I went to Confession to a visiting priest and I have been left confused, upset and very frightened. The main sins I confessed were of missing Mass on days of obligation due to chronic illness flares leaving me bedbound/housebound, and issues with impatience, lukewarmness and dryness while groggy and mentally confused from fever and meds side-effects. I struggled and prayed for help whenever I was orientated enough to do so.

The priest spent a LONG time saying over and over that Absolution would not save me from having to pay for these sins in Purgatory regardless of illness being involved, and how I must make extra reparation now, with major penances (as well as the prayers I was told to say after Confession) such as fasting and almsgiving. He did not say how much extra I had to do to pay these sins off.

I already do as much as I physically can, including daily prayers, rosary, spiritual reading (due to health these are a huge battle). I am never NOT sick or in pain but always attend Mass when I physically can. I try to live a good Catholic life as best I can.

I struggle financially and can't afford to eat properly, but already give regularly what I can to Catholic causes. (I also still send my donation to the weekly church collection even when I can not physically attend). I am trying to find scrape together some money to give to a priestly charity I support to ask them to say masses in reparation for those I missed.

I've struggled to add extra prayers and spiritual reading since the Confession but keep failing because I am too sick to concentrate.

But I missed Sunday Mass again yesterday (if I had gone there would have been a real risk of my physcially collapsing and causing a disturbance, as happens when pushed beyond my limits).

I am terrified and very confused. Is the Holy Spirit warning me through this priest that I must do more? My PP has told me in the past year that God would understand if I was too sick for Mass. He has also said that my daily prayers were excessive for a layperson and tried to get me to do LESS. (I have mild OCD and tendencies to scrupulocity.)

My PP (currently away) knows more of my personal circumstances and has experienced serious illness himself, while the visiting priest seems to hold a low opinion of Westerners as materialistic and lazy, and is himself young and very fit. The PP has never recommended making all these extra reparations. Could this be because he is aware of the efforts I am already making (while the VP is not) and thinks they are sufficient?

I don't want to get into a situation of playing them off against each other "Oh but the OTHER priest told me..." I don't feel I should raise these contradictions with either priest.

I am so confused about what to do. I fear displeasing God or rebelling against what he wants, but I don't know how to break through my physical and mental (and financial) limits to do more if that is what God requires.

I'd be grateful for any advice.