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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Scrupples	Teresa	Friday, February 8, 2013
Question: Hello Brother I been having some rather strong temptations in which I began to act on but for charity sake I did not. Is that still considered a sin. I am having problems about Scrupples sin and temptation I have generally confessed all my temptations and sins and now I was told I have Scrupples. Yet I know my temptations are offensive to God. They are related to PTSD and Trauma but they are getting stronger. Some I can ignore and some put me back into loss of hope. I am doing counseling spiritual direction sacraments including confession sometimes daily mass and adoration but they seem stronger. I have been praying more and using destruction techniques and use what ever means to safeguard against these temptations. These temptations are anger, violence, and sad to say suicidal tendancies, it is hard to admit that but I really think finding away to deal with it in a holy manner and not be heavily medicated is the best way to go. Should I repeat the seven steps of dileverance. Should I let my confessor know in more detail of these temptations? My spiritual director is not a priest so I can not talk about sin and temptation. I am concerned about this. The other night I was almost driven right into complete despair but the next day I went to a chaple and remained there for along time just praying. I have a sense that God is very angry with me because of these temptations or is it my own mind angry at myself. I use sacramentals such as holy water, Benedict crucifix, and rosary. I know they are not magic. So what else must I do to have the peace back I once had. I am so exhausted constantly fighting. I feel I am in constant battle and I am out of aminition. I am up against college deadlines and a licensure exam next quarter. This is a pivotal time in my life and I really need peace of mind, heart, body and soul. Am I not responding to God's graces? I have omit television mostly too because of recent triggers and that helps. My husband has alot of anger and that sets me off to PTSD and so I leave and go to the chaple and pray and go to mass. It helps but as soon as I leave or while I am praying I run into the same temptations or new ones. It makes me wonder all this spiritual exercises prayer and recieving the sacraments are they working or am I not just compliment with God's grace. I need alot of prayers right now.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Teresa: God is not angry with you because you have temptations. If He were to be angry at us for having temptations then he would be angry at everyone on the planet all the time as everyone has strong temptations daily. Temptations are part of the human condition thus temptations will never go away. Stop thinking you are some sort of super-human who is suppose to have no temptations. Join the human race and know that temptations are part of everyday life. To be tempted is NOT a sin. It is the indulgence of the temptation (falling into the temptation and acted out the sin) that is sin. Remember the promise of God: (1 Cor 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. God is not a liar, He keeps His promises. Thus, God will not even allow a temptation to come into your life that would be impossible for you to handle/resist. I know that to be true because God said so. God also promises that he will give us a way to escape from the temptation. God gives you all sorts of help. For example, the frequent partaking of the Sacraments can help with the temptation. Working through the seven steps ought to be a lifelong practice. Review them at least every six months, or more if needed. Talking to your spiritual director can help. I do not know where you got the idea that you cannot talk to a non-priest spiritual director about sin and temptation, but that is a false idea. You can, and should, talk to your spiritual director about anything that is affecting your spiritual life. It is only the "Sacrament of Confession" that must be done by a priest. You can tell your spiritual director anything. He must keep your information confidential too. While he cannot absolve you of your sin since he is not a priest, he still needs to know your sins and temptations in order to advise you. 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

Scrupples

Teresa

Friday, February 8, 2013

Question:

Hello Brother

I been having some rather strong temptations in which I began to act on but for charity sake I did not. Is that still considered a sin. I am having problems about Scrupples sin and temptation I have generally confessed all my temptations and sins and now I was told I have Scrupples. Yet I know my temptations are offensive to God. They are related to PTSD and Trauma but they are getting stronger. Some I can ignore and some put me back into loss of hope.

I am doing counseling spiritual direction sacraments including confession sometimes daily mass and adoration but they seem stronger. I have been praying more and using destruction techniques and use what ever means to safeguard against these temptations. These temptations are anger, violence, and sad to say suicidal tendancies, it is hard to admit that but I really think finding away to deal with it in a holy manner and not be heavily medicated is the best way to go.

Should I repeat the seven steps of dileverance. Should I let my confessor know in more detail of these temptations? My spiritual director is not a priest so I can not talk about sin and temptation. I am concerned about this.

The other night I was almost driven right into complete despair but the next day I went to a chaple and remained there for along time just praying. I have a sense that God is very angry with me because of these temptations or is it my own mind angry at myself.

I use sacramentals such as holy water, Benedict crucifix, and rosary. I know they are not magic. So what else must I do to have the peace back I once had. I am so exhausted constantly fighting. I feel I am in constant battle and I am out of aminition. I am up against college deadlines and a licensure exam next quarter. This is a pivotal time in my life and I really need peace of mind, heart, body and soul. Am I not responding to God's graces?

I have omit television mostly too because of recent triggers and that helps. My husband has alot of anger and that sets me off to PTSD and so I leave and go to the chaple and pray and go to mass. It helps but as soon as I leave or while I am praying I run into the same temptations or new ones. It makes me wonder all this spiritual exercises prayer and recieving the sacraments are they working or am I not just compliment with God's grace. I need alot of prayers right now.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Teresa:

God is not angry with you because you have temptations. If He were to be angry at us for having temptations then he would be angry at everyone on the planet all the time as everyone has strong temptations daily.

Temptations are part of the human condition thus temptations will never go away. Stop thinking you are some sort of super-human who is suppose to have no temptations. Join the human race and know that temptations are part of everyday life.

To be tempted is NOT a sin. It is the indulgence of the temptation (falling into the temptation and acted out the sin) that is sin.

Remember the promise of God:

(1 Cor 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God is not a liar, He keeps His promises. Thus, God will not even allow a temptation to come into your life that would be impossible for you to handle/resist. I know that to be true because God said so. God also promises that he will give us a way to escape from the temptation.

God gives you all sorts of help. For example, the frequent partaking of the Sacraments can help with the temptation. Working through the seven steps ought to be a lifelong practice. Review them at least every six months, or more if needed.

Talking to your spiritual director can help. I do not know where you got the idea that you cannot talk to a non-priest spiritual director about sin and temptation, but that is a false idea. You can, and should, talk to your spiritual director about anything that is affecting your spiritual life.

It is only the "Sacrament of Confession" that must be done by a priest. You can tell your spiritual director anything. He must keep your information confidential too. While he cannot absolve you of your sin since he is not a priest, he still needs to know your sins and temptations in order to advise you.

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.