the habit going. I have given up pornography about 5 days ago. (Which, so far, has been easier than I thought it would be, but it’s still early), and I really feel better about this whole thing. Now this worry of mine has passed. I am now very, very happy and relieved. Thank you, everyone, for all your help.

 

[JReducation]

Alright, I went to confession. My confessor said that in my case it is venial since it I’m young and it’s a habit, which is nice to know. Of course, I understand that it doesn’t give me leeway to keep the habit going. I have given up pornography about 5 days ago. (Which, so far, has been easier than I thought it would be, but it’s still early), and I really feel better about this whole thing. Now this worry of mine has passed. I am now very, very happy and relieved. Thank you, everyone, for all your help.

You did well. And now you can be more at peace, because you don’t have to panic everytime something like this happens. You make your act of contrition and get to confession when you can without the anxiety.

You still have to work on the habit. That will take time, so don’t get frustrated with yourself. It will be a matter of two steps forward and one back all the way to the end.

Merry Christmas,

JR

 

[edjco]

…and I really feel better about this whole thing. Now this worry of mine has passed. I am now very, very happy and relieved. Thank you, everyone, for all your help.

This quote should appear on a couple of other threads where people are arguing about the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Non-Catholics don’t understand how great this Sacrament makes you feel, and how much it helps you.

Good work, me boy! Keep up the fight. It will get easier as time goes by. Just work on keeping your own thoughts clean, and your hormones under control.