What am I going to do about confession and communion?

[McatholicN]

I am scrupulous. I have not received communion since some time last summer. Tomorrow is the last day to receive communion and fulfill third precept of the Church, which would be a mortal sin if I didn’t.

I went to confession last Saturday, but am worried about it’s validity. For one, the priest stopped me during confessing what I believed to be mortal sins (albeit doubtful mortal sins, as far as I remember) and said that he would absolve me of any other sins (though I don’t know if I actually said anything along the lines of “for these and all my sins”). Also, I’m skeptical as to whether I had sufficient contrition and a sufficient firm purpose of amendment. Aside from this, I’m worried that I have committed mortal sin between then and now.

I don’t know of anywhere that has confession on Sunday, and I’m afraid to make an appointment. Not to mention that it will take forever trying to go through anything that I may ever have committed, including each of the nine ways one can be an accessory to sin.

Dominus vobiscum.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

You need to find ONE priest to confess to. He should be your only guidance. Go to confession on the schedule he sets, believe him when he says your sins are mortal or not. Don’t come here asking questions about your confessions, possible culpibility, or anything else of that nature.

Go to Mass tomorrow, receive communion, and then follow only your confessors advice. I will be praying for you.

 

[TeenageConvert]

When he gave the absolution, all your sins were forgiven, you are in a state of grace. Go to mass and receive our Lord Jesus Christ. You need the eucharist in your life, Satan is trying to trick you into thinking God has not forgiven you, and he is trying to interupt your walk with God by tryiing to keep you from receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

I’ll pray for you.

 

[McatholicN]

I kind of need to know the answers to some of those things before receiving communion. I think I would be in mortal sin if I did not receive communion today via the third precept. Is there any way to be excused of it?

 

[damooster]

I kind of need to know the answers to some of those things before receiving communion. I think I would be in mortal sin if I did not receive communion today via the third precept. Is there any way to be excused of it?

In my opinion, your sins were forgiven last Saturday. If you committed a mortal sin since then, I would not present myself for Holy Communion since you don’t want to receive unworthily. I would then go to Confession as soon as possible and Confess that you did not receive Holy Communion once during Easter.

It sounds like you are very scrupulous and it’s something you definitely need to work on/get help for.

 

[McatholicN]

Would this count as a good reason that would prevent me from receiving during the Easter season as prescribed by the third precept? The problem with this is, though, that I don’t think I haven’t received communion since last summer, but I don’t know what the date was so I may break even the exception.

 

[damooster]

Would this count as a good reason that would prevent me from receiving during the Easter season as prescribed by the third precept? The problem with this is, though, that I don’t think I haven’t received communion since last summer, but I don’t know what the date was so I may break even the exception.

If you are absolutely sure you committed a mortal sin since your confession last Saturday, you should not receive today. Receiving the Eucharist unworthily is not something you want to do.

This does not, however, count as a “good reason” to violate the third precept. But I would rather violate the third precept than receive the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin.

It seems like you are having difficulty understanding your confession last weekend. If you went to confession with the intention of confessing all of your sins, as it sounds like you did, it does not matter that the priest cut you off. He did so for reasons you or I will not know. But he gave you absolution so your sins were forgiven.

You say that you may have committed a mortal sin since your last confession. This is not possible because in order to commit a mortal sin, you must know for certain that it was a mortal sin. If you are not convinced as to whether or not the sin was mortal when you committed it, it is not a mortal sin. If this is the case, I would receive the Eucharist.

Scrupulosity is something that Satan uses to keep people from the Eucharist. Think about it: you haven’t received the sanctifying graces that come with receiving the Eucharist in a year because of your scrupulosity! You really need to find a way to win this battle!

 

[McatholicN]

This does not, however, count as a “good reason” to violate the third precept. But I would rather violate the third precept than receive the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin.

I was going more along the lines that scrupulousity and the difficulty of getting to confession is a mortal sin.

damooster:

It seems like you are having difficulty understanding your confession last weekend. If you went to confession with the intention of confessing all of your sins, as it sounds like you did, it does not matter that the priest cut you off. He did so for reasons you or I will not know. But he gave you absolution so your sins were forgiven.

Even if I didn’t confess all mortal sins? There’s still the question of whether or not I had sufficient contrition and a sufficient firm purpose of ammendment.

damooster:

You say that you may have committed a mortal sin since your last confession. This is not possible because in order to commit a mortal sin, you must know for certain that it was a mortal sin. If you are not convinced as to whether or not the sin was mortal when you committed it, it is not a mortal sin. If this is the case, I would receive the Eucharist.

I don’t think it’s that simple. The conditions are excruciatingly difficult to recognize. I look back on sinful action in question and really am clueless as to whether or not it was mortal.

 

[laszlo]

The priest is he judge, not you for yourself. Accept his decision.

If you have serious doubts about the state of your soul, go to confession at the next possible time and take the communion after that. This is legal.

 

[damooster]

Even if I didn’t confess all mortal sins? There’s still the question of whether or not I had sufficient contrition and a sufficient firm purpose of ammendment.

The priest gave you absolution for all the sins you confessed and told you that he would give you absolution for the ones that he did not let you get to. In the future, you should begin with your mortal sins first; you originally said that he stopped you after you confessed sins that were doubtfully mortal. The priest is assuming this and therefore may have believed that you were getting into venial sins. However, you were still given absolution. You have to trust his judgement on this.If you’re still uncomfortable with not confessing undoubtedly mortal sins, then bring it up at your next confession. But this alone should not keep you from the Eucharist, in my humble opinion.

