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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
opening up to priest	maria	Monday, September 13, 2004
Question: lately, i've been going to another parish for confession. i don't really know anyone at my parish or the priests to well, the i'm familiar with them just from going to mass. i've felt called, though, to go to my own parish priest, for confession and perhaps, spiritual direction, as i am discerning a possible vocation. i've been ignoring this call because i'm uncomfortable approaching ppl, especially so personally but i worry, because if something is considered wrong by my own conscience, isn't it a sin, even if it wouldn't be wrong for other ppl (to go to a different priest)? i spent a while last night composing a long letter to the priest, basically confessing and explaining myself in detail, but now i'm afraid to give it to him. would it be wierd, presumptuous, would he think i were crazy? again, i really don't know the priest too well, i don't really know any priest too well, and i'm quite anxious about the idea of speaking to him. but i fear ignoring my conscience. some advice would be great. thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Maria: I am not sure how to respond since you really do not detail what your conscience is telling you, what this letter is about to the priest, and why you are afraid. There is nothing wrong with going to a priest for confession at another parish. If you feel you need to do that for anonymity, then do it. I think you may be heading down a road to scrupulosity though I am not sure. As for letter to the priest. Why? to explain that you feel you need to confess to the priest in your own parish? This is not necessary, there is nothing to explain, you do not commit a sin by going to another parish for confession. If you wish to go to Confession in your own parish, then do so. If you wish to ask your pastor to be a spiritual director, then ask him. Do not be afraid, the priests are not going to bite. Ask God to remove this fear from you, but the bottomline frankly is that I think you are making a LOT more out of this than there is. We are to follow our conscience, but that must be an INFORMED conscience. An informed conscience knows that it does not matter if one goes to confession at one's own parish or at some other parish. I would suggest that you let that go. You seem to be making a big deal of this when it is not a big deal. The problem here seems to be the fear. Go before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle and sit there talking to God and also sit there quietly letting God talk to you. Tell Him about your fear and ask Him to remove that fear so you can approach your pastor. God bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

opening up to priest

maria

Monday, September 13, 2004

Question:

lately, i've been going to another parish for confession. i don't really know anyone at my parish or the priests to well, the i'm familiar with them just from going to mass.

i've felt called, though, to go to my own parish priest, for confession and perhaps, spiritual direction, as i am discerning a possible vocation. i've been ignoring this call because i'm uncomfortable approaching ppl, especially so personally but i worry, because if something is considered wrong by my own conscience, isn't it a sin, even if it wouldn't be wrong for other ppl (to go to a different priest)?

i spent a while last night composing a long letter to the priest, basically confessing and explaining myself in detail, but now i'm afraid to give it to him. would it be wierd, presumptuous, would he think i were crazy? again, i really don't know the priest too well, i don't really know any priest too well, and i'm quite anxious about the idea of speaking to him. but i fear ignoring my conscience. some advice would be great. thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Maria:

I am not sure how to respond since you really do not detail what your conscience is telling you, what this letter is about to the priest, and why you are afraid.

There is nothing wrong with going to a priest for confession at another parish. If you feel you need to do that for anonymity, then do it. I think you may be heading down a road to scrupulosity though I am not sure.

As for letter to the priest. Why? to explain that you feel you need to confess to the priest in your own parish? This is not necessary, there is nothing to explain, you do not commit a sin by going to another parish for confession.

If you wish to go to Confession in your own parish, then do so. If you wish to ask your pastor to be a spiritual director, then ask him.

Do not be afraid, the priests are not going to bite. Ask God to remove this fear from you, but the bottomline frankly is that I think you are making a LOT more out of this than there is.

We are to follow our conscience, but that must be an INFORMED conscience. An informed conscience knows that it does not matter if one goes to confession at one's own parish or at some other parish. I would suggest that you let that go. You seem to be making a big deal of this when it is not a big deal.

The problem here seems to be the fear. Go before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle and sit there talking to God and also sit there quietly letting God talk to you. Tell Him about your fear and ask Him to remove that fear so you can approach your pastor.

God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.