Temptation after confession.

[hamandcheese]

I read that sin is so totally obliterated by the sacrament of reconciliation that the enemy no longer has any knowledge of you having committed that particular sin in the first place. I notice that I am not tempted with the sins I usually have trouble with for a period of time after confession and that sometimes I am even tempted with things that I have no proclivity towards almost like someone’s trying to see what bait im going to bite on. Of course this could all just be in my head but im interested to know what you guys think. I never mention my weaknesses aloud outside of prayer and confession because I don’t know who or what could be listening and it seems to be helping me. Is this just nuts?

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Not nuts.

I’m not in agreement that the enemy no longer remembers the sin. But I think that God forgets the sin.

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.

Since God is love, this should apply:

1 Cor 13:4-6
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

The Douay-Rheims 1899 version of 1 Cor 13:4-6
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up;
Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth;

I’ve seen other translations where “thinketh no evil” and “does not brood over injury” was worded, “does not keep a record of wrongs.”

My guess is Satan can remember evil, though, because he tempts people all the time for exactly the sins they just confessed, and accuses others (and the scrupulous are especially vulnerable) of sins they have already confessed. We see this on CAF; people who still feel guilty after confession – I’m suggesting it’s satan, and/or our own human memory and maybe some distrust of the sacrament. Or maybe it’s satan trying to get us to distrust the sacrament.

Alan

 

[chimo]

I read that sin is so totally obliterated by the sacrament of reconciliation that the enemy no longer has any knowledge of you having committed that particular sin in the first place. I notice that I am not tempted with the sins I usually have trouble with for a period of time after confession and that sometimes I am even tempted with things that I have no proclivity towards almost like someone’s trying to see what bait im going to bite on. Of course this could all just be in my head but im interested to know what you guys think. I never mention my weaknesses aloud outside of prayer and confession because I don’t know who or what could be listening and it seems to be helping me. Is this just nuts?

I think the devil studies you to see what weaknesses you have first. He will get to know you eventually. I don’t think the devil will not reveal you your sins just because you have confessed them. He may use them later on if it will help him to get at you. The point though is in confession you do know of your sins and it will not be a surprise to you if someone brings them up again (like the devil). If you have a weakness in fear then it might be a good weapon of the devil to bring up these same sins or even make up some more to frightened you. The tactics of the devil though can be easily defeated. You must remember the devil likes to work one on one. He does not enjoy group therapy. He scrams when you tell another what he is up to. Here you can defeat major sin by actually revealing the temptation to someone even before you get caught in its web. By acknowledging the temptation to another will give a message to the devil you mean business and he will give up whenever you do this. The best way to handle him is to ignore him. But a lot of us don’t even know how to do this. So let us say great fear comes to you. God never sends fear. Fear can actually be a trick or an illusion the devil imparts to us. While it can actually make us think we are the ones with this fear it is the devil who may be behind it. I actually had this many times. When the fear came to me I wanted to know why it was there and why it wouldn’t go away. So I did the next best thing and I revealed to someone close to me this fear. I might have done this three times and each time I revealed this fear to someone it eventually lost its power. The old fox does not like group therapy. Turn the tables on him by revealing what he is up to and he will scram to the nearest exit. Remember too we have to deal with our shortcomings and weaknesses that do not produce mortal sin in us for the rest of our lives. It is not that you have to stop sinning. That will be impossible. Its more how you deal with it (here I am referring to your venial sins). By acknowledging your weaknesses that are venial in nature is a great sign you are growing and on the true spiritual path of holiness.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I have an easier time not sinning for a period of time after confession, but I wouldn’t say that I’m no longer tempted by my usual sins.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Not all temptations come directly from the devil. Plenty come from the world or even from within ourselves. It would be nice if the sacraments obliterated concupiscence (disordered desires), but they don’t. They certainly help a lot, but we also have to practice mortification, follow the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience), and grow in virtue if we want to gain the upper hand over temptation. Nevertheless, I think it is safe to say we’ll be tempted until we die. The difference will be that if we grow spiritually we will be more able to resist or even ignore.

 

[shaky]

Not all temptations come directly from the devil. Plenty come from the world or even from within ourselves. It would be nice if the sacraments obliterated concupiscence (disordered desires), but they don’t. They certainly help a lot, but we also have to practice mortification, follow the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience), and grow in virtue if we want to gain the upper hand over temptation. Nevertheless, I think it is safe to say we’ll be tempted until we die. The difference will be that if we grow spiritually we will be more able to resist or even ignore.

How poor does one have to become to be in Poverty ?

 

[R_C]

I read…that the enemy no longer has any knowledge of you having committed that particular sin

That’s just erroneous. Nope, nonsense. He remembers each and every sin you committed since the age of reason. Christ is the one who, once forgiven, by an act of His omnipotent will truly forgets your sins.

But do you immediately forget them? Nope. If you mentioned the sin to a priest, does he immediately forget them? Nope. Only with time and due to imperfect memory - all problems that those other creatures don’t suffer from. But don’t mind them. The fact that they know the sins you committed and yet they see your soul shining with sanctifying grace terrifies them and gives glory to Christ

I never mention my weaknesses aloud outside of prayer and confession because I don’t know who or what could be listening

Don’t worry about that. You can’t outsmart angels While our enemies cannot read our minds (as far as “empirical evidence” tells us) they do seem to be able to basically do so anyways through observation and God knows what other tricks

By the way, I’ve sort of experienced the same thing. I don’t think it’s due to the adversary changing technique, but to the special grace that the Sacrament gives us to resist the specific sins we confessed (which is why the saints recommend us to periodically confess even if we are only conscious of venial sins). He does, however, focus on the three concupiscences (pride, vanity, sin) differently. The better you know yourself and stay alert, the more you’ll learn to read the “signs” of your soul and move the shield to wherever the adversary is about to strike :knight1:

 

[R_C]

How poor does one have to become to be in Poverty ?

Poor in spirit. It is not the bank account or the wallet that matters, but the heart: “where your heart is, there will your treasure be”, says the Lord.

Some have a special calling from God, a vocation to embrace a solemn vow of poverty. Not all are called to this life.

We read that the Lord humbly paid the temple tax and even praised the poor widow who gave all she had in such way. We also read that the Apostles received money and distributed it to anyone who had need (Acts 4:34-35), and in fact the Church sustains herself this way until this very day. Depending on our state of life, we have different responsibilities. Sometimes we need money to take care of our family, of our children, even of our parents. Other times, we need money to help our brothers, to help the missionaries, to help the Church.

If we cease to see money as an end, and we begin to see it as an instrument for God’s greater glory and for the good of souls, I think it’s a good beginning.