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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
masterbation and confession	Henry	Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius, I am shortly to be confirmed as a Catholic and ever since I have become interested in the Catholic faith my life has become happier and happier. However one thing is bothering me about when I eventually make my first confession. I used to gratify myself sexually even though I am married and have managed now to control those urges. Even though I no longer commit this mortal sin I feel as though I should confess my previous sins to the priest at first confession. My problem in this is not the confession itself as I would feel relieved to have confessed these things. My problem is that both fathers at our church have become very good friends and I feel ashamed of what they would think of me when I confess these former sins. I hope you can help me with this problem. I have found your web site extremely interesting and helpful. God Bless You and I will think of you in my prayers. Love and Peace, Henry
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Henry: Welcome to the Church. We praise God that you have found "home". I understand that you may feel ashamed, but I can assure you that your priest friends will not think any less of you for confessing this sin. In fact, masturbation is one of the most confessed sins of all from what priests have told me. They will not be shocked or disappointed in you or in anyway think less of you for confessing this sin. If you feel you just can't confess to them, then go to another priest, but NEVER fail to go to confession for being ashamed. There is a story told of a very saintly nun who died. All her sisters in the convent presumed she would go straight to heaven. One day one of the sisters was given a vision. She saw this dead nun in pain and agony. The dead nun told the sister to please tell the rest of the sisters to not be ashamed to confess anything. She explained that there was one mortal sin that she was too embarrassed to confess and thus died with that mortal sin on her soul. Instead of heaven, she was in hell. This is a true story. I think the visionary was St. Teresa of Avila. Priests have pretty much heard it all. Do not be afraid. Offer ALL of yourself to God, empty your heart of all sin, and be cleansed in the grace of a loving God that comes when the priest grants you absolution. We will be praying for you. 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

masterbation and confession

Henry

Tuesday, November 9, 2004

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius,

I am shortly to be confirmed as a Catholic and ever since I have become interested in the Catholic faith my life has become happier and happier. However one thing is bothering me about when I eventually make my first confession. I used to gratify myself sexually even though I am married and have managed now to control those urges. Even though I no longer commit this mortal sin I feel as though I should confess my previous sins to the priest at first confession.

My problem in this is not the confession itself as I would feel relieved to have confessed these things. My problem is that both fathers at our church have become very good friends and I feel ashamed of what they would think of me when I confess these former sins. I hope you can help me with this problem.

I have found your web site extremely interesting and helpful.
God Bless You and I will think of you in my prayers.

Love and Peace,
Henry

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Henry:

Welcome to the Church. We praise God that you have found "home".

I understand that you may feel ashamed, but I can assure you that your priest friends will not think any less of you for confessing this sin. In fact, masturbation is one of the most confessed sins of all from what priests have told me. They will not be shocked or disappointed in you or in anyway think less of you for confessing this sin.

If you feel you just can't confess to them, then go to another priest, but NEVER fail to go to confession for being ashamed.

There is a story told of a very saintly nun who died. All her sisters in the convent presumed she would go straight to heaven. One day one of the sisters was given a vision. She saw this dead nun in pain and agony. The dead nun told the sister to please tell the rest of the sisters to not be ashamed to confess anything. She explained that there was one mortal sin that she was too embarrassed to confess and thus died with that mortal sin on her soul. Instead of heaven, she was in hell.

This is a true story. I think the visionary was St. Teresa of Avila.

Priests have pretty much heard it all. Do not be afraid. Offer ALL of yourself to God, empty your heart of all sin, and be cleansed in the grace of a loving God that comes when the priest grants you absolution.

We will be praying for you.

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