Sin, Confession, and valid Confession

[LotusCarsLtd]

Here’s the rundown:

On Sunday I became tempted sexually, but suppressed it effectively by playing some music. I then went off to bed, although the temptation had returned by this point. I fell asleep, but awhile later I awoke and the sexual urge was still there, so I gave-in by viewing porn and masturbating. I don’t recall feeling any remorse, although might have subconsciously accepted that what I did was sinful.

I thought about the next time when I’d be able to visit Confession, which was Wednesday during the afternoon. I figured I should go then for Confession.

The next day I started to feel bad about a bunch of things, partly because I had sinned mortally. But nonetheless, possibly as a stress response, I once again masturbated and looked at porn. I might have (but I can’t remember) though again about going to Confession Wednesday.

The next day, Wednesday (although this might have started the previous night too), I felt terrible, although I did feel better after I successfully completed an exam I felt I would do poorly on. I then felt the need to go to Confession and confess my sins.

When I went to Church and entered the Confessional, one of the issues I discussed with the priest was the issue of presumption. The priest stated that presumption happens when we sin and think “Oh, it’s okay, I can go to Confession and fix that right up!” and use that as an excuse to sin again. I stated how I had made plans Sunday to go to Confession a few days later and confess, but how I gave-in again the following day. He stated that that is not true sorrow, since if sorrow was present the sin wouldn’t happen again. Nonetheless I still felt that perhaps I had the proper disposition anyway to receive absolution.

The priest concluded everything with the absolution, but I felt unsure afterwards about if I had made a valid Confession and if I indeed had the proper disposition.

I wanted to be cleansed of the sin, and that’s why I went to Confession. I didn’t consciously make a resolution to change but my overall attitude towards masturbation and porn is a disgust for it and a desire to rid myself of the behavior…in fact, I had went Wednesday morning to my school’s counseling center to seek therapy for my sexual sin problems and for other issues, too. I felt that this unconscious attitude towards everything was a sign of my desire to atone for my sins and make a resolution to change.

In a nutshell: based on what I have said here, does it seem that my Confession was valid or not? Should I go again to confess a bad Confession?

 

[Hietanen]

Stop watch television, anyone watching immodest immoral films, series & shows, will indeed be tempted by the sensual characters and scenes of impurity composed by the devil to make the world lovers of pleasure and lust. Sadly though, even in so called “Christian” films have the devil mixed in sinful scenes, immodest dress, etc…

Most on the television (except maybe Christian films, which is watched for the glory of God), is sinful anyway, whether or not you want to admit it or believe it. Few people there are that will be honest in this question. Fasting with the eyes is needful for staying pure.

The next thing you need to do is to stop eating more then you need, avoid all superfluity in food and drink, such as candy, snacks, crisps, etc. Eat two meals a day, fast on other days. Nothing so easily subjects the flesh as fasting.

Even if you do these things and more, you will still be tempted and fall, for satan never sleeps. You must have patience and trust in God praying for help. You must not touch yourself, and you must not find enjoyment in your sinful thoughts. You must renounce them and reject them, if you do think about them enjoying them, satan gains power, and the good spirit leaves.

The road is narrow, which is why few find it.

Want more help? Start to read the Revelations of Saint Bridget at the site below, they will give you powerful tools against the devil,

www.prophecyfilm.com

 

[Baloo]

It sounds like it was a full confession, remember the definitions:

Full confession - You went to confession, and confessed your sins out of love of God.

Not-Full Confession (I don’t really remember the name of what type of confession it is) - You went to confession because you were scared of hell and didn’t want to go there.

Remember also that no confession is truly bad, I believe both are still valid but the latter means something, I can’t really remember, my memory is fuzzy on this.

So really it sounds like you went to Confession because you love God and want to do His will.

I’ll pray for you.

 

[bilop]

Here’s the rundown:

On Sunday I became tempted sexually, but suppressed it effectively by playing some music. I then went off to bed, although the temptation had returned by this point. I fell asleep, but awhile later I awoke and the sexual urge was still there, so I gave-in by viewing porn and masturbating. I don’t recall feeling any remorse, although might have subconsciously accepted that what I did was sinful.

I thought about the next time when I’d be able to visit Confession, which was Wednesday during the afternoon. I figured I should go then for Confession.

The next day I started to feel bad about a bunch of things, partly because I had sinned mortally. But nonetheless, possibly as a stress response, I once again masturbated and looked at porn. I might have (but I can’t remember) though again about going to Confession Wednesday.

The next day, Wednesday (although this might have started the previous night too), I felt terrible, although I did feel better after I successfully completed an exam I felt I would do poorly on. I then felt the need to go to Confession and confess my sins.

When I went to Church and entered the Confessional, one of the issues I discussed with the priest was the issue of presumption. The priest stated that presumption happens when we sin and think “Oh, it’s okay, I can go to Confession and fix that right up!” and use that as an excuse to sin again. I stated how I had made plans Sunday to go to Confession a few days later and confess, but how I gave-in again the following day. He stated that that is not true sorrow, since if sorrow was present the sin wouldn’t happen again. Nonetheless I still felt that perhaps I had the proper disposition anyway to receive absolution.

The priest concluded everything with the absolution, but I felt unsure afterwards about if I had made a valid Confession and if I indeed had the proper disposition.

I wanted to be cleansed of the sin, and that’s why I went to Confession. I didn’t consciously make a resolution to change but my overall attitude towards masturbation and porn is a disgust for it and a desire to rid myself of the behavior…in fact, I had went Wednesday morning to my school’s counseling center to seek therapy for my sexual sin problems and for other issues, too. I felt that this unconscious attitude towards everything was a sign of my desire to atone for my sins and make a resolution to change.

In a nutshell: based on what I have said here, does it seem that my Confession was valid or not? Should I go again to confess a bad Confession?

As long as you confessed all the mortal sins you recall (didn’t deliberately withhold any) and have to intention to not sin in the future (you may fail, but youhave to intend to try not to sin) then the absolution is valid.

It sounds like you are OK. If the priest really thought you had no contrition, he would have denied you absolution.

God Bless

 

[baltobetsy]

Full confession - You went to confession, and confessed your sins out of love of God.

Not-Full Confession (I don’t really remember the name of what type of confession it is) - You went to confession because you were scared of hell and didn’t want to go there.

I think you may have confused “confession” with “contrition.”

Perfect contrition is sorrow for sin out of love of God. It is what we should all strive for, but are not always able to have. Of itself, perfect contrition brings about the forgiveness of mortal sins, as long as there is the intent to confess them.

Imperfect contrition is sorrow for sin out of fear of hell or any other motive that refers to God, which does not reach the level of perfect love. Most of us have this all the time - who’s not scared of hell? Imperfect contrition is enough for sins to be forgiven in Confession. God loves us very much and wants us back, so He makes allowance for our weakness. Imperfect contrition is not enough to bring about forgiveness of mortal sins without confession.

To the OP, it sounds as if your second fall was more a sin of weakness than of malice and presumption. Since the priest did not withhold absolution, I think you are fine.

Betsy