Two Questions - Confession and Mass

[KiwiBird87]

Hello! This is my first post here, but I’ve been lurking for some time I had two questions which I hoped you guys could help me with.

The first is about confession. Is it possible to go and only confess/be absolved from some sins? Is is worse to not make a full confession or to confess sins which I’m not sure I’m committed to stopping yet? Or should I just not go to confession until I can commit to turning from ALL my sins with ALL my heart? My problem is that I am bulimic, and while I know that this can be a real illness, I know that for me at least, it is very much a sin. I know it’s wrong, I’m intentionally disobeying God when I do this, and I feel really guilty about it. The Holy Spirit is definitely convicting me on this one. I want to stop, and I am trying, when I’m thinking rationally, but when it comes right down to it, in the heat of the moment, I keep failing. I am sorry about this sin, but clearly not “with all my heart” or I would be able to stop… I just don’t know if I can honestly say an act of contrition about this and promise to “sin no more”. I’ve confessed this twice before and then gone right back to it. I feel like a hypocrite and a liar, and I don’t think I can confess this again until I can make myself shape up in this area and mean that Act of Contrition when I say it. But I want to confess my other sins. What do I do?

My other question is this. Like I said, I’m having trouble with bulimia. It’s kind of out of control right now, but the one thing that really helps me is taking the Eucharist. I never purge for the rest of the day after going to Mass because I absolutely don’t want to throw that precious gift away. So many times, I’ve been tempted to purge but knowing that I have the Eucharist inside me has prevented me from doing so. And thank God, he has always given me strength and self control when I have Him inside of me. My question is, is it alright to go to daily Mass as a way of trying to stop an eating disorder? Or is that sort of an abuse of the Eucharist, using it as a “means to an end” so to speak? Although, the “end” goal would be to overcome a sin and to live in a way that is closer to and more pleasing to God. I don’t know. I really want to stop this problem, and I think this would help, but I don’t want to “use” Mass or the Eucharist as a tool of some sort, I know that’s not what they’re about. Maybe I just need to pray more about this.

Thanks in advance for any (name removed by moderator)ut!

 

[Eilish_Maura]

The first is about confession. Is it possible to go and only confess/be absolved from some sins? Is is worse to not make a full confession or to confess sins which I’m not sure I’m committed to stopping yet? Or should I just not go to confession until I can commit to turning from ALL my sins with ALL my heart? My problem is that I am bulimic, and while I know that this can be a real illness, I know that for me at least, it is very much a sin. I know it’s wrong, I’m intentionally disobeying God when I do this, and I feel really guilty about it. The Holy Spirit is definitely convicting me on this one. I want to stop, and I am trying, when I’m thinking rationally, but when it comes right down to it, in the heat of the moment, I keep failing. I am sorry about this sin, but clearly not “with all my heart” or I would be able to stop… I just don’t know if I can honestly say an act of contrition about this and promise to “sin no more”. I’ve confessed this twice before and then gone right back to it. I feel like a hypocrite and a liar, and I don’t think I can confess this again until I can make myself shape up in this area and mean that Act of Contrition when I say it. But I want to confess my other sins. What do I do?
!

Think of going to confession, confessing all the other sins then tell the priest what you told us re the eating disorder. He will give you guidance for going forward.

Daily mass and reception of the Blessed Sacrament is always a good thing. When you go to confession mention your desire to do this and what changes you are hoping it will give you strength and courage for.

Good luck.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello! This is my first post here, but I’ve been lurking for some time I had two questions which I hoped you guys could help me with.

The first is about confession. Is it possible to go and only confess/be absolved from some sins? Is is worse to not make a full confession or to confess sins which I’m not sure I’m committed to stopping yet? Or should I just not go to confession until I can commit to turning from ALL my sins with ALL my heart? t!

no this would be an invalid confession if you intentionally withhold some sins. the rest of your post shows you do want to stop the harmful behaviors. Yes it would be wrong to confess and ask forgiveness for something you have no intention of stopping, and that would also be a bad confession.

but NO it is not necessary to be completely free from all attachment to sin, and to confess knowing that in all probability you (like every single one of us sinners here) will fall into sin in the future. Confession is the sacrament that HELPS you get to where you want to be, to destroy that attachment to sin, and to combat harmful habits.

by the way a harmful habit that has its roots in a medical problem, a psychological disorder, or even a mental disturbance is not necessarily a sin even though you know it is objectively wrong. you also have the duty to seek guidance from a professional who can help with those aspects. For you to be guilty of a sin you must have full freedom to choose the action, and any of those examples would limit your free will choice.

go to confession, weekly if you have to, and seek God’s grace in the sacrament to combat your problems, rather than trying to be perfect before you come to the sacrament on your own strength.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hello! This is my first post here, but I’ve been lurking for some time I had two questions which I hoped you guys could help me with.

