This May Help me with Scruples

[C794]

Instead of always wondering about sins being mortal or venial I though I’d ask about the style of situation that typically causes me doubt. I am seeking a good priest to help with scruples, but since I have yet to find one; this is the best place to ask. Otherwise I’d have to obtain non-Catholic advice, and I don’t feel like that would be much help in this situation. Sorry if I’m irritating.

Alot of times I will do something on a whim. For example Ithe thought of doing something will come into my mind and I’d follow through with the action. This all happens within five seconds. There is no time for reflection on the sinfulness of the action. Afterwards I begin to think I may have commited a mortal sin. I know that the action was sinful in it self. Since I didn’t actually have time for relfection would the sin be venial? Or could this reach the criteria of sufficient knowledge?

 

[po18guy]

From Fr. Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy, here are the Ten Commandments against scrupulosity:

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH SCRUPULOSITY

1. Do not repeat prayers, no matter how badly they may have been prayed, even if the prayers were given to you as a penance during the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
2. Do not repeat the confession of sins that have already been confessed and which have never been re-committed.
3. If you doubt the earnestness of your sorrow in Confession, consider the sorrow as having been adequate.
4. If you are doubtful as to whether a past action committed was sinful, mention it simply to your confessor.
5. If you are worrying that maybe you never confessed a certain sin from your past, consider it confessed. If you know for a fact that you have never confessed that sin, then confess it simply. The Holy Spirit does not torment us with doubts and/or guilt; rather, He always brings peace as He awakens our conscience to our sins. (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11: “Indeed, sorrow for God’s sake produces a repentance without regrets, leading to salvation, whereas worldly sorrow brings death. Just look at the fruit of this sorrow which stems from God. What a measure of holy zeal it has brought you.”)
6. Examine your conscience for no longer than three minutes each day, and for no longer than about ten minutes before you go to Confession.
7. If you have prayed at the time of temptation, you can be sure you did not commit a mortal sin.
8. If you have a history of scrupulosity, and you have made a General Confession at some time in your past, do not make another General Confession. Once a month is a good norm for the frequency of a regular Confession.
9. If possible, go to Confession to the same confessor-priest.

10.Most importantly, cultivate a humble heart by complete obedience to the direction of your confessor. Be patient with yourself. Love is the goal of all our lives. It is important to remember that scrupulosity usually (and, quite often, ultimately) stems from one’s personal pride or arrogance, as though the scrupulous person holds this personal opinion: “I have a higher norm than most normal people.”

fathersofmercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Ten-Commandments-to-Guard-Against-Scrupulosity.pdf

 

[mhmtas]

İmagining is a involuntary action that is difficult to control so think of bad things is not a sin. These thoughts do not belong to your heart because you feel indisposed and. Everything can mixed with and interfere in mind with imagining. Bad and awful things mixed with good and holy subjects but there is no damage. But you must not insist on imagining for a long time if you do maybe can damage but yet is not a sin. Damage is that you believe that you get harm.

For your sins you can and must repent and plead for mercy from God in every/any time and place. And if you forsweare for you sins that is as if you never commit that sin. Because God is so merciful.

 

[C794]

I have a slighlty related question. So would full consent of a will exsist if someone tries to have a certain thought, but there naturall reaction is to push it out of their mind. In this situation the person is mentally uncapable of consenting to the thought. For exapmle, I tried to picture the act of sex. This wasn’t out of lust or a desire to get aroused. I wanted to know if I was actually interested in sex, at all; from what I can tell I’m not and this may effect whether or not I’m called to marriage. I’ve thought that was my vocation; now I’m not so sure. Well to see if it had any appeal I tried to picture having sex.I couldn’t hold the thought, for I instantly pushed it out of my mind. I attempted this a few times before giving up. So in this instant would full consent of the will be present? would I be guilty of a mortal sin?

Thanks

 

[C794]

I just realized that I had posted this thread in the wrong section. Sorry about that; I must have selected the wrong sub forum when I posted the original question

 

[Lormar]

From Fr. Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy, here are the Ten Commandments against scrupulosity:

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH SCRUPULOSITY

1. Do not repeat prayers, no matter how badly they may have been prayed, even if the prayers were given to you as a penance during the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
2. Do not repeat the confession of sins that have already been confessed and which have never been re-committed.
3. If you doubt the earnestness of your sorrow in Confession, consider the sorrow as having been adequate.
4. If you are doubtful as to whether a past action committed was sinful, mention it simply to your confessor.
5. If you are worrying that maybe you never confessed a certain sin from your past, consider it confessed. If you know for a fact that you have never confessed that sin, then confess it simply. The Holy Spirit does not torment us with doubts and/or guilt; rather, He always brings peace as He awakens our conscience to our sins. (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11: “Indeed, sorrow for God’s sake produces a repentance without regrets, leading to salvation, whereas worldly sorrow brings death. Just look at the fruit of this sorrow which stems from God. What a measure of holy zeal it has brought you.”)
6. Examine your conscience for no longer than three minutes each day, and for no longer than about ten minutes before you go to Confession.
7. If you have prayed at the time of temptation, you can be sure you did not commit a mortal sin.
8. If you have a history of scrupulosity, and you have made a General Confession at some time in your past, do not make another General Confession. Once a month is a good norm for the frequency of a regular Confession.
9. If possible, go to Confession to the same confessor-priest.

10.Most importantly, cultivate a humble heart by complete obedience to the direction of your confessor. Be patient with yourself. Love is the goal of all our lives. It is important to remember that scrupulosity usually (and, quite often, ultimately) stems from one’s personal pride or arrogance, as though the scrupulous person holds this personal opinion: “I have a higher norm than most normal people.”

fathersofmercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Ten-Commandments-to-Guard-Against-Scrupulosity.pdf

PoGuy, thanks a bunch for this.