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JillD
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 600 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Wed Jun 6th, 2007 05:06 pm |
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I remember hearing that Pope John Paul II went to Confession every day or every week or something. Surely he had no mortal sins to confess - or I wouldn't think he did, though maybe...
The last time I went I had two things that I felt were borderline, so I confessed them. The priest then asked me, "Is that it?" in a tone of voice that I THOUGHT sounded like 'surely there must be more.' Would it be considered scrupulous to search my soul so strenuously that I find something that might be mortal, or would I use the opportunity to begin working on habitual, but venial sins??
My understanding is that a mortal sin is one in which I consciously and even blatantly choose to disregard what I know God wants and to instead choose a behavior that is especially 'bad.' Mostly, though, I am impatient and critical. Bad character traits, but I don't think they're mortal sins.
What was JPII confessing and how can I model my confession after his? (Obviously, no one knows the answer to the first part, though we could imagine...)
Jill
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"The alternative to obedience is to turn the conversation into a cacophony of Christians making it up as they go along." - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus
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mrsbmoo
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 267 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Methodist. RCA, Presbyterian, Holiness, Wesleyan... Catholic as of June ... |
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Posted: Wed Jun 6th, 2007 05:27 pm |
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I had the same experience with a priest. I feel more comfortable at pennance services so I go when they are offered even I have no huge sins to confess. I, too, suffer from character faults which are a constant struggle and definitely cause venial sin but not really intentional sin. So the priest i go to said almost exactly the same thing. I almost felt like I was wasting his time. I have not felt good about confession and go only because I feel it is the right thing to do, which makes it expecially discouraging. Should we just skip confession if we have nothing pressing on our conscience?
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Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 7 months and 16
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Jun 6th, 2007 05:49 pm |
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JillD wrote: I remember hearing that Pope John Paul II went to Confession every day or every week or something.
It is my understanding that John Paul II and Benedict XVI both confess(ed) daily. John Paul II recommended that we confess monthly.
I used to struggle with this as well, and as a result I seldom went to confession. But I know I need the grace of the sacrament, so I've come up with what for me is a "reasonable compromise".
When I have no mortal sins to confess, I acknowledge my sinfulness, then pick a particular character flaw that I am trying to improve. For example, I may say something like this:
"I have no mortal sins to confess, but I know that I am a sinner, and I'm sorry especially for all those times I've been guilty of hypocrisy, and in failing to live up to what I preach to others."
It may be selfishness, or failing to tell the complete truth, or anger in dealing with others in traffic, or whatever comes to me in my examination of conscience.
I've had priests make me feel like I was wasting their time, and I've had priests commend me for working to improve myself. It doesn't really matter what they think. I listen attentively to whatever they have to say, and do my penance. It's usually quite easy to accomplish, so I'll sometimes double it.
And I'm not saying this to pretend that I'm holier than anyone else; I just find it extremely difficult to deliberately and intentionally go against God's will on grave matters, like I find it virtually impossible to think of cheating on my wife. (Lord knows I fail often enough on smaller things.)
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 720 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Wed Jun 6th, 2007 07:23 pm |
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| Would this be a good topic for a Wednesday chat sometime?
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 263 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Thu Jun 7th, 2007 12:12 am |
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JillD
Would it be considered scrupulous to search my soul so strenuously that I find something that might be mortal, or would I use the opportunity to begin working on habitual, but venial sins??
mrsbmoo
Should we just skip confession if we have nothing pressing on our conscience?
JillD
What was JPII confessing and how can I model my confession after his?
Wal, here's my 2 cents. And worth watcha paid for it... 
I try not to be discouraged with the attitude of a priest now and then. They have bad days. This has happened to me, I guess it happens to everybody. So expect it to happen again. I look for priests who have the capacity to be helpful when I really need it.
It doesn't hurt to examine our behavior for possible mortal sins. And working on our venial sins helps us to avoid mortal sin. So both of your ideas are good Jill.
Because venial sin predisposes us to mortal sin, it is wise to confess as much as possible. This way we get grace specifically for the sin we confess. Frequent confession is so valuable that those desiring perfection will confess daily. Both Jesus and Mary encourage us to go monthly when they requested First Friday and First Saturday devotions. Confessing monthly around the first Friday or Saturday of the month, whether we have to or not, is one way to honor the Devotion of Nine First Fridays, and that of the Five First Saturdays. Also it is a good habit to develop - I notice the longer I wait the harder it gets!
Confessing mortal sins ASAP is absolutely necessary. Venial sins do not need the grace of absolution. They can be remitted by prayer, contrition, fervent communion, and other pious works. Nevertheless to confess them is admirable.
Three things are necessary for a sin to be mortal:
1. Serious matter;
2. Knowledge or firm belief that the act is seriously wrong prior to committing the act;
3. Full consent of the will.
For me, lack of creative examinations and narrow parameters contribute to my apathy. :X So I collect sources like old prayerbooks, new books, and search Catholic websites. Here are some ideas:
Not only are there sins of commission, but also of thought, desire, word, and omission.
I find in varied sources different ways to look at the
Ten Commandments;
sins against Faith, Hope, and Charity;
the threefold Duty we owe To God, To our Neighbor, and To ourselves;
Precepts of the Church;
the seven Deadly Sins;
Sins Against the Holy Spirit;
Sins Crying to Heaven for Vengeance;
the duties of one's state of life,
the nine ways of partaking in the sin of others.
Careful study of these varied sources really helps me to identify many imperfections. Problem is, walking into the confessional with reams of paper tends to get me stares!!! ha ha. Point is, if you find it hard to think up matter for confession, you're not thinking hard enough. I heard one funny sermon where the priest complained about the lack of people going to confession for such a large parish. He said, "my, my I had no idea I was in the midst of soooo many saints!!!" har har.
Peace y'all!
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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