What to do about scrupulosity?

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hausofferni

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Ever since becoming much more devoted to my Catholic faith and such I feel very guilty all the time. If i could go to confession everyday i would. What should i do? I usually confess every other Saturday, i would go every Saturday but i wouldn’t want my priest to think bad of me. After I’ve confessed, i leave church feeling amazing and pure, but then from the church to the car and drive home, i feel guilty. Sometimes i wont take holy communion the next Sunday morning because i feel guilty. Sometimes (and i know this sounds crazy) I think the only solution is to blindfold my eyes and tape my mouth shut for the next few hours until i attend mass. It hurts me so much that i can never take holy communion proud and happy because i feel like im tainted. I know i don’t commit mortal sin, only venial at most, but still. How can i help this? Can we still take holy communion while having committed venial sin? Thank you and God bless! :o
 
Don’t think about it and it will go away. In time you’ll recognize it when it comes around and be able to mentally block it.

If you know you haven’t mortally sinned then you can definitely take communion. There is a Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass; don’t you feel your venial sins being washed away during it? If you don’t already, keep an eye on the Missal that should be provided (or get yourself one if it isn’t) and you’ll understand better what’s going on during the Mass. This will both keep your mind occupied and keep you concentrated on the Mass at the same time. Don’t be afraid to pick up the hymnals at the appropriate times too. 😛
 
I suggest you get a Spiritual Director to help you with your thoughts.

Lou
 
I battle with this as well. It can be maddening for sure. I m always thinking there will be something from my past that will pop up that I have forgotten and keep me out of heaven. Even a general confession does not help. I was doing well for a time until I saw Dr Gloria Polo s testimony and I was traumatized The best advice given to me is to immerse yourself in the Divine Mercy daily. And to focus more on the question. "When I was hungry did you feed me ? Naked did you cloth me ? Being scrupulous is tough but I guess what comes with that is a sensitivity to others as well and I have a feeling you are very kind and sensitive toward others needs. This is what Jesus said we will be judged on. Love to the best of your ability . You can t do more than that. …and follow the Ten Commandments . Be sure to relax in the Love of Christ. God Bless You
 
Do you think that God would want you to suffer and feel permanently guilty? If your answer is no, then your feelings are not from God.
 
Its warfare, you have to fight it with scripture the same way Jesus did, line for line word for word, and to take a full will to mind dump what they are puttting in your head I had to learn the hard way myself but thats where you learn to fight the devils and there darts. And talk to God about your past to see if there isnt a foothold or opendoor from the past where they are allowed to still keep pulling your chain.
  1. Scriptural warfare,
  2. Stop thinking about it
  3. Talk to God about your past.
 
hausofferni said:
After I’ve confessed, i leave church feeling amazing and pure, but then from the church to the car and drive home, i feel guilty. Sometimes i wont take holy communion the next Sunday morning because i feel guilty. … How can i help this? Can we still take holy communion while having committed venial sin?
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Scrupulosity is sometimes associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD (source). I by no means intend to imply that this is necessarily happening in your situation, but you do appear to be on the extreme end of the spectrum and it would be worth your while to discuss the matter with a good Catholic therapist (here).

It is not appropriate for you to still feel guilty for sins after receiving absolution as that implies that you doubt the mercy of our Lord and/or His grant of authority to His ministers, (“Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” Jn 20:23) Unless you are only referring to sinful actions committed after receiving the sacrament, in which case guilt would be appropriate, but what you are experiencing seems too severe. Finding a good spiritual director will also help you distinguish between fleeting temptation (which is involuntary and not sinful) and deliberately engaging in sinful acts.

You are only barred from receiving the Holy Communion if you have unabsolved mortal sins, though venial sins on your soul may inhibit experiencing the full grace and blessing of the sacrament. If you are concerned about intervening sins, why not remain in church for the Vigil Mass that most parishes hold immediately after the regular reconciliation hours? You can always go to Sunday Mass as well.

I understand the distress you are experiencing, and while it is a good thing to be cognizant of the way sin impacts our day to day lives, your experience seems to be overwhelming you. As others have alluded to, the Adversary seeks to distance each of us from doing the Lord’s will in any way he can. While binding your head might be an effective way to reduce the possibility of committing a venial sin prior to Mass, it also prevents you from doing the good things that God wants you to do.

I will pray for you. :gopray:
 
Lou2U said:
I suggest you get a Spiritual Director to help you with your thoughts.

Lou
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Scrupulosity is a form of OCD (I have OCD but I’m not very scrupulous, though I have been when I was a kid). In addition to a SD, you need a good psychologist.
 
Faith1960 said:
Scrupulosity is a form of OCD (I have OCD but I’m not very scrupulous, though I have been when I was a kid). In addition to a SD, you need a good psychologist.
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Correct. I just talked to someone from a OCD center and was told that scrupulosity is a sub-type of OCD. I am going to get a assessment this week.

To the OP, If you think it is very bad, you can try the same. Because, I tried to get spiritual direction but it seems that can take a very long time to find someone with enough time who is willing and qualified to help us suffering with scrupulosity. But, do try. Try making a appointment to talk with your senior pastor at the very least. I know what you are going through. You need to seek help outside yourself in some way.
 
As another poster stated, try saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet everyday. I was scrupulous too but I found out that the Divine Mercy is very helpful. I have it in song on my MP3 player and I listen to it at 3:00 pm. I also found that going to Adoration helps along with reading the Bible and praying the Act of Contrition every night before bed.
 
Look. This is a problem brought about by too much thinking. So the best advice I have for you is to sit down and imagine if the things you are worried about having done would offend you if your 3 year-old neice or nephew or child or neighborhood kid did them to you. I mean that is kind of the level of distance between us and God right? So as long as you aren’t in the habit of doing anything malicious, just think about how little you’d worry about being affronted by a 3 year-old and realize that compared to a guy like me God is going to be overjoyed to welcome you into heaven.

Now if you want to talk about things that will keep you out of heaven, talk to me. I’ve done most of them.

Peace.

-Trident
 
The Church elaborated on the difference between mortal and venial sin precisely because they want to encourage people to frequent reception of the Eucharist and so the laity needed to know when it was appropriate to abstain. Don’t deny yourself of Christ unless you are 100% sure you committed a mortal sin. Christ himself will absolve you of venial sin through the Eucharist, he will purify you and sanctify you and love you for who you are.

pianistclaire posted this link for someone else, and I would like to share it. Read it. Print it out. Reflect on it.

mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm
 
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