When you keep falling back into the same sin...after confession

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whatevergirl

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I go to confession at least once per month, sometimes twice. I don’t know if I’m being too scrupulous, or not, but let’s say, I confess the sin of worry…or anxiety…or having impure thoughts…whatever the sin might be, and I truly mean to avoid what leads me to that sin, but then a few days later, I find myself ‘‘falling,’’ should I go back to confess that same thing? I guess this could go with any sins…but, just wondering if anyone here has this same issue at times, with sins that you might struggle with? Not saying you shouldn’t confess those sins again, but if something becomes almost automatic…like you truly don’t intend to sin in that way ever again after confess…you really try to live a repentant life…but you stumble, is that considered a mortal sin, do you think? Maybe that is more of what I’m trying to ask. Thanks for your help with this. :o
 
whatevergirl said:
I go to confession at least once per month, sometimes twice. I don’t know if I’m being too scrupulous, or not, but let’s say, I confess the sin of worry…or anxiety…or having impure thoughts…whatever the sin might be, and I truly mean to avoid what leads me to that sin, but then a few days later, I find myself ‘‘falling,’’ should I go back to confess that same thing? I guess this could go with any sins…but, just wondering if anyone here has this same issue at times, with sins that you might struggle with? Not saying you shouldn’t confess those sins again, but if something becomes almost automatic…like you truly don’t intend to sin in that way ever again after confess…you really try to live a repentant life…but you stumble, is that considered a mortal sin, do you think? Maybe that is more of what I’m trying to ask. Thanks for your help with this. :o
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This can be a common difficulty…especially with the same or similar venial sins each week or month…

As the Church teaches…we can not for long avoid all venial sins except by a special grace of God…(though one can by the grace of God avoid each sin)

and of course since we are still the same persons…it is quite common to commit the same venial sins. we have the same weakness…

but then there is the grace of the sacrament which can help us!

of course it is possible too that we commit the same mortal sins again…say impure thoughts that were will full knowledge and complete consent…or what have you.

one must have the firm purpose of amendment …but this does not mean that one will in fact not fall again into them.

With venial sins…one needs this firm purpose of amendment …but it is not the same as with mortal sins.

With mortal sins one needs to have the purpose of not committing any mortal sins period.

With venial sins it suffices for a valid confession to resolve to avoid a particular kind of venial sin (that is confessed). It does not need to mean that one is resolved to avoid all venial sins…and it is even enough to have the purpose of fighting against them or lessening their frequency…(this is in regards to venial sins or semi deliberate venial sins)

of course it is better to be able to turn away from sin entirely and have the purpose of amendment to “turn away from sin and believe the Gospel”…

of course though we know that without a special grace from God…we will fall into some venial sins…
 
*Thanks Bookcat, that is helpful. I think ‘‘when in doubt,’’ just go to confession, it can never hurt, but I guess my question is …can one become too scrupulous? Can someone stumble, and truly not have intent to do it, and be terribly regretful afterwards, and not be compelled to going to confession?

What do you mean by your last sentence, may I ask? *
 
whatevergirl said:
*Thanks Bookcat, that is helpful. I think ‘‘when in doubt,’’ just go to confession, it can never hurt, but I guess my question is …can one become too scrupulous? Can someone stumble, and truly not have intent to do it, and be terribly regretful afterwards, and not be compelled to going to confession?

What do you mean by your last sentence, may I ask? *
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Yes…avoid scruples.
 
whatevergirl said:
*Thanks Bookcat, that is helpful. I think ‘‘when in doubt,’’ just go to confession, it can never hurt, but I guess my question is …can one become too scrupulous? Can someone stumble, and truly not have intent to do it, and be terribly regretful afterwards, and not be compelled to going to confession?

What do you mean by your last sentence, may I ask? *
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Yes avoid scruples.

