Should I go to confession if I'm pretty sure I will commit the sins to be confessed again?

[just_came_back]

You would not be the 1st person to do so.

 

[Aquila_Lucis]

I know that confession and communion confer special graces which help me to combat sin, but maybe my situation was not clarified when you finished writing your post. It’s not about a sinful habit I’m engaged in (like masturbation), but rather about a no-win situation of which I can’t come out without sinning.
That’s why I feel so desperate: it’s another kind of vicious circle.

Yes, I see that now. But the same advice stands. To be blunt, you are the one choosing to lie to your mother, and everything else is just ego-massaging rationalization. If you want to stop sinning, you will try your very best to stop. If you don’t want to try that hard, you end up on an online forum looking for academic “permission” to keep on doing what you’re doing so that you’ll feel less bad about it.

No one is forced to sin.

 

[Bakmoon]

I’m in a vicious circle for quite a some time now, and I’m not able to escape from it in the near future. My soul now incredibly longs for the Eucharist, but I don’t dare to go to communion in this state of my soul. But when going to confession, one must sincerely promise not to sin again, but I’m compelled to do it until I get out of the vicious circle, so I could not utter that promise to the priest in good conscience. What to do at such time?

You need to resolve not to sin again, which means that when you go to confession in your heart, you don’t intend to go and just sin again. This does not mean that when you go to confession that you need to be sure that you won’t do that sin again, as that is a very tall order that almost no one would be able to reach.

 

[juno24]

coffito, have you discussed your situation in depth with anyone? Or did you come to your conclusion all on your own? When we rely solely on our own thoughts and emotions, we often miss things that a discussion with someone else might bring to light. If your problems stem mainly with your inability to study for exams, I would highly suggest you go to your academic advisor. It is, after all, what he is paid to do.
You may also consider speaking with a counselor or your priest for suggestions on how to speak honestly with your mother. If she truly is so emotionally fragile that learning of your troubles will send her over the edge, then you may also want to consider talking to your father or some other adult family member or friend to help her to cope.

 

[Bakmoon]

Now, why even bother going to confession when you can just pray to God to have your sins forgiven. If you don’t want to tell a priest what is going on, then don’t! Just confess your sins directly to God (yes, you can talk directly to God in prayer, what is a Saint going to do to help you?) and ask Him for help to get out of your sinning streak.

Hope this helps!

The Bible clearly indicates that Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins to his disciples.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

 

[LongJourney]

If she truly is so emotionally fragile that learning of your troubles will send her over the edge, then you may also want to consider talking to your father or some other adult family member or friend to help her to cope.

Yep. Sounds like Mom has a problem. I’m learning to back off, too.

 

[ChibiViolet]

Even if you believe you’re going to commit that/those sins again, if you intend to sincerely try not to, than confess them.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Ok, because this is what Jason Evert says in his book If You Really Loved Me:

To help you grow in discipline, set reachable goals. For example, make a commitment not to masturbate for three days, a week, a month, or whatever you feel is a reasonable time.

It’s kind of a type to have a plan to commit a sin whether it’s a mortal or venial sin. If it’s a venial sin one still can’t make a promise to God that they would not sin again when they have a plan in place to sin.

It means the only way of confessing a habit that isn’t a mortal sin, that is, confessing directly to God, is by telling God that you are sorry but without making any promises.

You have recognised that this is a digression from the OP’s topic, but lets continue briefly.

You are correct that we can’t have a plan in place to commit a sin, even if it’s venial. (Good words, BTW!)

While the requirements of Catholic morality are clear, ie. we must intend not to sin at all, confessors know that in practice it usually takes repeated efforts to slowly reduce a bad habit to nothing.

I actually don’t worry about it, or analyse it too much. I just confess my sins, such as they are.

The best way to reconcile the advice in you book with Church teaching would be to discuss it directly with a confessor.

 

[crenfro]

Hello.

Oh yes, please go, and make it a habit. You simply need to want to not commit whatever sin(s) it is any more. Motive is so important to God – He sees our inner workings.

You also get lots of graces and strength to overcome your sins the more you go to confession.

Have you read anything (books, pamphlets, etc.) about the sacrament of Confession?

Also, the Catholic Catechism, which is online, has a good-sized section about Confession.

Also, we all need to confess our sins, not just tell them to God privately, because in Confession the priest is in persona Christi and since the Catholic Church is known as a hospital for sinners, you have to confess your sins so the correct “medicine” can be applied.

Please pray for me. Thank you for your post. And please take or leave whatever is useful in this post.

 

[Bookcat]

One has to resolve not to commit * mortal sin *again. One cannot resolve to reduce the number.

The resolution in regards to Venial sin can be a somewhat different story.