Sin of Presumption

[John_XX]

Sometimes I am about to sin on purpose or even in the act of a sin and I realize that this is just one more thing I’ll have to confess sooner or later and that makes me feel guilty, but it doesn’t stop me from continuing the sinful act.

Undoubtedly this is a for of presumption.

When one realizes he has been presumptuous, does he then go to confession - which he’d planned on doing anyway, just not the right way - or should he wait a while until he feels really repentant?

I feel repentant now and want to go to confession. But then, I know I would. I feel like, though in mortal sin, I ought to let some time go by first, like a week - maybe more and work on persevering against all sins in the mean time?

I feel just awful, and confused.

 

[Pentecost2005]

You and I are in the same boat (no, not “The LOVE Boat,” but “The Self-Love Boat,” aka Slow Boat to Hell). I think the problem is that we are attached to certain sins, and, at least a good portion of the time, don’t want to give them up. Seems to me that we are in dangerous waters indeed.

The resistance to going to confession about it appears to be threefold. First, we may get a priest who tells us that this isn’t a big deal, and that we’re taking this too seriously, and shouldn’t worry about it. (I know one priest who seems not to be familiar with the Catechism.) Second, we may get a really tough priest who doesn’t want to hear any excuses about how difficult it is. Finally, it seems almost futile, since we may not be sure that we’re perfectly contrite, or even imperfectly contrite. We know what the real story is – we have to let go of certain self-indulgences, but, the fact is, that, well… we’d sort of rather not.

Remember, though, that it’s better to let go of these attachments in this life, while we still can. There is no merit in Purgatory. But if we persevere in this life and free ourselves from attachment to sin, we gain merit and possibly avoid Purgatory.

I think you knew all this already. God doesn’t let us be tempted beyond our means. We should be grateful for the temptations He allows, since they allow us to make a more perfect offering through renunciation.

 

[AServantofGod]

There is something called “perfect” and “imperfect” contrition. If you are sorry & confess because you love God & hate to hurt him, then that is “perfect” contrition. If you are sorry for any other reason, that is “imperfect” contrition. Eventhough “perfect” contrition is more pleasing to God, one’s sins are still forgiven for sins confessed under “imperfect” contrition.