What to do when in doubt about commited sin?

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andtecre

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For a few weeks now I’ve been having a strange feeling, doubting whether I had committed mortal sins at some times recently. I have been reading a lot about it, but still haven’t been able to figure out if I really consented to a sin, or if what I did was actually a mortal sin. This opressive feeling is really painful and makes me desperate to understand if I’m in the state of grace, to put my mind at ease.

I suspect I might be a bit scrupulous, but since I couldn’t find a way to remove my uncertainty anyway, I just decided to try to be sorry for all my sins, had I committed them or not, as described in this article. Now the only problem is that perfect contrition must include the resolution to go to confession as soon as possible, but if I’m not 100% sure that I had committed a mortal sin, what should I tell in that confession? As far as I know, it is wrong to confess a sin one has not committed.

Please give me some advice about what to do, as this sudden doubt is really distressing.

Thanks in advance.
 
Go to Confession and tell the priest what is troubling you and ask whether or not it is a sin.

If it is a sin, you’ll get absolution, if it’s not a sin he will tell you that. Either way you will be relieved.

Go to Confession.
 
Absolutely go to confession! We do not need to know if a sin is venial or mortal as long as we are truly sorry and humbly confess what we have done. In my own personal experience going to confession is so much more or can so much more than just confesssing one sins but also to discuss struggles, etc. One church I used to go to frequently had confession available for 30 minutes before Mass which was not enough so they made it for 45 minutes before Mass and now they still do 45 minutes before both of their Masses but they now also have confession from 7:30 - 8:30 PM on a Monday and from 7 - 8 PM on Wednesdays. Most of the penitents are in the confessional for at least 5 minutes. The priests give a lot of spiritual direction to penitents. Everyone who goes to confession there understand this so no-one is saying “Oh, my God What have they done” The church is really vibrant. Therefore do NOT
hesitate to go and receive the mercy of God.

Maronita
👍
 
Speculating will only drive you crazy, an could possibly lead to scruples.
Go to confession. That’s one of the benefits of having a confessor.
 
andtecre said:
For a few weeks now I’ve been having a strange feeling, doubting whether I had committed mortal sins at some times recently. I have been reading a lot about it, but still haven’t been able to figure out if I really consented to a sin, or if what I did was actually a mortal sin. This opressive feeling is really painful and makes me desperate to understand if I’m in the state of grace, to put my mind at ease.

I suspect I might be a bit scrupulous, but since I couldn’t find a way to remove my uncertainty anyway, I just decided to try to be sorry for all my sins, had I committed them or not, as described in this article. Now the only problem is that perfect contrition must include the resolution to go to confession as soon as possible, but if I’m not 100% sure that I had committed a mortal sin, what should I tell in that confession? As far as I know, it is wrong to confess a sin one has not committed.

Please give me some advice about what to do, as this sudden doubt is really distressing.

Thanks in advance.
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Go to Confession and ask. Do not accuse yourself immediately. Ask.

If your confessor says it’s not a sin, believe him and do not think about it any more.

If your confessor says you are scrupulous and gives you instructions, obey him unconditionally.

And most importantly: if your confessor tells you to not confess uncertain sins, do not confess uncertain sins.
 
andtecre said:
For a few weeks now I’ve been having a strange feeling, doubting whether I had committed mortal sins at some times recently. I have been reading a lot about it, but still haven’t been able to figure out if I really consented to a sin, or if what I did was actually a mortal sin. This opressive feeling is really painful and makes me desperate to understand if I’m in the state of grace, to put my mind at ease.

I suspect I might be a bit scrupulous, but since I couldn’t find a way to remove my uncertainty anyway, I just decided to try to be sorry for all my sins, had I committed them or not, as described in this article. Now the only problem is that perfect contrition must include the resolution to go to confession as soon as possible, but if I’m not 100% sure that I had committed a mortal sin, what should I tell in that confession? As far as I know, it is wrong to confess a sin one has not committed.

Please give me some advice about what to do, as this sudden doubt is really distressing.

Thanks in advance.
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ASKING if something is a sin is not the same as CONFESSING it as a sin. I think you may be reading too much, and it is confusing your ability to reason out if you have committed a mortal sin or not. The best way to know is to have a regular confessor, go to confession regularly and ask if you are not sure. If he says no, don’t argue or second guess him or ask for other opinions on the internet (us at CAF) drop it and move on.
 
andtecre said:
For a few weeks now I’ve been having a strange feeling, doubting whether I had committed mortal sins at some times recently. I have been reading a lot about it, but still haven’t been able to figure out if I really consented to a sin, or if what I did was actually a mortal sin. This opressive feeling is really painful and makes me desperate to understand if I’m in the state of grace, to put my mind at ease.

I suspect I might be a bit scrupulous, but since I couldn’t find a way to remove my uncertainty anyway, I just decided to try to be sorry for all my sins, had I committed them or not, as described in this article. Now the only problem is that perfect contrition must include the resolution to go to confession as soon as possible, but if I’m not 100% sure that I had committed a mortal sin, what should I tell in that confession? As far as I know, it is wrong to confess a sin one has not committed.

Please give me some advice about what to do, as this sudden doubt is really distressing.

