Is It Gravely Sinful Not To Move Out Of An Area Where Temptations Occu

[Byzantine]

Confessing tomorrow. Need answer. Please. I realize I might be being scrupulous.

Scenarios:

I work as a janitor's assistant at my school. I was cleaning in a certain room and lustful thoughts began assailing me. I don't think I fully consented to any of them, but after I recognized that some of the thoughts were connected to the room I was in, I didn't leave. I had a dust mop with me, and certain thoughts popped into my head about that too. However, I just finished my assigned task and then left. Temptations stopped soon after. Did I do the right thing?

I was in stats class and we were working, so I had freedom of movement. I overheard a conversation that caused tempting thoughts to come into my mind. Since I was almost done with the work, I decided on just finishing it and then going to a different seat. Again, did I do the right thing?

So, do I need to confess this and the like, or am I just being scrupulous?

[AccountDeleted]

You do know that thoughts are not sins, right? They can lead to sin, but that's why God gave you will power (and free will). You can act on those thoughts or not. If you do, that leads to sin. If you don't act on the thoughts, then you have grown stronger by resisiting temptation. Don't you think that Jesus had to have thought about the devil's offer (when being tempted in the desert) before he resisted the temptation?

Just say, 'Get thee behind me, Satan.' and then thank God for His grace in resisting...

I think there is a little bit of scrupulosity at play here -- and that is a temptation as well.... to spiritual pride. Accept that we are all sinners in need of help, and rejoice that we have that help in Jesus.

[MissyP89]

Sometimes, you're going to find yourself in situations where you can't walk away from something sinful. Sin is, unfortunately, all around us ... such is the state of the world we're in.

If those thoughts lead to actions, then yes, you should confess. But thoughts are just that. Acknowledge they're there, say a little prayer and try to go about your business the best you can.

[Byzantine]

Thanks! However, the thing here was that I had the ability, more or less, to move away from said temptations, but didn't.

[MithLuin]

You had work to do, and completed the work before moving.

I think that if you were just idly sitting around and chose not to move, you could view your actions as 'I purposely stayed in a situation that was a near occassion of sin, because I wanted to be there and hear more of the conversation.'

What you are saying happened was, 'I was working in class, and people near me were having a suggestive conversation that distracted me.'

How is that, 'I failed to remove myself'? If your confession sounds like you are confessing other people's sins, it's probably not something you did wrong. If seeing/hearing something causes temptation, sure, look away, try to distract yourself with something else, and do not allow your thoughts to dwell...because that could become sinful. But we have to deal with those temptations, and running away isn't always the way to do it.



If you struggle with scrupulosity, find a regular confessor who can call you on that. You could probably benefit from the advice of someone you trust who knows you well. Since you asked if this failure to act were 'gravely sinful', this is obviously something that was bothering you, and should likely be discussed with the priest in confession. Don't worry, he's had people confess things that weren't sinful before! He can give you some guidance and correct you.

[MithLuin]

Also, it's worth pointing out that physically removing yourself isn't always what's necessary. After all, if someone says something, and you dwell on the thought, you can be quite affected by it even long after the other person is gone. So, in dealing with situations that are tempting, it's sometimes a good idea to remember this verse:

[quote]
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
[i]Philippians 4:8[/i]
[/quote]

[ardillacid]

A short preface: I am not the best catholic, but I have a bit of familiarity with scrupulosity. It is a bit unnerving for me to read your posts because it is as if ardill from 10-15 years ago is posting. I would feel bad if I didn't say anything.

Dude, you need to get a spiritual advisor, yesterday. From someone who has struggled with scrupulously my whole life, it is important that you do this. You are not going to be able to beat it by going to confession everyday. You are not going to beat it by asking phatmassers if X is a sin or not. I know everybody's experiences are unique, but if your scrupulosity is anywhere as bad as mine (as I suspect it is) its not going to be pretty. It is spiritual OCD. It made my life a living Hell on earth going through my early teenage years. There were many times that it was so bad that I wished that I hadn't been born or that God didn't exist because I thought I was going to Hell for sure.

