Should I Confess This?

[CatholiCommit]

**
I think I did something I was not really supposed to do, and I am not sure if I should confess this or keep as a lesson to me or both.

I have been a sports fan for quite some years and in my act of being dedicated to the sport and fan of the person in this sport I created one in this persons honor to show I was dedicated to the sport and keeping up with the times, some might call this keeping up with the Jones’s Recently I read about copyright laws and Copyright Infringement and it scared me right away even though I was not caught I immediately deleted my site, and since I am but not familiar with it, it put me in a position of whether or not it is necessary to confess this. I feel tons of guilt and can not stop thinking about it.

I also wondered if I should confess any threats such wanting to physically hurt someone whether it is wanting break a wrist or put someone through a wall whether I know them or not and confess any sexual acts that I have done that should have not been done out side of marriage, does this include every sexual act such as pre marital sex?

My heart strings are being pulled and it is making me nervous because I feel I must make this obligation

Any advice and words of wisdom?

Still getting the hang of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, have not been Catholic long at all.**

 

[Cristiano]

I think that confession would help you. A good confessor could become your spiritual adviser and help you to better understand yourself and turn into a better Christian. Reconciliation does not have to be only a practice for the forgiveness of our sins, but it can also be an aid to improve the way we avoid our sins in the future. Remember that we are required to make a firm purpose not to repeat the sins in the future in order to have a valid confession.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Technically all that must be confessed are mortal sins.

Nothing you stated rises to that level.

That being said, you can, and should, confess/discuss anything that bothers you in confession.

You might also consider getting a spiritual director. If you do they are a priest then you can take care of confession within the confines of spiritual direction.

 

[Ilroy]

**Technically all that must be confessed are mortal sins.

Nothing you stated rises to that level.**

That being said, you can, and should, confess/discuss anything that bothers you in confession.

You might also consider getting a spiritual director. If you do they are a priest then you can take care of confession within the confines of spiritual direction.

Actually, sexual acts outside of marriage DO fall under the mortal sin catagory…especially if he knew they were grave matter and did them anyway.

 

[Walking_Home]

Technically all that must be confessed are mortal sins.

Nothing you stated rises to that level.

That being said, you can, and should, confess/discuss anything that bothers you in confession.

You might also consider getting a spiritual director. If you do they are a priest then you can take care of confession within the confines of spiritual direction.

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Really — when did sex outside of marriage stop being a mortal sin.

 

[CatholiCommit]

**I have been going to one of the priests at my parish for other problems and situations, but since it is not certain who will be in the confessional I just have to go with it, I have heard of spiritual adviser from reading other posts, but I was not sure if something like that would apply to me, I am still under obligation to confess whatever sins I commit, but I seem to fall back into the same thing especially when it comes to sexual matters.

I am sure you all can understand how nerve wracking this for me, I feel more guilty then I ever have since I have been able to go to confession, and it is not that I mind, and I would much prefer looking at my confessor then be behind a screen because I know I have nothing to hide,and I do not want to carry shame around and sometimes. I want my confessor to see how truly sorry I am not just in my words but my eyes. I know that is really hard for some people, although I am sure if I could call this a slight struggle. I know can do it because I have done it before, it just feels different this time then all the other times I have given a confession to the priest.**

 

[Cristiano]

…but I seem to fall back into the same thing especially when it comes to sexual matters…

I seriously doubt that you are the only Catholic with that problem.

I am sure you all can understand how nerve wracking this for me, I feel more guilty then I ever have since I have been able to go to confession, and it is not that I mind, and I would much prefer looking at my confessor then be behind a screen because I know I have nothing to hide,and I do not want to carry shame around and sometimes. I want my confessor to see how truly sorry I am not just in my words but my eyes. I know that is really hard for some people, although I am sure if I could call this a slight struggle. I know can do it because I have done it before, it just feels different this time then all the other times I have given a confession to the priest

It looks like you are getting ready for a good confession. Do not wait any longer, trust in His mercy.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Actually, sexual acts outside of marriage DO fall under the mortal sin catagory…especially if he knew they were grave matter and did them anyway.

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Really — when did sex outside of marriage stop being a mortal sin.

Thank you both for pointing this out. I did not read it all well enough to catch this. Yes I know it was right there but for some reason I thought it was that there was just a thought of this sexual acts not the actual doing of them.

The thought of such a thing would not be mortal but the act is.

Thanks again and nice catch.

 

[rwoehmke]

It sounds to me that you need to go to confession, but also need some help to further understand the morality of certain situations. It might be productive to make an appointment with a priest for confession and some counseling/education. Pehaps he would be willing to see you again from time to time until you find your footing.

 

[Ruthie]

Something that might help is to Google “examination of conscience” (with quotes). There are several out there. Some are in much detail. Some are more conservative than others. I’ve copied the ones I like best into word documents. (See below!)

As for copyright law, it has two sides. One is financial. If you have gotten any financial benefit for your sports fan site, you have broken that law. The other is just reproduction; you can usually copy things you like for your own *private *use. Since a website is not private, you may have broken that one.

Something that would break neither is to provide links to articles and photographs. Like, here’s a nice shot of John Elway.

As for repeated sins, keep confessing them, even if it’s embarrassing! It is a Sacrament, and will give you graces to help you slow down and stop. So go! And do not be afraid - you are talking to Jesus, who loves you and wants you in Heaven with Him!

Ruthie

 

[Aramis]

If it bothers you enough to ask, it’s worth confessing.

Premarital sex is grave matter; confess it.

 

[EasterJoy]

**…My heart strings are being pulled and it is making me nervous because I feel I must make this obligation

Any advice and words of wisdom?

Still getting the hang of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, have not been Catholic long at all.**

One of the first things to get the hang of is the difference between guilt and feelings of guilt. You can commit a serious sin and feel great about it, and you can also do the exact right thing and feel terribly guilty about it. Even worse, you can confess the sin, have it absolved, and even make amends and yet still be plagued by guilt. Healthy guilt gets you to confession and spurs you to make amends. After that, you accept God’s boundless mercy and the guilt makes its exit. Unhealthy guilt is a great barrier to accepting God’s mercy. It is a form of pride, IMHO.

Ask yourself this: Was what I did contrary to moral law? Did I know or have reason to suspect it was wrong when I chose to do it? When I found it was wrong, did I stop? Did I avoid situations where I might be tempted to commit the same sin again? Do I make an ongoing effort to continually inform my conscience about God’s law? Do I continually seek to more deeply know and live his will in my life?

With regards to impure thoughts or intentions, the sin is in entertaining these thoughts willingly. It is not a sin to be tempted.

As you are new at this, it would also be a great idea to make an appointment to talk with your confessor about how to examine your conscience, how to decide what to confess, and how to use devotion to the Sacraments of Reconcilliation and Eucharist to avoid sin in the future. If you find your pastor does not work out for you as a confessor, that is OK. Find a different confessor. Any priest can absolve, but if you can find a confessor with whom you can be very open, who makes God’s mercy more available and God’s law a greater and greater object of your pursuit–a good reason to find a confessor whose personal holiness you find inspiring, incidentally–you’ll advance more quickly in grace. That is the point, after all.

 

[CatholiCommit]

I did know I was able to have a discussion with my Confessor about examination of conscience, and all the other things I need to know and do to better myself, I thought that was for only grave situations that required the most attention, does anyone else thing I should make an appointment to do this, thanks for showing me what my options are anyone else have anything that might help?

 

[Aramis]

frequent confession is recommended by canon law… as is confessing venial sins.