Venial sin driving me nuts

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So I did something stupid the other day and streamed a TV episode off an illegal site. Felt bad about it and proceeded to rewatch it legally the following day. Intellectually, I’m pretty sure this is venial but my conscience won’t leave me alone and it’s distracting me from my prayer life. Complicating matters, I have to make appointments for confession because I live in the middle of nowhere and don’t drive. My priest is seriously overworked and it hasn’t been that long since my last confession. What do I do?
 
If it’s venial just bless yourself with some holy water. Holy water remits venial sins. Boom
 
Don’t be scrupulous. If this is your most serious sin, you must be a true saint.
 
Well my most serious sin in the last 3.5 weeks that I’m aware of. Hence why I don’t want to bother Father but I’m at a loss over how to tamp down the guilt.
 
jtavington said:
So I did something stupid the other day and streamed a TV episode off an illegal site. Felt bad about it and proceeded to rewatch it legally the following day. Intellectually, I’m pretty sure this is venial but my conscience won’t leave me alone and it’s distracting me from my prayer life. Complicating matters, I have to make appointments for confession because I live in the middle of nowhere and don’t drive. My priest is seriously overworked and it hasn’t been that long since my last confession. What do I do?
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It was a venial sin at most. Seriously, don’t let your conscience bother you.
 
SacredHeartBassist said:
If it’s venial just bless yourself with some holy water. Holy water remits venial sins. Boom
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It’s still good to confess venial sins, you don’t have to, but you should. And don’t ever use holy water as a “magic cure” for venial sins.
 
It would drive me nuts I suppose, too, but I figure I might as well just walk. It’s not very far.
 
Confession? Aren’t you going to turn yourself in to the FBI? 🤣
 
jtavington said:
So I did something stupid the other day and streamed a TV episode off an illegal site. Felt bad about it and proceeded to rewatch it legally the following day. Intellectually, I’m pretty sure this is venial but my conscience won’t leave me alone and it’s distracting me from my prayer life. Complicating matters, I have to make appointments for confession because I live in the middle of nowhere and don’t drive. My priest is seriously overworked and it hasn’t been that long since my last confession. What do I do?
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Without a doubt we all have nothing but respect for you both for your spiritual and ethical concern. However, i honestly doubt that yours was even a venial sin. In any case, my dear Saint-to-be, please pray for me a true sinner…
 
holy water remits sins. i’m not saying it’s ok to go out and commit sins. i’m just saying it’s good to know that it remits sins.

so OP–say an act of contrition and use some holy water. maybe your diocese has a lot of priests. mine doesn’t. it’s kind of a waste of time to go to confession for venial sins since they’re remitted at mass during the penitential act. just say an act of contrition and you’re good.

but anyway, i have a feeling that OP is struggling with scrupulosity. i don’t even think streaming a TV show that is hosted online is even a venial sin.

it’s not like he was the one who posted it on the site. besides, you don’t know for sure if the person who posted had permission to post it. maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. so there.
 
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Probably the biggest issue would be supporting the sites with ad views and such, that’s one reason not to do it in the future.

But yes, in this case it would seem to be venial. Don’t let it bother you too much OP, it’s not worth getting stressed out over. God wouldn’t want this to interfere with your prayers. You’ve already re-watched it legally, which is good, now don’t worry too much (i.e. don’t worry at all!).
 
Now. Now. Tell God you are truly sorry. Then say one Our Father and ten Hail Mary and promise yourself you will never do it again. Attend a mass the first thing in the morning.
 
A Priest said during a homily -
that us, gathered faithfully at mass, is like going to confession -
That mass absolves us.
Anyone know - if that’s somewhat true, out of curiousity ?
 
I am sort of an old Catholic in the sense that we regard the Eucharist as not a Confession. The two Sacraments do not replace each other. Perhaps Father meant it in a different way, like we can recall our inequities and sins as we go along the different parts of the mass. Sins need to be confessed though, in a Confession.
 
Seagull said:
A Priest said during a homily -

that us, gathered faithfully at mass, is like going to confession -

That mass absolves us.

Anyone know - if that’s somewhat true, out of curiousity ?
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Definitely not mortal sins, so the Mass cannot be regarded as a substitute for sacramental confession, but I believe venial sins may be remitted by certain parts of the Mass, particularly reception of the Eucharist.

It is still good and recommended to confess venial sins.
 
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Reuben_J said:
Now. Now. Tell God you are truly sorry. Then say one Our Father and ten Hail Mary and promise yourself you will never do it again. Attend a mass the first thing in the morning.
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Just in case. I was just kidding here. 😁
 
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Be thankful because you haven’t done anything stupid since then…
 
I think this is clearly venial and considering you already made reparations, a minor issue at worst. And i have scrupulosity issues. I have had guilt in similar situations, similar nagging doubts. From previous confessions with a certain Priest, I can imagine he would tell me that i was being scrupulous and not come to confession too much and not to worry needlessly. He would probably say that this was not a sufficiently grave matter. So i will tell you to take the advice of my Priest, say a prayer for any wrong you may have done and dont obsess. Next time you have a confession you could mention it, if you are like me and confess venial matters after getting your more serious sins confessed. But i see no need to go to confession just for this. My priest, in my opinion, would say the same. Also, it is probably best not to get in the habit of trying to get relief of your doubt from people on the internet. A dangerous habit, imo. Use your own informed conscience and judgment, because God gave you them for a reason.
 
Guilt is like a smoke alarm. Once you start fighting the fire or find the alarm is false, you are allowed to turn it off. With sin, if a venial offense blares as if were mortal, investigate.

No one helped by your feeling bad. Ask why you feel bad.

Imagine what the people you wronged would say to you, keeping in mind they know it is a first offense. They would be unhappy with you and might not think much of you but I doubt they would throw you in jail.

Imagine what those who taught you not to steal and believe you’re a trustworthy person… put yourself in their shoes. What would they say? What would you say if they brought something like this to you?

Bring it to God when you’ve examined yourself.

You might find your issue is shame, which can spring from pride or can spring from having been shamed a lot or both. You’re an individual–who can say? When the smoke alarms going off are all out of proportion to the fire, though, ask questions. You need those to be working correctly.
 
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SacredHeartBassist said:
but anyway, i have a feeling that OP is struggling with scrupulosity. i don’t even think streaming a TV show that is hosted online is even a venial sin.
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I totally agree. Besides remember, if it’s not a mortal sin, there’s no point in thinking your going to hell over it.
And it can’t be a mortal sin…remember the three things necessary to make a sin mortal…and I don’t think they apply here. So rest easy.
 
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