Some things I wish I had known:

You can never really be certain. Learn to let it go.

Cold showers and washing your hands with scalding water aren't really addressing the underlying issue.

For someone with scrupulosity, common sense is a better examination of conscience than those printed guides. I realize that someone with scrupulosity has no common sense when it comes to their sins, but try to gain that perspective, especially with the help of a spiritual guide. And NO, going to the same priest for confession is not the same as having a spiritual guide.

If you live your life in a constant state of fear, it is going to smell of elderberries.



For the rest of phatmass (not necessarily the posters in this thread), you aren't doing this kid any favors by telling him 'it might not be a sin, just confess it anyway'. That doesn't solve anything, it only reinforces the scrupulosity's strength.

That's my two bits. I am loathe to give advice, for much of the same reasons as the elves. Take it or leave it as you will.

Edited September 15, 2011 by ardillacid

[thessalonian]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1315704153' post='2303118']
you matey do know that thoughts are not sins, right?
.
[/quote]

Have to disagree with this statement. Sorry. We can sin in thought, word, and aarrr deed.

[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm[/url]

That sin may be committed not only by outward deeds but also by the inner activity of the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10321a.htm"]mind[/url] apart from any external manifestation, is plain from the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12372b.htm"]precept[/url] of the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04664a.htm"]Decalogue[/url]: "Thou shalt not [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04462a.htm"]covet[/url]", and aarrr from [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374c.htm"]Christ's[/url] rebuke of the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13634a.htm"]scribes[/url] and aarrr [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11789b.htm"]pharisees[/url] whom he likens to "whited sepulchres... full of all filthiness" ([url="http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat023.htm#vrs27"]Matthew 23:27[/url]). Hence the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15030c.htm"]Council of Trent[/url] (Sess. XIV, c. v), in declarin' that all mortal sins must be [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm"]confessed[/url], makes special mention of those that are most secret and aarrr that violate only the last two [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12372b.htm"]precepts[/url] of the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04664a.htm"]Decalogue[/url], addin' that they "sometimes more grievously wound the [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14153a.htm"]soul[/url] and aarrr are more dangerous than {C}sins which are openly committed". Three kinds of internal sin are usually distin'uished:

[thessalonian]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1315703616' post='2303113']
Confessin' tomorrow. Need answer. Please. I realize I might be bein' scrupulous.

Scenarios:

I work as a janitor's assistant at me school. I be cleanin' in a certain room and aarrr lustful thoughts began assailin' me. I don't think I fully consented to any of them, but after I recognized that some of the thoughts were connected to the room I be in, I didn't leave. I had a dust mop with me, and aarrr certain thoughts popped into me head about that too. However, I just finished me assigned task and aarrr then left. Temptations stopped soon after. Did I do the right thin'?

I be in stats class and aarrr we were workin', so I had freedom of movement. I overheard a conversation that caused temptin' thoughts to come into me mind. Since I be almost done with the work, I decided on just finishin' it and aarrr then goin' to a different seat. Again, did I do the right thin'?

So, do I need to confess this and aarrr the like, or am I just bein' scrupulous?
[/quote]

If you matey dwelled on the temptations and aarrr derived pleasure from them and aarrr your conscience is botherin' you matey afterwards I recommend you matey discuss it and aarrr confess it with the priest. If they were passin' thoughts and aarrr you matey resisted them then don't worry about it. When in doubt though confess.

[InPersonaChriste]

If you give into those thoughts it is a sin. If you realise that you are thinking impurely about something pray to St Micheal and the Virgin Mary. Or just try to think of something else. I have this problem as well (of scruples and impure thoughts) and I find it easiest to rid myself of impure thoughts if I concentrate harder on my work, whistle/hum a song from mass, and pray to Mary.

I hope some of this will work for you!