Was it a sin to disobey this priest's order?

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Let me start by saying that I have been diagnosed as overscrupulous. I was told in Catechism that when we go to Confession, all the sins of our past are forgiven, even the ones that we’ve forgotten about; but once we remember the forgotten sins we are still obliged to confess them. I was also told that if you are unsure whether something is a sin or not, and you do it anyways, then it shows that you are just as ready to sin as not to (and so it is a sin). Well, I am constantly remembering things from my past that I think might have been sins. A few years ago I went to Confession and confessed a lot of things from my past that I had never confessed because I had forgotten about them. The priest said that many of them were not sins and that I was being overscrupulous. The priest then told me that all of my past sins were forgiven, and he ordered me never again to confess sins from my past because they are all forgiven. After that, over time I began to remember many other sins from my past that I had never confessed, and I became worried that those sins were never forgiven, since I was told in Catechism that you are still obliged to confess forgotten sins after you remember them. I thought it was possible that the priest did not have the authority to order me not to confess my sins from the past, and that I still had to confess them, but I wasn’t sure. A few years later I went to a different priest and made a General Confession covering all my sins from the past. I also told the priest about the order the other priest gave me, and he told me that it is common to give such an order to overscrupulous people, and so the priest was not overstepping his authority. He then forgave me all the sins I confessed. After this, I felt much better, but I just realized that I disobeyed the order that the previous priest gave me, not to confess sins from my past again. Was it a sin to disobey this order? I don’t know whether I need to confess disobeying the order, because I think that confessing my past sins did me a lot of good, so I don’t regret it; but still, the priest told me that he had the authority to give me the order, so I was obliged to keep it. I am really stuck and don’t know what to do. Please help.
 
I think this is a clear example of being over scrupulous(which both of your confessors have agreed with.) Not only are you worried that the first priest didn’t absolve you, you’re worried that the second one didn’t because you confessed what you didn’t think was absolved in the first confession but weren’t supposed to.

I think you should simply realize that both priests have absolved you and that your sins are forgiven.

God is not some angry fellow upstairs stomping around waiting for you to sin so he can kick you while your down. He’s a loving father, who wants to forgive you and wants your love. Accept the forgiveness and the grace that comes with it.
 
Remember Scripture:
He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
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John 20:21-23.

Jesus was a carpenter; He was not a lawyer. More importantly, he was not the stereotype we have today of the legalistic, bureaucratic lawyer who scours the texts, looking for any loophole to do whatever is necessary to see that justice is prevented.

God loves you, and He granted the power to the priests to forgive you the sins you have committed. They specifically discussed forgotten sins with you, and they forgave those, too. You are NOT required to worry about them any more, because you HAVE been forgiven.

If you feel that you are suffering from scrupulosity, I highly recommend that you find a good spiritual counselor to discuss your faith. They can be very helpful in guiding through this kind of crisis.

I get that you’re worried; that’s one of the things that happens to people who suffer from scupulosity. That’s why it’s very important to follow the guidance of the priests when they give it to you. That’s what they’re there for.
 
jill316 said:
I was told in Catechism that when we go to Confession, all the sins of our past are forgiven, even the ones that we’ve forgotten about; but once we remember the forgotten sins we are still obliged to confess them.
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Just wanted to point out that you only need to confess mortal sins from the past.
 
My sugestion to you is RELAX. Go out to the country or a park and smell the roses, sit on a beach and watch the waves. Lie on your back outside and watch the sky- either the clouds during the day, or at night with the stars out.
In short, look at, and glory in Gds vast gift of nature. And, whilst doing this say a prayer of thanks for the magnificance of Gds gift to us.
It will help you to stop being self-centered-which is a major cause of scrupulosity. One last thing. If you pray the rosary every day, offering it up to Mother Mary asking her help in overcoming your problem it will work…and, you will be amazed at how fast the Blessed Virgin will come to your aid.
 
Jill, you should just have a quiet word with your Priest, tell him exactly what you told us, and then take his advise.
 
Jill,
Having dealt with scrupulosity I know how difficult it can be. I would recommend that you find a spiritual director that is able to help you get over your scrupulosity. You are in my prayers.
 
Hello there Jill,
I know exactly what you’re going through. This past summer I had a terrible bout of depression over something very similar to your situation. I wasn’t sure if a priest really does have the authority to give special guidance to those (including myself) who suffer from scrupulosity. I now know that priests do indeed have the power to do just that and that, unless there’s something clearly wrong with the guidance given (and I emphasize clearly wrong, not something brought on by scruples), we should follow our confessor’s instructions to the t. I myself am still trying to view God as not being legalistic, etc., but I know if I keep on trying to achieve that and keep on educating myself about sin, Church dogma, etc. I will have a much clearer picture that will only continue to get clearer with time 🙂 Lastly, if you know of a priest who is orthodox (aka accepting and practicing of all Church teachings, etc.) I suggest you ask him to help you out with your struggle. And if he gives you advice that to you, someone with scruples, may have doubts about listen to him and follow his instruction. Remember, God has given your confessor the authority to use special means to help lead you away from your scruples and towards a more loving relationship with God.

Take care and God Bless 🙂
 
Don’t worry about it - since it seems you had already described what the previous priest had said in your later confession, that later priest already know about the “disobedience”.

For the avoidance of doubt: ALL your sins up to the point of your confession were absolved. ALL OF THEM.

Do not let your scruples get the better of you, because then you’re almost forcing God into a corner as if to tell him, “I’m not going to let you forgive me because I can’t forgive myself”.

God doesn’t want you to live that way, because even though you have been offered the grace of absolution, you’re not letting it take root and flower in your soul.

Absolution is a wonderful experience. Stop worrying, remember the words of those wise priests and let its grace set you free.
 
Make sure you have a “regular confessor” …he will guide you.

Yes it is important for a person who is scrupulous to follow the direction of his confessor (of course if he goes off is rocker and tells you murder is ok…well do not follow that)…but such does not rule out new direction from another …or other things (nor is it necessarily objectively a “sin” to not do what he directs or to do what he directs one not to do…it though may not be good for you and defeats the purpose of having a confessor).

The Priest to whom you made your “general confession” allowed you to do so even after he heard of the Priest from years ago direction…so he in a sense took you in a different direction at that time.

You can lay the question of any “sin” out to your regular confessor (or the confessor in the next confession if you do not have one yet…)…
 
jill316 said:
Let me start by saying that I have been diagnosed as overscrupulous. I was told in Catechism that when we go to Confession, all the sins of our past are forgiven, even the ones that we’ve forgotten about; but once we remember the forgotten sins we are still obliged to confess them. I was also told that if you are unsure whether something is a sin or not, and you do it anyways, then it shows that you are just as ready to sin as not to (and so it is a sin). Well, I am constantly remembering things from my past that I think might have been sins. A few years ago I went to Confession and confessed a lot of things from my past that I had never confessed because I had forgotten about them. The priest said that many of them were not sins and that I was being overscrupulous. The priest then told me that all of my past sins were forgiven, and he ordered me never again to confess sins from my past because they are all forgiven. After that, over time I began to remember many other sins from my past that I had never confessed, and I became worried that those sins were never forgiven, since I was told in Catechism that you are still obliged to confess forgotten sins after you remember them. I thought it was possible that the priest did not have the authority to order me not to confess my sins from the past, and that I still had to confess them, but I wasn’t sure. A few years later I went to a different priest and made a General Confession covering all my sins from the past. I also told the priest about the order the other priest gave me, and he told me that it is common to give such an order to overscrupulous people, and so the priest was not overstepping his authority. He then forgave me all the sins I confessed. After this, I felt much better, but I just realized that I disobeyed the order that the previous priest gave me, not to confess sins from my past again. Was it a sin to disobey this order? I don’t know whether I need to confess disobeying the order, because I think that confessing my past sins did me a lot of good, so I don’t regret it; but still, the priest told me that he had the authority to give me the order, so I was obliged to keep it. I am really stuck and don’t know what to do. Please help.
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Jill,

I have a feeling that you were instructed to not confess old sins because you were repeating them. Now, you may not have been reconfessing specific instances of mortal sin but probably the same category of sin. For instance, if you go to confession to confess masturbation, you should try to articulate the number of times you have committed the sin. However, if you later remember another instance (of the same sin) that you did not specifically confess earlier, there is no reason to go back and confess it again. You have been forgiven for the sin of “masturbation.” However, if you later remember an instance where you stole money and never confessed for stealing, then you should go back and confess it even though you have been forgiven for it as well.

As far as your confession to the later priest. You had a question/problem about the first confession that you brought up with the second priest. There is no sin in seeking guidance. Even if it was a sin, he gave you absolution for your sins, correct? You are all set.

I do agree with the previous posters. Jesus is not an attorney and is not looking to damn you on a technicality. Take God’s grace and the wonderful gift of confession that He has given us and rejoice in His forgiveness!
 
Thank you all so much for your responses. I found them very helpful.
 
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