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Question
Father, I'm an 18 year-old college student, and I have struggled for a long time with the sin of self-abuse. This Sunday, I went to confession and naturally named this sin as my most serious, and then went on to my other sins. However, I did not mention that there had been several occasions on which I had done it in bed, in the middle of the night, while my roommate was sleeping in the same room as me. Obviously, my concern is that the possibility of scandal (while admittedly small, since as I mentioned he was sleeping at the time) made the sin more severe, but I did not mention it because...well, it seemed like a weird thing to say. I've pretty much accepted the fact that I was wrong not to mention this caveat, but I'm wondering if it was enough to invalidate the sacrament. On the one hand, the "species" of the sin was masturbation, and I confessed that; on the other, I know that scandal is also a sin. But then again, I was reasonably certain that there had been no scandal, so I felt justified at the time in not adding that caveat. I know there are a lot of issues here, particularly about the fact that trying to avoid embarrassment is not the right attitude with which to view the Sacrament of Penance, but the one I am specifically interested in here is that of validity, and whether or not my Confession (and subsequent Holy Communion) was sacrilegious.
Do I need to reconfess? If so, what should I tell the priest?
Hi, Jacob:
No, your confession was not sacrilegious - it was sincere.
Perhaps in your next confession you could make mention that you think there was the possibility of a past sin of scandal; but you are not certain. But you do not need to go to confession again in the sense of re-doing the same old confession, or have the fear it was invalid.
Be on guard, and rely on the help of God's Grace to do better in the future and to leave behind the old haunts of sin. God bless you!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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