Only you can decide if you were contrite and intended on amending your life. By going to Confession, one can only assume that you had these intentions otherwise you would not have gone to Confession in the first place.

I don’t think it’s that simple. The conditions are excruciatingly difficult to recognize. I look back on sinful action in question and really am clueless as to whether or not it was mortal.

Once again, for a sin to be a mortal one, it must meet three specific criteria:

1. Grave/mortal in nature.
2. You know that the sin is mortal.
3. You deliberately consent to the sin.

If you are genuinely “clueless” as to whether or not it was a mortal sin, it was not a mortal sin. Thinking that a sin may be mortal in nature does not allow you to know that the sin is mortal, and therefore one of the three conditions I just listed above were not met. Therefore, you did not commit a mortal sin.

 

[McatholicN]

Only you can decide if you were contrite and intended on amending your life. By going to Confession, one can only assume that you had these intentions otherwise you would not have gone to Confession in the first place.

I went to confession so that I could go to heaven? Is that sufficient enough contrition? I also thought to myself that I would try not to commit mortal sins in the future.

damooster:

If you are genuinely “clueless” as to whether or not it was a mortal sin, it was not a mortal sin. Thinking that a sin may be mortal in nature does not allow you to know that the sin is mortal, and therefore one of the three conditions I just listed above were not met. Therefore, you did not commit a mortal sin.

I thought you could commit mortal “unsure” sins, in which it would be mortal but you were unsure whether the action was of grave matter or not. It is DIFFICULT to look back and tell whether the conditions were met for mortal sin.

Also, what exactly does it mean to be conscious of mortal sin? That you KNOW you committed a mortal sin?

I’m so unsure about everything and I really need help! Right now, this is the only place I can go. This is SERIOUS! I would be committing a MORTAL SIN if I don’t receive communion today. :crying:

 

[damooster]

I went to confession so that I could go to heaven? Is that sufficient enough contrition? I also thought to myself that I would try not to commit mortal sins in the future.

Well, wanting to go to heaven is half of it I would say. We go to confession because our sins offend God and so you wish to reconcile.

And if you made a conscious decision to not commit the same sins in the future, than you are obviously trying to amend your life. So, again, your confession seems valid to me.

I thought you could commit mortal “unsure” sins, in which it would be mortal but you were unsure whether the action was of grave matter or not. It is DIFFICULT to look back and tell whether the conditions were met for mortal sin.

I have never heard of an “unsure” sin. If it doesn’t meet the three criteria I listed, it’s not a mortal sin.

Also, what exactly does it mean to be conscious of mortal sin? That you KNOW you committed a mortal sin?

Yes, you knew that the act was mortally sinful but you did it anyways.

I’m so unsure about everything and I really need help! Right now, this is the only place I can go. This is SERIOUS! I would be committing a MORTAL SIN if I don’t receive communion today. :crying:

From what you’ve told me, I would receive Holy Communion. It sounds like you had a valid confession last weekend and you aren’t sure if something you did since then was a mortal sin (thus making the sin venial since you don’t know if it’s mortal).

If I were you, I would make an appointment to discuss all of this with your priest. I am not qualified to give you a firm answer; I’m just sharing my opinion. Your priest knows you better than I do and is much more knowledgeable in these areas.

 

[McatholicN]

I received communion today (just barely fulfilling the third precept). However, I’m worried that there may be small, probably extremely small, parts of the Eucharist in my mouth. I’m scared to brush my teeth, eat, etc.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Drink a glass of water then.

 

[SunnaB16]

Your saliva would pretty soon dissolve any small particles.
Please: don`t suffer from scruples over it!

 

[acarlson]

Also, there’s nothing to worry about with the VERY small particles. If it’s no longer identifiable as bread, then the Real Presence is no longer there. But yeah, your saliva will do all the work. Don’t worry

 

[Seatuck]

Also, there’s nothing to worry about with the VERY small particles. If it’s no longer identifiable as bread, then the Real Presence is no longer there. But yeah, your saliva will do all the work. Don’t worry

This.

 

[smichhertz]

Was going to launch into an explanation about it, but the above posts have covered it perfectly!

 

[timeandeternity]

MCatholicN,

You have asked this question in at least two different forums here. If you would like to ask a question here, that’s completely fine, but your primary source of guidance needs to be your spiritual director.
I understand very well what you are going through (as a previous slave of scruples), and–I am going to be very emphatic in this!–you need to talk to your priest. Now. Please don’t try to go this alone!

I would also really consider joining the ocd/scrupulosity group on this site. There are some truly amazing people in this group who will be there for you through thick and thin. They will give you the most incredible support and brotherly love, and in addition, they’ll all be praying for you every day!

I will leave you with a piece of advice that one of the holiest and wisest priests I have ever met told me (he, in fact, dealt with severe scrupulosity at one time):
Unless you can swear on a stack of Bibles before God Himself that you have absolutely, without any kind of doubt or uncertainty, committed a mortal sin, you HAVE NOT committed a mortal sin! It appears that you really have no idea whether you actually committed a mortal sin (and therefore, I’m sure, would not swear on a Bible that you did)–so do not try to convince yourself that you have.