Saints' Discussion Forums

How do you feel a person/Catholic can tell between being somewhat scrupulous vs. going to frequent confession for venial sins/imperfections (only). Now, I can certainly understand going very frequently by an ecclesial minister (priest/bishop/Pope) who has the responsibility to teach, however I commonly catch myself wondering what I'm not catching in my examination of conscience. I know what the CCC and Canon law says on the subject, but since many of us find it difficult to find an orthodox, experienced SD or confessor, what do you guys think? How often is good to you?

When I was going to daily mass regularly, they had Confession 15 minutes before every mass. So I could go whenever I liked.

I would confess my venial sins there, and come out fresh as a daisy, several times a week.

This I would say was my happiest time of life, because Confession was available just before mass and one wants to receive the Eucharist with as scrubbed clean a soul as possible.

Scrupulous people might have to follow a different rule, if they drive themselves batty in their examinations and doubts. For me it was simple enough, I had areas I knew I needed to work on and I worked on them.

And therein lies the key, Shin.  You are relaxed in tone as you confess frequently venial sins.  Someone with scruples can't get the sin(s) out of their mind.  They think about it over and over and over again.   Emotional intensity, fear, worry....... that's the difference between confessing venial sins frequently in simple trust of forgiveness vs chewing the cud (imagine a cow chewing-- that's what worry-ers and scrupulous people do).  

My thoughts about thinking about what one has forgotten to confess?  I don't think anyone remembers them all in the confessional.  There are just toooooo many to remember.  So, I simply trust God knows and goes by my heart's contrition. 

I mean to buy some books on scrupulosity when I can, I'd like to have a better handle on what scares people with it so I can avoid it.  :D

Since I can find so many when I do my examen I write the worst ones down (venial sins, that is)on a post-it note and attach that to the Act of Contrition I have typed out and laminated. When I'm actually in confession, I blank out totally.

I've had some difficulty finding good books on it. Please let me know what you find.

Since I can find so many when I do my examen I write the worst ones down (venial sins, that is)on a post-it note and attach that to the Act of Contrition I have typed out and laminated. When I'm actually in confession, I blank out totally.
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As one who writes it down to, I smiled.  :)

 
I've had some difficulty finding good books on it. Please let me know what you find.
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Do you want on scrupulosity specific or obsessive-compulsive, which is the "disorder" that scrupulosity is a subset of?

Do you want on scrupulosity specific or obsessive-compulsive, which is the "disorder" that scrupulosity is a subset of?
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Both and/or either - esp. scrupolosity. I plan on getting an SD soon (when I can get myself to get moving on it). There is a monastery here, however I have been reticent since they generally are more liberal than I prefer.

Hello,
I have a very nice Examination of Conscience for Adults that I use and I tried using the
Rosary, gift-Humility - Sins from - Vanity, Pride, etc.  I thought it provided a creative and
fresh look at my self.  :lilangel:

Confession is only offered once a week, on Saturday in our Diocese.

I go thru which ever tool I am using for my examination and write everything I can down
I have alot of problems with memory anyway and memory under pressure is even less
effective. :angelblue:

I'll work on it.  Our pastor has a parishioner-psychiatrist running an anonymous support group; I'll see if through him I can get resources.  Meanwhile,  I got this off the other forum.

[Liguori Publications Scrupulous Anonymous Link]

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Well, of the Ten Commandments of the Scrupulous - I have real problems with 2,6 & 8, but I do tell Fr. about them in Confession. ::)

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What are the ten commandments of the scrupulous? :shrug:

On the link that Bailey posted. ;)

Thank you very much! :thumbsup:  It's very interresting :angelblue:

Dear Brigid,

I recommend that you read the book Understanding Scrupulosity by Fr. Thomas Santa.  A Catholic Answers apologist recommended it to me back in the day when I was suffering from it.  I hope it helps!  It helped me along with an understanding spiritual director and some other books I found in the bibliography of the book.

Does anyone have the jitters or memory blank out during confession? And how do you overcome it ?  Do you begin with confessing the most-difficult-to-confess sins first and then the others or vice versa?  I have terrible memory blank out and  a note helps me.  If the priest is silent while I have the memory blank out it scares me even more and freezes me .   :D  I once had a priest at confession who gently reminded me of sins I could have committed and that helped me to confess.  He called me sister and asked me to pray for him and it was the most touching experience for me.  I remember he was there on a parish mission.  :)

I used to write everything on a piece of paper then refer to it during confession but I a priest discouraged me from doing that; it is like I was concentrating too much on the sins, the nitty gritty details.
It helps to make a  really good examination of concience before confession, going through the Commandments. If in your examination you find that you broke three of the laws, for instance,  then that helps you to remember.
Father, I sinned against the second commandment by not participating in Mass last Sunday, etc. :)

Dear Patricia,

When you are in the confessional you could say your most serious sins first and get them out of the way.  Then go down the 10 Commandments and the 7 capital sins and mention any violation that comes to mind.  I hope this helps! :)

Thanks Odhiambo and Therese. :)

You're welcome, Patricia! :)