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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Confession and Scrupulousness	Dave	Saturday, August 14, 2004
Question: What is the definition of being scrupulous in confession? I think I sometimes struggle with that... for example, I just went to confession and I feel great (confession is an excellent idea... even if one doesn't beleive in the sacrament, which I do), but I'm worried I may not have been specific enough. For example, I said "I have _______" but will not specifiy a number when the number is one such as "numerous" or "many times." A lot of the time when I specifically remember I'll say once or twice, but sometimes I'll just say "I have _______" when I've done it once or numerous times. For example, I have lied ... I leave it like that but I feel the impliciation is that I"ve done so more than once. But what about if I say I've been a coward in defending church teachings. That isn't so obvious. SO... In this specific instance what should I do... I confessed all my sins and the priest didn't ask any questions, but had he done so I would have been more than happy to answer... I'm not holding anything back nor would I ever. So... what should I do? At the time I felt I was being obviously honest, but do I need to go back. Or am I being scrupulous and need to chill? Thanks.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Dave: The first definition of scrupulosity is worrying about an act being a sin when it is not; thinking venial sin is mortal, or thinking mortal sin is the unforgivable sin. In this context scrupulosity is exaggerating ones sins, making mountains out of molehills, making sins when none exist. The other definition of scrupulosity, although related to the first, is a religious form of obsessive-compulsive behavior. It sounds like you are obsessing so much on the dot over the "i" that you have lost sign that the "i" was enough. The Church teaches we are to confess in "kind and number". It is not necessary to detail each and every sin, but for example, if one shoplifted once each from Sears, Pennys, Target Stores the confession would be: "Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I accuse myself of shoplifting three times." Unless the priest asks you for more details it is a good confession to say only that. If one does not know how many times the sin was committed, then just say something like "so many times that I do not remember". If the priest insists that you come up with a number, then estimate. The key factor in your specific example, however, is that regardless of whether or not you gave the priest the number of times you committed the sin, when the priest absolved you, you are absolved unless you were deliberately trying to hide something. It does not sound to me you were deliberately trying to hide anything. Your intention was good. To confess "I've been a coward in defending church teachings" you might add to it "almost all the time", "sometimes", "most often", or whatever describes your situation. Specifics are not needed unless the priest ask for them. What you should do is chill out :) You confessed your sins without reserve. The priest absolved you. Therefore you are forgiven. If you have any concerns at all, then follow the straight line formula and let it go at that, as an example: "Father, forgive me for I have sinned. It has been ____ weeks since my last confession. Since that time I accuse myself of ________ 2 times, _____ once, ____ 100 times, ______so many times I can't remember, and ______ 3487 times. For these and all other sins that I may have forgotten I am sorry for and ask forgiveness." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Confession and Scrupulousness

Dave

Saturday, August 14, 2004

Question:

What is the definition of being scrupulous in confession?

I think I sometimes struggle with that... for example, I just went to confession and I feel great (confession is an excellent idea... even if one doesn't beleive in the sacrament, which I do), but I'm worried I may not have been specific enough.

For example, I said "I have _______" but will not specifiy a number when the number is one such as "numerous" or "many times." A lot of the time when I specifically remember I'll say once or twice, but sometimes I'll just say "I have _______" when I've done it once or numerous times. For example, I have lied ... I leave it like that but I feel the impliciation is that I"ve done so more than once. But what about if I say I've been a coward in defending church teachings. That isn't so obvious. SO... In this specific instance what should I do... I confessed all my sins and the priest didn't ask any questions, but had he done so I would have been more than happy to answer... I'm not holding anything back nor would I ever. So... what should I do? At the time I felt I was being obviously honest, but do I need to go back. Or am I being scrupulous and need to chill? Thanks.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Dave:

The first definition of scrupulosity is worrying about an act being a sin when it is not; thinking venial sin is mortal, or thinking mortal sin is the unforgivable sin. In this context scrupulosity is exaggerating ones sins, making mountains out of molehills, making sins when none exist.

The other definition of scrupulosity, although related to the first, is a religious form of obsessive-compulsive behavior.

It sounds like you are obsessing so much on the dot over the "i" that you have lost sign that the "i" was enough.

The Church teaches we are to confess in "kind and number". It is not necessary to detail each and every sin, but for example, if one shoplifted once each from Sears, Pennys, Target Stores the confession would be: "Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I accuse myself of shoplifting three times." Unless the priest asks you for more details it is a good confession to say only that.

If one does not know how many times the sin was committed, then just say something like "so many times that I do not remember". If the priest insists that you come up with a number, then estimate.

The key factor in your specific example, however, is that regardless of whether or not you gave the priest the number of times you committed the sin, when the priest absolved you, you are absolved unless you were deliberately trying to hide something. It does not sound to me you were deliberately trying to hide anything. Your intention was good.

To confess "I've been a coward in defending church teachings" you might add to it "almost all the time", "sometimes", "most often", or whatever describes your situation.

Specifics are not needed unless the priest ask for them.

What you should do is chill out :)

You confessed your sins without reserve. The priest absolved you. Therefore you are forgiven.

If you have any concerns at all, then follow the straight line formula and let it go at that, as an example:

"Father, forgive me for I have sinned. It has been ____ weeks since my last confession. Since that time I accuse myself of ________ 2 times, _____ once, ____ 100 times, ______so many times I can't remember, and ______ 3487 times. For these and all other sins that I may have forgotten I am sorry for and ask forgiveness."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum