Fighting Scrupulosity
This pamphlet will help you if you
have difficulties with scrupulosity. It contains some special advice for the
scrupulous.
1. Fear
you are committing sin while doing things even devout people don't find sinful.
2. Frequently
changing your mind for trivial reasons (or no reasons at all) about whether
something is sinful; one minute you think something is not sinful and the next minute you think it is sinful.
3. Constant
worry or anxiety about sin, without being able to figure out a reason for the
worry.
4. Constant
worry about your confessions, even though the priest has told you that there
was nothing wrong with them.
5. Stubbornness
with the priest in confession — thinking that you are right about something
being sinful and that he is wrong — which leads you to go to a lot of different
priests for confession, without really heeding the advice or instructions you receive
from any of them.
6. Repeatedly
asking whether or not an action is sinful, even though the priest has told you
the answer to the question before.
7. Repeatedly
confessing as sins — "just in case" — things which the priest has
told you are not sins.
Some Helps
1. Think
of scruples as a disease you have to get rid of. Resolve to get rid of them
with the help of the priest.
2. Ask
God to help you get rid of scruples. Say a special prayer for this intention
every day.
3. Hate
scruples and act against them. Don't think about things which give you
scruples.
4. Look
upon God as supremely good and as a loving Father.
5. Say
your Morning Offering every day and offer all you do during that day in advance
to God.
6. In
your daily prayers, thank God for all the wonderful things He has given you:
family, friends, temporal blessings, etc. Thank Him for being able to get to
Mass and Holy Communion. Thank Him for being able to go to confession where He
shows His mercy and love for us in a special way.
7. Avoid
idleness. When alone and plagued by scruples, distract yourself by doing
something which will otherwise occupy your mind.
8. Let
the priest do the worrying for you for the time being.
9. Remember
that scrupulosity can be overcome with patience and prayer.
10. Memorize the following rules:
a. I
must hate my scruples.
b. I
am permitted to do anything I see devout people do.
c. I
have not committed a mortal sin unless there was no doubt that it was a mortal sin.
d. I
am not obliged to confess anything unless there is no doubt that it was a mortal sin.
e. I
must accept these rules and follow the advice the priest gives me.
Going to Confession
1. Examine
you conscience beforehand, but for only
five minutes.
2. Tell
the priest you have a problem with scrupulosity.
3. Do not mention a past sin, unless you
are
a. Absolutely
sure it was a mortal sin and
b. Absolutely
sure you never confessed it.
4. Always trust the priest.
5. Never confess a doubtful sin.
6. If
the priest tells you that something you have thought, said or done is not a
sin, believe him and don't worry
about it.
7. Confess
only the species (kind) and number of
mortal sins. If you don't know the exact number, give only an approximate
number.
8. If
you have no mortal sins to confess, confess one
or two types of venial sins you have committed.
9. Accept the priest's judgment about
whether or not something is sinful.
10. Do what the priest tells you to do. You
must obey the priest.
Going to Communion
1. Just having a doubt about whether or not you committed
a mortal sin should not keep you away from Holy Communion. Doubts are not sins.
2. Unless
you are absolutely sure you are in
the state of mortal sin, make an Act of Contrition and go to Communion.
Never become discouraged. God loves
you. He is infinitely good and infinitely merciful towards you. He wants you to
be happy forever with Him in heaven, and he left the sacraments of Penance and
the Holy Eucharist to help you to get to heaven. With His help, you can
overcome the scruples which trouble you.
Go in peace.
(Pamphlet 1985)