Should I get a regular confessor?

[tuffsmurf]

I have been reading a bit about confession and people with scruples here on CAF. I converted not long ago so I am still a bit new when it comes to confessions, but I really do love getting absolution and the feeling afterwards. I have been struggling with OCD and anxiety for quite a while. I get “what if…” in my head all the time… Since I started practising the faith, my intrusive thought has began to take religious forms, and sometimes I wonder if I’m really worthy of recieving the eucharist even though I’ve recently been to confession.

Do you think it’s important for me to get a regular confessor? I’m afraid it would be embarassing to confess the same sin multiple times and I’m afraid the priest would think of me as a bad person… Besides, how do you get a regular confessor? In our parish we have “drop in-confession” once every week, but there are different priest in the confessional depending on which week it is.
Help, please?

 

[KCT]

None of us is truly worthy to receive the Eucharist! We’re sinners in need of grace. So if you are not conscious of mortal sin, by all means receive.

You get a regular confessor by asking and making an appointment with him. In your case, you might want to ask in advance if he has experience dealing w/ someone who struggles with OCD.

 

[Bookcat]

Yes such sounds like it would be a good for you.

You find Priest that you want to ask to be such and ask - you can ask in confession even. And then start going to him regularly.

You do not need to make an appointment necessarily - but that may be a good idea - especially if the first time or so will take more time “filling him in”. It can also be done without making a by name appointment. He can meet you in the confessional.

 

[tuffsmurf]

None of us is truly worthy to receive the Eucharist! We’re sinners in need of grace. So if you are not conscious of mortal sin, by all means receive.

You get a regular confessor by asking and making an appointment with him. In your case, you might want to ask in advance if he has experience dealing w/ someone who struggles with OCD.

I don’t think I have comitted any mortals sins for quite some time. I confess my venial sins because I see confession as such a healing sacrament. This easter I have recieved communion every day since holy thursday. It really makes me feel calm, satisfied and in communion with Christ, but this intrusive thoughts are still making me feel bad.

But I think of priests as very busy persons? I feel like I want to go to confession once a month. Will a priest have time to see me that often?

 

[Bookcat]

I don’t think I have comitted any mortals sins for quite some time. I confess my venial sins because I see confession as such a healing sacrament. This easter I have recieved communion every day since holy thursday. It really makes me feel calm, satisfied and in communion with Christ, but this intrusive thoughts are still making me feel bad.

But I think of priests as very busy persons? I feel like I want to go to confession once a month. Will a priest have time to see me that often?

Once a month? Yes that is fine.

I go every week. Again one does not need to set up an appointment to have a regular confessor for ones Spiritual life. Though if one needs more time to discuss something that could then be better.

 

[Bookcat]

intrusive thoughts are still making me feel bad.

(to re post an older post of mine)

All sorts of thoughts can happen to us out of the blue…

The fact that a though happened to one- does not mean per se there was any sin.

And for mortal sin one needs grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate (complete) consent…

(and there are some persons with such as OCD - who would want to seek out professional assistance with their thoughts - I saved this from Catholic Answers staff on the radio program for those who where seeking such: catholictherapists.com/)

---

Now…

For the next few moments --try real hard NOT to think of an Apple.

then scroll down.

What did you think of?

An apple.

Even though your will was against it -you did not want to think of an apple.

Now back to unwanted thoughts…

The best thing to do with such thoughts is not to fight them directly --not fear that they will come—simply do not consent and simply and calmly turn to something else…(or it may be best to keep doing the good thing one is doing…like they come out of the blue when your at work …keep working…keep praying …etc)

(one can gently - conversi ad Dominum - turn towards the Lord -perhaps with a look of love or a short prayer which is a very ancient practice - pm me if you if you need more).

Ignore such unwanted thoughts like one would ignore a hissing goose or a barking dog. One does not stop to argue with a hissing goose or a barking dog does one? No one keeps on walking…

(as noted above the image there comes from a Carthusian Monk from centuries ago…)

 

[InNomineDomini]

I’m afraid it would be embarassing to confess the same sin multiple times and I’m afraid the priest would think of me as a bad person…

Time and again, I’ve heard this from us lay Catholics; and time and again I hear from priests quite the opposite. From what I can tell, priests can feel as if they are simply one man against the whole, sinful world, and it *encourages *them when they can see that they are contributing to the spiritual health of their people. Furthermore, I think priests are far more prone to admire the God-given courage of a penitent sinner, than they are to look down on them as being somehow weak or pathetic.