Thanks in advance.
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Son one type of doubt concerns the question of weather you committed a particular act and another concerns if that act is a sin with a particular gravity. There must be sufficient reflection for mortal sin, for the class of sins that is not the result of willful ignorance. From Catholic Encyclopedia:
Practical doubt, or doubt as to the lawfulness of an action is, according to the teaching of moral theology, incompatible with right action; since to act with a doubtful conscience is obviously to act in disregard of the moral law. To act with a doubtful conscience is therefore, sinful; and the doubt must be removed before any action can be justified. It frequently happens, however, that the solution of a practical doubt is not attainable, while some decision is necessary. In such cases the conscience may obtain a “reflexive” certainty by adopting an approved opinion as to the lawfulness of the action contemplated, apart from the intrinsic merits of the question.

Sharpe, A. (1909). Doubt. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
newadvent.org/cathen/05141a.htm
 
Vico said:
doubt as to
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I ought to note quickly here that those who struggle with scruples can be in a rather ‘different boat’.

Their ‘apparent doubts’ not being such doubts but scruples …undue fears…

They instead need to have a "regular confessor" to direct them. To give them direction and even principles to follow-- in their scruples - where they can “act against” them and not take them for what they are not…dismissing them…despising them…not arguing with them.

(any discussion though lets do off the thread…for it would take the thread off course etc)
 
andtecre said:
For a few weeks now I’ve been having a strange feeling, doubting whether I had committed mortal sins at some times recently. I have been reading a lot about it, but still haven’t been able to figure out if I really consented to a sin, or if what I did was actually a mortal sin. This opressive feeling is really painful and makes me desperate to understand if I’m in the state of grace, to put my mind at ease.

I suspect I might be a bit scrupulous, but since I couldn’t find a way to remove my uncertainty anyway, I just decided to try to be sorry for all my sins, had I committed them or not, as described in this article. Now the only problem is that perfect contrition must include the resolution to go to confession as soon as possible, but if I’m not 100% sure that I had committed a mortal sin, what should I tell in that confession? As far as I know, it is wrong to confess a sin one has not committed.

Please give me some advice about what to do, as this sudden doubt is really distressing.

Thanks in advance.
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While feelings may enter into things (and often they can and such can “perfect” things scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a5.htm#II) conscience is not per se about feelings. Rather reason…

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a6.htm

And of course as Christians -Faith is very much involved. Following Christ…walking in the Spirit…

To commit a mortal sin one needs grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent.
I suggest getting a regular confessor - at least for the time being. He can determine if to what degree you are struggling with scruples and help you dismiss them etc.

One is not obliged to confess a doubtful sin.

The general rule of thumb is that those who have a normal conscience - they are advised to confess any doubtful mortal sins - noting there is doubt.

Where as often those with scruples are advised not to confess directly doubtful sins (including doubtful mortal) but of course if there is any sin that was really there - such can be included in the general statement (such as and all my sins…).

Feel free to pm me if I can be of further help.

But get that regular confessor…at least for a time to sort things out.

And keep following Christ!! In him is true life!
 
Bookcat said:
I ought to note quickly here that those who struggle with scruples can be in a rather ‘different boat’.

Their ‘apparent doubts’ not being such doubts but scruples …undue fears…

They instead need to have a "regular confessor" to direct them. To give them direction and even principles to follow-- in their scruples - where they can “act against” them and not take them for what they are not…dismissing them…despising them…not arguing with them.

(any discussion though lets do off the thread…for it would take the thread off course etc)
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We could not discuss this offline because your inbox is full and you cannot receive private posts.

Baltimore Catechism has the signs. The OP does not report any of those. There is not report of being always dissatisfied, nor of being self-willed.
Q. 831. What are the signs of scruples and the remedy against them?
A. The signs of scruples are chiefly:


  1. *]To be always dissatisfied with our confessions;
    *]To be self-willed in deciding what is sinful and what is not. The chief remedy against them is to follow exactly the advice of the confessor without questioning the reason or utility of his advice.
 
Vico said:
We could not discuss this offline because your inbox is full and you cannot receive private posts.

Baltimore Catechism has the signs. The OP does not report any of those.
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Box is open now - had to clear away other pms…sorry.

The BC is one older local catechism not a treatise on scruples…one does not need to be “dissatisfied always with confession” …nor does one need to be “self willed” to have scruples…that could happen (due to their fears) they have troubles that can seem “self willed” or even be… but that is not some requirement… ( I did not get into saying that the OP was struggling with scruples -they had mentioned that there may be such and I would refer them to a regular confessor)

In any case what I noted is important. And needed to be added to thread for those with scruples can be quite drawn to reading a thread by the title given.
 
Bookcat said:
Box is open now - had to clear away other pms…sorry.

The BC is one older local catechism not a treatise on scruples…one does not need to be “dissatisfied always with confession” …nor does one need to be “self willed” to have scruples…that could happen (due to their fears) they have troubles that can seem “self willed” or even be… but that is not some requirement… ( I did not get into saying that the OP was struggling with scruples -they had mentioned that there may be such and I would refer them to a regular confessor)

In any case what I noted is important. And needed to be added to thread for those with scruples can be quite drawn to reading a thread by the title given.
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No contradiction to the Baltimore Catechism which only gives the chief signs.
 
andtecre said:
… I suspect I might be a bit scrupulous, …
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Lest there be any misunderstanding in the following Baltimore Catechism statement, here is the Oxford Dictionary definition of self-willed, one of the chief signs of scruples:Obstinately doing what one wants in spite of the wishes or orders of others: ‘the child may be very obstinate and self-willed’
Q. 831. What are the signs of scruples and the remedy against them?
A. The signs of scruples are chiefly:


  1. *]To be always dissatisfied with our confessions;
    *]To be self-willed in deciding what is sinful and what is not. The chief remedy against them is to follow exactly the advice of the confessor without questioning the reason or utility of his advice.
 
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