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Greetings, If I understand this correctly this is what is required when going to confession:
Three things are required of a penitent in order to receive the sacrament worthily:
1.He must be contrite—or, in other words, sorry for his sins.
2.He must confess those sins fully, in kind and in number.
3.He must be willing to do penance and make amends for his sins.
I was brought up Baptist and just recently converted to the Catholic faith, as a Baptist there was no special teachings about masturbation and at about the age of 12 i started, I'm 34 now and over the years have developed a habit of doing this every so often. I never truly feel guilty or have a contrite heart about this sin, because I do not feel that it is bad, mainly because of 90% of my life I have did it...how do I Know if this is just venial and not mortal because of the habit I have developed..also I suffer from anxiety, panic disorders, depression and compulsive disorders which I take medicine for...thanks!
Hi, Chris:
Keep confessing it, and pray the Lord to grant you compunction of heart and greater growth in holiness. Morality is not based upon one's subjective "feeling" about an issue; this is the very root behind all the infidelity, adultery and fornication in society. Everybody just "feels" like they're just satisfying their own "needs" and not really "hurting" anybody else. It is possible to convince ourselves of just about anything - this does not make it right.
Objectively, masturbation is always a grave sin regardless of how we "feel" about it, whether feeling guilty or not. It is not about subjective feeling. It is the misuse of your sexual faculties, as it is not in the context of married love and conjugal, marital fidelity, ordered toward stable family life and procreation. I can only recommend you look more closely into the reasons for the Church's teaching on this matter.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - and don't give up the struggle...
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
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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