Don’t be afraid of Confession! Don’t be afraid of wasting the priest’s time! Give them the ability to see the work of the grace of God in people’s lives, to see the fruits of their own work, and to feel strengthened by both. Please don’t take away from priests something that can be of such benefit to them, to say nothing of the great benefit to your own soul.

 

[tuffsmurf]

(to re post an older post of mine)

All sorts of thoughts can happen to us out of the blue…

The fact that a though happened to one- does not mean per se there was any sin.

And for mortal sin one needs grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate (complete) consent…

(and there are some persons with such as OCD - who would want to seek out professional assistance with their thoughts - I saved this from Catholic Answers staff on the radio program for those who where seeking such: catholictherapists.com/)

---

Now…

For the next few moments --try real hard NOT to think of an Apple.

then scroll down.

What did you think of?

An apple.

Even though your will was against it -you did not want to think of an apple.

Now back to unwanted thoughts…

The best thing to do with such thoughts is not to fight them directly --not fear that they will come—simply do not consent and simply and calmly turn to something else…(or it may be best to keep doing the good thing one is doing…like they come out of the blue when your at work …keep working…keep praying …etc)

(one can gently - conversi ad Dominum - turn towards the Lord -perhaps with a look of love or a short prayer which is a very ancient practice - pm me if you if you need more).

Ignore such unwanted thoughts like one would ignore a hissing goose or a barking dog. One does not stop to argue with a hissing goose or a barking dog does one? No one keeps on walking…

(as noted above the image there comes from a Carthusian Monk from centuries ago…)

Thank you, that about the barking dog is a really helpful thought. I don’t need to get caught by this thoughts… I should just ignore them.

 

[KCT]

I don’t think I have comitted any mortals sins for quite some time. I confess my venial sins because I see confession as such a healing sacrament. This easter I have recieved communion every day since holy thursday. It really makes me feel calm, satisfied and in communion with Christ, but this intrusive thoughts are still making me feel bad.

But I think of priests as very busy persons? I feel like I want to go to confession once a month. Will a priest have time to see me that often?

I would suggest spending some time praying before you ask someone. If you have someone in mind, pray for him to be open if it’s God’s will. If you don’t have someone in mind, pray for God’s direction in finding someone.

A good priest will not mind seeing you once a month. Not only is it part of the job, they are happy to be the conduit of God’s grace! (and they’re just as human as we are-- they need to know they’re needed and valued)

 

[InThePew]

When you’re confessing the same thing multiple times it’s actually quite helpful to have a regular confessor since they come to know you and have a greater appreciation for your struggles than would otherwise be the case if you’d never been to them before. It’s also helpful for you since you don’t need to explain things as much as you would otherwise have to. Is it embarrassing? Well sometimes yes - but that’s just human nature; unsurprisingly fronting up and admitting our mistakes is not something that’s particularly easy to do. Will the priest think of you as a bad person? No, he’ll think of you as a human being with struggles and difficulties. Finally, while priests are busy people, if you’re making a regular time then it shouldn’t be at all difficult for them to accommodate you.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I have been reading a bit about confession and people with scruples here on CAF. I converted not long ago so I am still a bit new when it comes to confessions, but I really do love getting absolution and the feeling afterwards. I have been struggling with OCD and anxiety for quite a while. I get “what if…” in my head all the time… Since I started practising the faith, my intrusive thought has began to take religious forms, and sometimes I wonder if I’m really worthy of recieving the eucharist even though I’ve recently been to confession.

Do you think it’s important for me to get a regular confessor? I’m afraid it would be embarassing to confess the same sin multiple times and I’m afraid the priest would think of me as a bad person… Besides, how do you get a regular confessor? In our parish we have “drop in-confession” once every week, but there are different priest in the confessional depending on which week it is.
Help, please?

What you need is a spiritual director. You can discuss with him/her about going to Confession and what needs to be done with that.

 

[Bookcat]

What you need is a spiritual director.

Such is not “needed” per se. But could at times be helpful. The OP ought to first find that regular confessor. They may find that they will wish to go to him outside the Sacrament as well for Spiritual Direction.