All that needs to be confessed is mortal sin…

A person who has scruples…or a tendency that way…is ordinarily advised not to confess doubtful sins. (though one can of course…adding that it is doubtful…but one should seek to not do this). But they should have a regular confessor and discuss this of course with them.
 
From the Compendium of the Catechism:
  1. When does one commit a mortal sin?
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
  1. When does one commit a venial sin?
1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.
Remember too that venial sins can be forgiven long before confession and do not even need to be confessed (though it is recommended to confess at least some)…by many means…prayer…at Mass etc…

(mortal sins can be forgiven by perfect contrition…which includes the intention of getting to confession as soon as possible (and reasonable).)
 
Oh, yes, that has been of great help…thank you! I somewhat knew this, but it’s always good to ask…just as a refresher. lol I find I struggle with literally the same sins over and over and over…they never change. I sometimes wonder if the priest I normally confess to, knows my voice by now:blush: I appreciate the book suggestion…I am going to check that out. So, if getting to confession is hard today (yet not impossible), say…can I make a good act of contrition, and go next Sat?
 
  1. When does one commit a mortal sin?
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
  1. When does one commit a venial sin?
1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is** essentially different from a mortal sin**, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.
 
Bookcat said:
  1. When does one commit a mortal sin?
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
  1. When does one commit a venial sin?
1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is** essentially different from a mortal sin**, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.
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*Thank you…yes, I am aware of the 3 aspects of mortal sin, but perhaps I wonder if this is mortal or venial…if I fall into some sins, that I’ve confessed, yet…I don’t deliberately ‘‘mean to’’ or even want to. 😊 They don’t just happen of course, lol…but sometimes, I just fall into an old pattern, unwillingly…the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, kind of thing, I guess I would say. *
 
whatevergirl said:
Oh, yes, that has been of great help…thank you! I somewhat knew this, but it’s always good to ask…just as a refresher. lol I find I struggle with literally the same sins over and over and over…they never change. I sometimes wonder if the priest I normally confess to, knows my voice by now:blush: I appreciate the book suggestion…I am going to check that out. So, if getting to confession is hard today (yet not impossible), say…can I make a good act of contrition, and go next Sat?
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If one is conscious of mortal sin…one should get to confession prior to Communion…

if one only has venial sins…one can wait and need not even confess them (though it is good and strongly recommended to confess some of them…and there is the grace of the sacrament etc!)…and be forgiven via many ways…Including an act of contrition.

Venial sins can be forgiven…via prayer…at Mass…at Holy Communion…by alms…etc…even the reading of Sacred Scripture contributes to the forgiveness of such sins…for they can be forgiven ‘from the inside’ as it were…with the increase of charity…for one is still in a state of Grace…

and remember the reality of Baptism! one is in Christ…one is a saint…

we only leave the state of grace by mortal sin…

of course we need to avoid deliberate venial sins very much …for they are sin of course…and they can dispose us towards mortal sin…

so it is not that they are to be taken too lightly…but that they are essential different than mortal sin…and we needs to live the reality of our baptism…our being in Christ…saints…(which includes repenting of these venial sins and seeking to avoid them of course…but includes more than that too)
 
whatevergirl said:
*Thank you…yes, I am aware of the 3 aspects of mortal sin, but perhaps I wonder if this is mortal or venial…if I fall into some sins, that I’ve confessed, yet…I don’t deliberately ‘‘mean to’’ or even want to. 😊 They don’t just happen of course, lol…but sometimes, I just fall into an old pattern, unwillingly…the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, kind of thing, I guess I would say. *
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it all depends on if these are mortal sins.
 
whatevergirl said:
*Thank you…yes, I am aware of the 3 aspects of mortal sin, but perhaps I wonder if this is mortal or venial…if I fall into some sins, that I’ve confessed, yet…I don’t deliberately ‘‘mean to’’ or even want to. 😊 They don’t just happen of course, lol…but sometimes, I just fall into an old pattern, unwillingly…the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, kind of thing, I guess I would say. *
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I know very well …all about falling again and again into the same venial sins…

and well I have to repent and keep asking forgiveness and seeking to again renew my commitment to live the Gospel…(even in the smaller things)

in about an hour and a half I too will be going to confession…and well…hummm…some of them are repeat offenders…(ok several) and so it goes…one sturggles with grace against these habits of sin…some weeks i do better than others…some i do worse…
 
whatevergirl said:
*Thank you…yes, I am aware of the 3 aspects of mortal sin, but perhaps I wonder if this is mortal or venial…if I fall into some sins, that I’ve confessed, yet…I don’t deliberately ‘‘mean to’’ or even want to. 😊 They don’t just happen of course, lol…but sometimes, I just fall into an old pattern, unwillingly…the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, kind of thing, I guess I would say. *
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if what you are asking is “does the repeating of venial sins become a mortal sin” …the answer to that is no.

To commit the same venial sins again…is well a venial sin(s)
 
Perhaps that is my question. lol Thank you very much for discussing this with me here. I am going to leave shortly for confession…again. I just went LESS THAN a week ago, and can’t believe I have fallen again. 😦 I don’t know why I cannot rid myself of these habitual ways of thinking, but I’m trying. I truly mean the act of contrition when I speak it, I just don’t know. I might spend a few minutes discussing this today with this particular priest I confess to. Thanks again, and may you have a reflective and holy confession today, as well. 🙂
 
whatevergirl said:
Perhaps that is my question. lol Thank you very much for discussing this with me here. I am going to leave shortly for confession…again. I just went LESS THAN a week ago, and can’t believe I have fallen again. 😦 I don’t know why I cannot rid myself of these habitual ways of thinking, but I’m trying. I truly mean the act of contrition when I speak it, I just don’t know. I might spend a few minutes discussing this today with this particular priest I confess to. Thanks again, and may you have a reflective and holy confession today, as well. 🙂
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Your very welcome…I love confesssion…

it is good to approach it too as a kind of renewal of living ones Baptism …of following Christ and living the Gospel…so that even the confession of our venial sins helps us set off again at a good pace in following him.

This is a great homily…not so much about this thread…but there are aspects there…

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20090628_chius-anno-paolino_en.html
 
Hey there Bookcat…I went to confession, got back a little while ago, and the priest said a very memorable thing, I think. He basically said that often times, after confession, we receive absolution, but we don’t want to accept it…we keep mulling over our sins. For your penance, I encourage you to do an act of kindness, and to know that your sins have been given to God, and He forgives you. You don’t need to keep thinking about them, because I think that is why you are repeating them–they are on your mind too much. I thought that was brilliant…hopefully, this will stick with me, now. Just sharing. 🙂
 
whatevergirl said:
*Thank you…yes, I am aware of the 3 aspects of mortal sin, but perhaps I wonder if this is mortal or venial…if I fall into some sins, that I’ve confessed, yet…I don’t deliberately ‘‘mean to’’ or even want to. 😊 They don’t just happen of course, lol…but sometimes, I just fall into an old pattern, unwillingly…the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, kind of thing, I guess I would say. *
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I would worry about it if it were mortal sins that you were regularly falling into…

but since it is only venial sins…I wouldn’t worry about it … when I say don’t worry I don’t mean that you should give up trying not to sin… but rather ask the Lord to give you the grace to be able to change that old pattern so that you will grow holier and holier all the time… its a struggle and we are all weak & in need of the Lord’s grace… we just need to pick ourselves up and try again whenever we fail you know?

I admire the fact that you go to confession regularly…keep it up:thumbsup: You’ll recieve much grace from confessing your sins regularly (even if only venial)…just don’t let yourself be overcome by all this anxiety & worry…offer it up to the Lord

I hope this helps… I submit to the authority of wiser catholics(being a single layman) who will be able to give a better suggestion
 
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