The first is about confession. Is it possible to go and only confess/be absolved from some sins? Is is worse to not make a full confession or to confess sins which I’m not sure I’m committed to stopping yet? Or should I just not go to confession until I can commit to turning from ALL my sins with ALL my heart? My problem is that I am bulimic, and while I know that this can be a real illness, I know that for me at least, it is very much a sin. I know it’s wrong, I’m intentionally disobeying God when I do this, and I feel really guilty about it. The Holy Spirit is definitely convicting me on this one. I want to stop, and I am trying, when I’m thinking rationally, but when it comes right down to it, in the heat of the moment, I keep failing. I am sorry about this sin, but clearly not “with all my heart” or I would be able to stop… I just don’t know if I can honestly say an act of contrition about this and promise to “sin no more”. I’ve confessed this twice before and then gone right back to it. I feel like a hypocrite and a liar, and I don’t think I can confess this again until I can make myself shape up in this area and mean that Act of Contrition when I say it. But I want to confess my other sins. What do I do?

My other question is this. Like I said, I’m having trouble with bulimia. It’s kind of out of control right now, but the one thing that really helps me is taking the Eucharist. I never purge for the rest of the day after going to Mass because I absolutely don’t want to throw that precious gift away. So many times, I’ve been tempted to purge but knowing that I have the Eucharist inside me has prevented me from doing so. And thank God, he has always given me strength and self control when I have Him inside of me. My question is, is it alright to go to daily Mass as a way of trying to stop an eating disorder? Or is that sort of an abuse of the Eucharist, using it as a “means to an end” so to speak? Although, the “end” goal would be to overcome a sin and to live in a way that is closer to and more pleasing to God. I don’t know. I really want to stop this problem, and I think this would help, but I don’t want to “use” Mass or the Eucharist as a tool of some sort, I know that’s not what they’re about. Maybe I just need to pray more about this.

Thanks in advance for any (name removed by moderator)ut!

Is it possible to go and only confess/be absolved from some sins? Is is worse to not make a full confession or to confess sins which I’m not sure I’m committed to stopping yet? Or should I just not go to confession until I can commit to turning from ALL my sins with ALL my heart?

No, you cannot intentionally not confess some sins. You cannot confess sins you are not intending to truly avoid.

My problem is that I am bulimic…

Then you problem is a medical one, not one of sin. I hope you are under the care of a medical professional.

 

[anonon]

Confess your sins anonymously, online at iconfessmyself.blogspot.com

 

[benedictgal]

Confess your sins anonymously, online at iconfessmyself.blogspot.com

This is not the approved form of confession for a Catholic. In order for the sacrament to be valid, the priest has to physically be present, as well as the penitent, and you need to confess all of your sins with the genuine intent of contrition and a firm purpose of amendment. And, of course, the priest must absolve your sins using the approved formula.

Although, as puzzleannie correctly pointed out, we are weak human beings who do have the propensity to sin, the sacrament of Penance helps us to rise up and take up our crosses once again.

 

[Harch]

Hi KiwiBird,

Thank you for your post and candor. I want to let you know that you are not alone. My struggles with binge/purging (and thoughts for correction) are almost identical to yours as discribed. I have confessed my difficulties more than once. In my last confession, the Priest asked me to read a book called “Love Hunger.” I’m still waiting for it, but intend to read it completely before the end of Lent. I have faith that with God’s help and grace that this sin will end - but it is a persistent one at that. Your post helped me know that I’m not unique or alone. I’m sure it helped others struggling too. Thank you for that and Thank Jesus for helping us! Sometimes I think things are just a test of perseverence.

Respectfully, Harch

P.S. I like the idea of daily Mass… has that helped you?

 

[po18guy]

Think of going to confession, confessing all the other sins then tell the priest what you told us re the eating disorder. He will give you guidance for going forward.

Daily mass and reception of the Blessed Sacrament is always a good thing. When you go to confession mention your desire to do this and what changes you are hoping it will give you strength and courage for.

Good luck.

Amen! If you have enough control to avoid purging after consuming our Lord, go daily! Offer your sin to Jesus at the offertory, begging for help.

Seek Christ daily, and seek help. Your body (temple of the Holy Spirit) and your immortal soul are at risk. You started this behavior at some point. You have the power also to stop. The Lord guarantees to help you.

As a practical matter, the lining of your esophagus is being eroded by the contant exposure to acid that it was not intended to withstand. This leads to Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cellular mutation to a pre-cancerous condition. You want to stop. You CAN stop.

May the Lord strengthen you against this temptation.